2018 Mercedes CLS goes extreme track testing

What we have here is an all-new generation of the Mercedes CLS undergoing extreme track testing at the challenging Nurburgring circuit in Germany. The elegant looking four-door sedan will come out by the second half of 2018 across Europe.

Design-wise, the change from the current car to the new generation is more evolutionary than revolutionary – even though the pronounced hip of the current generation will be eliminated for the new model and the new taillights will be horizontal rather than diagonal. 

Under the bonnet, Mercedes will replace the V6 engine with new in-line sixes and the noisy 2.1-litre four-cylinder turbo diesels will be replaced by a more refined and less thirsty 2-litre units. Like in the new E-class, drivers of the CLS will be looking at two displays, the one in front of the wheels being a freely programmable one. 

Mercedes introduced the niche segment of four-door coupes in 2004. The CLS Shooting Brake, introduced in 2012, was an attempt to expand the segment, but it turned out to be a flop. The new gen CLS will therefore, be available as a four-door sedan only. Introducing an estate, on the other hand, is not in the pipeline. The new model will hit the showrooms across Europe in late 2018, about a year after the two-door E-class coupe.