Mercedes-Benz has long been synonymous with luxury, innovation, and groundbreaking design in the automotive world. Continuing this legacy, the 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS emerges as a beacon of sophisticated style and cutting-edge technology. This four-door coupe doesn’t just carry forward the iconic CLS lineage; it elevates it, setting new benchmarks in its class. For those seeking a vehicle that masterfully blends the sporty allure of a coupe with the practicality of a sedan, the Mercedes 2019 CLS is engineered to exceed expectations.
In 2003, Mercedes-Benz redefined automotive categories with the introduction of the first CLS, a vehicle that daringly merged coupe aesthetics with sedan functionality. Now, the third generation 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS further refines this groundbreaking concept. It retains the soul of the original CLS, characterized by its sweeping waistline, sleek side windows, and low profile, while embodying the evolved Sensual Purity design philosophy of Mercedes-Benz. This approach minimizes sharp lines, favoring smoothly contoured surfaces that integrate seamlessly within the current Mercedes-Benz coupe family.
Under the hood, the Mercedes 2019 CLS 450 and CLS 450 4MATIC models boast an all-new inline six-cylinder engine, delivering a robust 362 horsepower, enhanced by an additional 21 horsepower from the integrated starter-generator. This advanced powertrain not only offers exhilarating performance but also exemplifies Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to efficiency and innovation.
Comfort is paramount in the sporty Mercedes 2019 CLS. Features like AIR BODY CONTROL suspension and ENERGIZING Comfort, along with the latest infotainment system including inductive wireless phone charging with NFC pairing, ensure a ride that is both dynamic and relaxing.
The standard features of the Mercedes 2019 CLS are exceptionally comprehensive. Highlights include AMG body styling, newly designed LED headlamps and taillamps, 19-inch light-alloy wheels, a high-resolution 12.3-inch COMAND® display, ambient lighting with illuminated air vents, Car-to-X Communication, and Smartphone Integration. These elements collectively underscore the vehicle’s luxurious and technologically advanced nature, making it a standout in the Mercedes 2019 lineup.
Exterior Design: Sportiness Redefined in the Mercedes 2019 Coupe
Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer Daimler AG, aptly describes the Mercedes 2019 CLS as “a design icon as the archetype of the four-door coupe.” He emphasizes the brand’s “hot & cool” design philosophy, which has distilled the CLS DNA to its purest form, enhancing its beauty with emotional appeal. The Mercedes 2019 CLS showcases a striking front end, featuring the signature diamond grille of Mercedes-Benz coupes, highlighted by a single louver. The grille’s contour broadens towards the base, echoing the design of the Mercedes-AMG GT. The hood integrates seamlessly into the body, while the exceptionally flat and wide headlamps, angled inwards, dynamically accentuate the grille’s form.
The side profile of the Mercedes 2019 CLS is defined by a high, arching waistline and a sporty, low greenhouse with frameless side windows. The forward-leaning front end, reminiscent of a shark’s nose, is visually elongated by the fully inset hood. Adhering to the Sensual Purity design ethos, the lines and edges are significantly reduced, resulting in generously curved surfaces that exude elegance and flow.
The rear design of the Mercedes 2019 CLS is equally compelling, featuring a muscular shoulder line that merges smoothly into the flat rear. Coupe-specific elements include two-section taillamps, reflectors integrated into the rear bumper, a license plate recess in the bumper, and the iconic Mercedes star centrally positioned on the trunk lid. The LED taillamps mirror the crystalline appearance of the headlamps, creating a striking three-dimensional effect. Their low placement enhances the perceived width of the Mercedes 2019 CLS, reinforcing its athletic stance.
Interior Elegance: A Harmonious Blend of Color and Digital Innovation in the Mercedes 2019
The interior of the Mercedes 2019 CLS Coupe is a testament to luxurious design, characterized by clean, flowing lines that echo the exterior’s sensual contours. The meticulous selection of high-grade materials and superior craftsmanship are immediately apparent. The sporty, wide cockpit and carefully chosen color schemes create an expansive sense of space. The interior design flows seamlessly from the front to the rear doors, opening up at the B-pillars to enhance the feeling of spaciousness. A novel highlight is the illuminated air vents, inspired by jet aircraft turbines, which add a unique touch to the ambient lighting. The hand-finished appearance of the seats further enhances the sporty and luxurious ambiance of the Mercedes 2019 CLS interior.
The Mercedes 2019 CLS 450 is equipped with a high-resolution 12.3-inch central display and offers an option for dual 12.3-inch displays, merging into a widescreen cockpit beneath a continuous glass cover. This creates a fully digital and immersive user experience. The center console, available in open-pore or high-gloss wood, appears to float, adding to the modern and airy feel of the cabin. In this digital cockpit, drivers can customize the displayed information to suit their needs and driving conditions. Three distinct display styles—Classic, Sport, and Progressive—allow for personalization based on preference, mood, or interior design.
Ambient lighting in the Mercedes 2019 CLS is highly customizable, offering 64 colors, including illumination for the air vents. A practical touch is the color-changing ambient lighting of the air vents that briefly shifts to red or blue to indicate warmer or cooler temperature adjustments, respectively. The seats, exclusively designed for the Mercedes 2019 CLS, feature high-quality piping. The rear outer seats mirror the style of the front seats, creating a sporty, individual-seat impression, even though the Mercedes 2019 CLS is now a five-seater for the first time. The backrests offer 40/20/40 split-folding capability for enhanced versatility.
