New Mercedes-Benz CLS arrives

Mercedes-Benz has launched its all-new CLS four-door, four-seat coupe in Australia, after pioneering the segment in 2004 -- a segment that is now populated by cars from Porsche, Aston Martin and even Ferrari.

Boasting a sharp new look, incorporating full LED headlights and a more angular design motif, Benz will offer a diesel-powered CLS-Class vehicle for the first time in Australia.

The Mercedes-Benz CLS 350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY is priced at $159,200 and the frugal V6 diesel is joined by the heavy-hitting Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG, priced at $263,500.

The CLS 350 and CLS 500 petrol models will arrive later in the year, around late September or early October, and will be priced at $159,200 and $210,800 respectively.

Powered by a 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6 engine, the CLS 350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY outputs 195kW/620Nm, closing power the gap between its petrol brethren. Fuel economy is impressive - just 6.2L/100km - and with an 80-litre fuel tank specified for Australian vehicles it has a theoretical cruising range of around 1300 kilometres.

The direct-injection turbodiesel's power is transferred to the rear wheels via a 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission.

The Mercedes-Benz CLS 350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY emits around 163g/km of CO2 and avoids the luxury car tax by coming in under the 7.0L/100km threshold, a factor not lost on buyers, says Mercedes-Benz Australia's Senior Manager of Corporate Communications, David McCarthy.

"In CLS we haven't had a diesel before. We were offered the 250 CDI and we made a decision not to do it. When we knew we could get the 350 CDI we went for it. [It will attract new buyers to the range] because it's a sub 7.0-litre car. That has an impact price wise and it's become a badge of honour for some people, to pay less luxury car tax."

Despite sharing a similar silhouette to its predecessor, the new Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class is a totally new car, making use of more aluminium components to reduce the car's weight, another chapter in the improved fuel economy story. For instance the new frameless doors are made from aluminium, as are the front quarter panels, boot lid, bonnet, and several suspension elements.

The car's new body shape is not just a fashion statement either - the body panels have been massaged to cut through air more effectively as it travels down the road, with a claimed a drag co-efficient of just 0.26 Cd, an improvement of 13 per cent on its predecessor, which also helps improve its fuel economy.

Along with the addition of an LED headlight cluster, which comprises a whopping 142 individual LEDs, the 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class has improved the standard equipment list, offering Active Blind Sport Assist and a clever Active Lane Keeping Assist function that vibrates the steering wheel if you begin to veer across a lane. It can even guide the car back into its lane.

There's also an Attention Assist system as standard, which detects if the driver is getting drowsy or fatigued and will attempt to warn them.

The COMAND APS system is also standard across the range and comprises a high resolution LCD screen, a 10Gb music storage device, satellite navigation and a Harman Kardon Logic 7 surround sound system. Thermotronic 'luxury' climate control is also standard issue.

The airbag complement stands at 11 and the Distronic Plus radar-based cruise control can brake the car to a complete standstill and then take off again, without the driver touching the brake or throttle pedals.

At the other end of spectrum is the CLS 63 AMG, which has had its price slashed by more than $15,000 and is powered by the German marque's new twin-turbo 5.5-litre V8, which cranks out a very healthy 386kW/700Nm.

And if that wasn't enough power, the $17,900 AMG Performance Package boosts turbo pressure and hikes power and torque by 24kW and 100Nm to 410kW/800Nm. The speed limiter is also uprated from 250km/h to 300km/h, and the zero to 100km/h dash takes 4.4 seconds.

While the range-topping CLS 63 AMG has been gifted a powerful new engine, it's also seen a 30 per cent reduction in fuel use, with a quoted combined fuel consumption figure of 10.0L/100km and CO2 emissions of 233g/km, the latter figure being "100 grams less CO2 than an HSV" according to one Benz' staffer.

Visit the Carsales Network again for a road test of new the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Coupe.

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