The 2018 Mercedes CLS has been revealed at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show, is eventually coming to India.
Mercedes-Benz has taken the wraps off the 2018 CLS at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show. The car shares a lot in common with the E-Class like the platform, powertrains and some interior bits. The carmaker has confirmed that the range-topping variant will be the Mercedes-AMG CLS 53.
The new Mercedes CLS is longer, wider and taller than the previous model and also has a wheelbase of 2988 mm (longer by 61 mm than the current model), allowing for easy ingress and egress. For the very first time, the car also features a centre rear seat as standard, making it a proper five-seater. While boot space remains at an identical 520-litres, the rear seat can now be folded in 40:20:40 ratio in case you need to load in extra cargo. Coming to the car’s looks, it gets a completely redone front and rear fascia. The headlights with LED DRLs are all new and you also get a new single-slat chrome grille. Save for the new alloy wheels there aren’t any drastic changes to the side profile. The wraparound LED tail-lights are all new and you now have the registration plate holder moved from the boot lid to the bumper.
The 2018 Mercedes CLS gets an interior setup similar to the E-Class with subtle design tweaks. There are two 12.3-inch screens, one for the instrument cluster and another for the infotainment system. The steering wheel is a direct lift from the S-Class and the AC vents have the turbine design and also glowing feature (red for hot and blue for cold). Powertrains on offer range between four- and six-cylinder petrols and diesels, all of which are mated to a 9-speed automatic gearbox as standard. Mercedes’s AWD tech, 4MATIC is available on higher grade models but the base trims are rear-wheel drive.
Petrol motors are likely to get mild hybrid capabilities. The CLS 350 outputs 300 PS of power and 400 Nm of torque while the top of the line CLS 450 petrol with the 3.0-litre, inline six-cylinder motor produces 367 PS of power and 500 Nm of torque. The diesel range starts from the CLS 300d with a 2.0-litre, turbocharged, four-cylinder mill which produces 231 PS and 450 Nm, while the CLS 350d gets a 2.9-litre, six-cylinder engine producing just under 290 PS and 600 Nm. The range-topping CLS 500d makes 340 PS of power and a massive 700 Nm of torque. The 43 badge’s V6 is shelved for a 53 badge which brings a 3.0-litre petrol-electric hybrid that produces a behemoth 530 PS of power.
The CLS shares five standard driving assistant functions with the E-Class including Lane Keeping Assist and Speed Limit Assist. The optional Driving Assistance Package can add eight more functions and also provides semi-autonomous driving properties like hands-off the steering for up to 30 seconds and an automatic lane-change function. The new CLS will be one among the models coming to India in 2018.
2018 Mercedes CLS
– The 2018 Mercedes CLS is longer, wider and taller than the current CLS
– For the 1st time, the CLS is a 5-seater
– The interior gets two 12.3-inch screens
– The 2018 Mercedes CLS gets a host of driver-assistance technologies