ENERGIZING Comfort: Wellness for Every Journey in the Mercedes 2019 CLS
The Mercedes 2019 CLS elevates driving comfort with ENERGIZING Comfort, a system that harmonizes various vehicle comfort features. It intelligently integrates climate control (including fragrance), seat functions (heating, ventilation, massage), surface and steering wheel heating, ambient lighting, and musical atmospheres to create tailored wellness experiences. This system aims to enhance well-being and driver performance through six selectable programs:
- Refresh / Freshness
- Warmth
- Vitality
- Joy
- Comfort / Well-Being
- Training (including muscle relaxation, muscle activation, and balance exercises).
Intelligent Drive: S-Class Technology in the Mercedes 2019 CLS
The Mercedes 2019 CLS shares advanced technology with the flagship S-Class, particularly in its driving assistance systems. Equipped with the latest generation of these systems, the Mercedes 2019 CLS includes route-based speed adaptation and comprehensive driver support via the Driver Assistance Package. Standard safety features are extensive, including Active Brake Assist, ATTENTION ASSIST, and PRE-SAFE® occupant protection. New standard additions also include PRE-SAFE® Sound, which prepares occupants’ hearing for potential collision noise.
The optional Driver Assistance Package further enhances safety and convenience with features like Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC, Active Steering Assist, Active Speed Limit Assist, Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function, Evasive Steering Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, PRE-SAFE® PLUS, and PRE-SAFE® Impulse Side. Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC and Active Steering Assist offer even more refined support for maintaining safe distances and steering, automatically adjusting speed for curves and junctions. Active Lane Change Assist has also been significantly improved in the Mercedes 2019 CLS.
Enhanced camera and radar systems provide the Mercedes 2019 CLS with a superior view of its surroundings, and for the first time, map and navigation data are used to predictively adjust driving behavior. The “Assistance Graphics” menu in the instrument cluster provides clear, at-a-glance information about active assistance functions, displayed both on-screen and in the head-up display. All functions are now conveniently controlled from the steering wheel. In stop-and-go traffic, the Mercedes 2019 CLS can now handle stops up to 3 seconds, automatically resuming movement with the flow of traffic.
The optional LED Intelligent Light System in the Mercedes 2019 CLS includes advanced LED headlamps and Ultra Wide Beam high beams, significantly enhancing road and surrounding area illumination. Adaptive Highbeam Assist, also part of this system, allows for continuous main beam usage without dazzling other drivers by selectively dimming LEDs in response to oncoming or preceding vehicles.
Suspension and Powertrain: Dynamics and Efficiency in the Mercedes 2019 CLS
The Mercedes 2019 CLS features a four-link front suspension and a five-link rear suspension, with a dynamically tuned steel comfort suspension as standard. The optional AIR BODY CONTROL air suspension, with improved adjustable and adaptive damping, allows drivers to customize vehicle dynamics from comfortable to sporty via the driving mode switch.
Powering the Mercedes 2019 CLS 450 models is a new, systematically electrified in-line six-cylinder engine with EQ Boost (integrated starter/generator) and a 48-volt onboard electrical system. This engine delivers 362 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, with an additional 21 hp and substantial torque boost available via EQ Boost. The integrated electric motor assists the combustion engine during acceleration, enables “sailing” without engine power, and recharges the battery through high-efficiency recuperation, leading to fuel savings previously exclusive to high-voltage hybrids. This new in-line six-cylinder engine achieves the performance of an eight-cylinder engine with markedly reduced fuel consumption. The Mercedes 2019 CLS 450 models are equipped with a particulate filter as standard.
Mercedes 2019 CLS450 / CLS450 4MATIC Specifications:
| Feature | CLS450 / CLS450 4MATIC |
|---|---|
| Number of cylinders/arrangement | 6/in-line |
| Displacement (cc) | 2,999 |
| Rated output (hp) | 362 hp @ 5,500 – 6,100 rpm |
| Add. output from EQ Boost (hp) | 21 hp |
| Rated torque (lb-ft) | 369 lb-ft @ 1,600 – 4,000 rpm |
| Acceleration 0-60 mph (sec) | 5.1 / 4.8 |
Edition 1: Exclusive Launch Edition of the Mercedes 2019 CLS
For those seeking ultimate exclusivity, the Edition 1 of the Mercedes 2019 CLS offers heightened luxury and distinctive features. The COPPER ART interior concept is central to the Edition 1, featuring black pearl nappa leather seats with diamond-design center sections and copper-colored accents. Copper-colored contrasting topstitching adorns the center console, seats, armrests, dashboard, and door linings. The unique diamond grille features matt chrome pins and a copper-colored shimmer on the louver.
The exterior of the Edition 1 is based on the AMG Line and includes standard LED Intelligent Light headlamps and 19-inch multi-spoke AMG light-alloy wheels in black with a high-sheen rim flange. “Edition 1” lettering on the front fenders distinguishes this special model.
Interior highlights of the Edition 1 include:
- Dashboard support lined in black nappa leather
- Center console and dashboard trim in natural grain black ash wood
- Exclusive IWC analogue clock dial
- High-gloss black vehicle key with high-sheen chrome surround
- Floor mats with “Edition 1” badge and copper-colored piping
- Chrome “Edition 1” lettering on the center console and welcome screen display.
The Mercedes 2019 CLS stands as a testament to Mercedes-Benz’s ongoing commitment to innovation, luxury, and design excellence. It is more than just a car; it is a statement of sophistication and a pinnacle of automotive engineering in the Mercedes 2019 lineup.
