SPY PICS: Mercedes-Benz CLK

In its disguise, the new Mercedes CLK looks like something put together by the young Anakin Skywalker, so here's hoping it goes like that too.

Based on information to hand from those observant spy photographers at Carparazzi, the next CLK, seen here, will be based on the newly released W204 platform and will be fitted with the same drivetrain combinations available in the C-Class, including a V8 for a CLK 500 variant.

The vehicle was caught not far from Benz's head office in Stuttgart. According to Carparazzi, the new CLK is due for release in the northern hemisphere's summer of 2009. That's our winter.