The Mercedes-Benz CLS now has a freshly redesigned nose for the 2015 model year, integrating the company's new LED lighting system. A new nine-speed transmission and new engine choices round out the rest of the vehicle, along with new entertainment system technology.
The sleek CLS Coupe will retain its elegantly sloped rear end, a design which has launched a market for four-door coupes. Now a decade old, the styling of the CLS remains as fresh as ever, despite keeping its original side profile.
Highlighting the front of the 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLS Coupe are a set of new LED headlights, surrounded by a more aggressive front bumper. A set of 24 LEDs rests in each headlight cluster, with four control units to calculate the lighting for any scenario. A front mounted camera scans the conditions 100 times per second, and each LED has 255 stages of dimming to adjust light to every possible setting.
With up to 12 degrees of headlight swiveling, the CLS Coupe will illuminate the entry, as well as the exit of corners. The system has shown to increase viewing distance by around 180 feet, and at the same time will automatically remain conscious to not blind oncoming traffic.
The newest addition to the lineup, the CLS400, is powered by a 3 liter V6, boosted with two turbochargers up to 329 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. The mid-range CLS550 ups the ante to a 4.6 liter, twin turbo V8 with 402 horsepower and 443 lb-ft, and perhaps more importantly, features a new 9-speed transmission. Available in the CLS550 and later in other models, the 9-speed automatic adds two cogs to the previous gearbox, allowing a mix of performance and fuel economy.
On top of the range lineup sits the CLS63 AMG S-Model, which brings output up to 585 horsepower, which it puts down through Mercedes 4Matic all-wheel drive.
Inside the CLS Coupe will be the typical Mercedes appointments of luxury, much of which comes standard in the base model. The 8 inch entertainment screen is compatible with all the usual technology, including Bluetooth, iOS, and USB, and also features a new 3D navigation system. The new navigation system plots out an accurate representation of the upcoming roads, and can even take NASA satellite images to provide extra detail.
Pricing for the 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLS Coupe has not yet been announced. With the addition of the new base model CLS400, entry into the bodystyle will likely be cheaper than ever.
