By Mike Torpey on 2014-06-20 - Driving Force news editor and responsible for organising our daily output. He was staff motoring editor of the Liverpool Echo for 20 years.
Benz boasts punch
and price
A LOWER starting price and even more power from AMG versions will herald the arrival of the new generation Mercedes-Benz CLS Coupe and Shooting Brake this autumn.
And the premium brand is also promising more technology as standard, better value and lower emissions from the fastest and most efficient CLS yet.
The line-up now starts with a new engine - the CLS 220 BlueTEC, powered by a 2.1-litre diesel engine generating 177bhp with 129g/km of CO2.
The second diesel model is the six-cylinder 350 BlueTEC - producing 258bhp and emitting 142g/km - linked for the first time to a nine-speed gearbox as standard - lowering emissions by 18g/km in the process.
A new six-cylinder petrol engine has also been fitted to the coupe, the CLS 400, in the shape of a 333bhp, 3.5-litre V6 while topping the range is the hefty CLS 63 AMG S - now producing 585bhp and equipped with a limited slip differential as standard.
The changes bring down the coupe's 0-62mph time from 4.2-seconds to 4.1-seconds.
Mercedes says that from September the AMG Line becomes the default specification of the car, meaning COMAND Online, heated front seats and the ambient lighting system are all standard - helping towards a saving of £5,695 over the model it replaces.
Two option packs are available - Premium comprising an electric sunroof, seat memory package, reversing camera and split/folding seats - and Premium Plus Pack adding a Harman Kardon sound system and Keyless Go.
The Premium Pack costs £2,395 (Coupe) and £2,095 (Shooting Brake) with Premium Plus at £3,595 and £3,195.
On every CLS a new eight-inch tablet-style screen is fitted as standard, running the latest NTG 5 software allowing new apps, including the Mercedes Me system, to be downloaded.
LED multibeam headlights are also standard.
Prices start at £46,500 for theCLS 220 BlueTEC and £48,080 for the Shooting Brake variant.
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