Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class : facelift brings fresh styling, overhauled interior

CarAdvice's spy photographers captured a CLS-Class prototype undergoing winter testing in Germany, with light camouflage partially disguising its restyled headlights and tail-lights, side skirts and front and rear bumpers.

The revised headlights of the 'four-door coupe' feature new LED main lamps and repositioned LED daytime running lights that now run along the upper borders of the headlight clusters, similar to the S-Class limousine.

A diamond-pattern grille, inspired by that of the smaller A-Class and CLA-Class Sport models, combines with more rounded lines on the front bumper and around the reshaped lower air intakes, creating a softer overall look.

The camouflage at the rear also masks subtle changes to tail-light lenses and rear bumper, the latter appearing clean and free of significant contours.

Unhindered shots of the cabin reveal a new flat-bottom steering wheel borrowed from the all-new C-Class, as well as a large ‘floating’ tablet-style centre infotainment screen, replacing the smaller inset display of the current model, and small tweaks to the centre stack controls.

Spy shots of an updated CLS63 AMG Shooting Brake captured late last year confirm both the wagon body style and the flagship performance variant will, as expected, benefit from the same upgrades when the mid-life refresh launches overseas in the second half of this year, and in Australia in early 2015.

The current second-generation Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class debuted in 2010, meaning it will be four years into its lifecycle when the facelift arrives.

Like its E-Class sibling, the existing CLS500 is set to be replaced by a new CLS400 variant, with the outgoing model’s twin-turbocharged 300kW/600Nm 4.7-litre V8 to be traded for a more efficient 245kW/480Nm twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 that promises similar performance levels.

Mercedes-Benz Australia yesterday confirmed major changes to its CLS-Class line-up, cutting $50K from the CLS500, $5000 from the CLS250 CDI, and axing the CLS350 grades.

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