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2022 Mercedes-Benz CLS facelift revealed, Australian launch due late 2021

The facelifted 2022 Mercedes-Benz CLS has been unveiled, ahead of its Australian launch in the fourth quarter of 2021 (October to December inclusive).


Updates to Mercedes-Benz's four-door coupe are concentrated on the outside, where standard 'Avantgarde' variants of the CLS gain restyled front bumpers, black lower rear valance with chrome accents, and a pair of new 19-inch alloy wheel designs.

Opting for the AMG Line package adds an array of sporty design touches, including a unique front bumper with black accents, a chrome lower front splitter, unique side skirts, a rear lip spoiler, and a new 20-inch alloy wheel design available in Tremolite Grey or high-gloss Black.

A new three-pointed star-patterned grille similar to that of the new-generation C-Class sedan is available across the range, as is a new Spectral Blue Metallic exterior paint colour.

Inside, the facelifted CLS gains Mercedes-Benz's latest steering wheel design, wrapped in Nappa leather and finished in gloss black and chrome.

Optioning the Driver Assistance Package adds a two-zone sensor pad to the wheel's rim, allowing a driver's hands to be detected on the wheel when adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist are active, eliminating the need to apply steering force to keep the semi-autonomous systems active.

Neva Grey/Magma Grey and Sienna Brown/Black leather upholstery combinations are now available, along with open-pore brown walnut and high-gloss grey wood options for the centre console and dashboard trim inlays.

Buyers can opt to engage Mercedes-Benz's 250-strong Designo personalisation arm, which offers three, new-for-2021 exterior colours (Jupiter Red, Cashmere White Magno and Emerald Green), and five new interior colour combinations: Classic Red/Black, Saddle Brown/Black, Tartufo Brown/Black, Deep White/Black and Yacht Blue/Black.

Few changes have been made to the Mercedes-Benz CLS's technology suite, as the brand's latest infotainment and safety systems were introduced in Europe as part of a tech-focused running update in mid-2020 – with the first Australian-delivered examples understood to have arrived locally in early 2021.

Headlining the model-year update was the addition of Mercedes' latest MBUX infotainment system, housed within two 12.3-inch displays and offering an array of smart features including artificial intelligence functions, an advanced gesture control system, the Energising Coach comfort program, and an augmented-reality head-up display.

Other additions included updates to an assortment of active safety technologies, including autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection and support for intersections, active speed limit assist (incorporating navigation data to adhere to speed limits), traffic jam assist for the adaptive cruise control system (at speeds up to 60km/h), and automatic parking.

Five petrol and diesel powertrains will be offered in Europe – three diesels and two petrols – all paired to nine-speed automatic transmissions. It's unclear which options will make their way to Australia – for reference, the current, non-AMG model is available in CLS 350 and 450 guises.

Opening the range is the CLS 220d, powered by a 143kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo diesel four-cylinder sending drive to the rear wheels, for a 7.5-second sprint from 0-100km/h and combined fuel economy of 4.8-5.1L/100km.

The CLS 300d 4Matic opts for a 195kW/550Nm 2.0-litre turbo diesel four-cylinder with 15kW/200Nm of on-demand mild-hybrid assistance and all-wheel drive – it's capable of a 6.4-second run from 0-100km/h, with combined fuel economy rated at 5.5-5.8L/100km.

Sitting atop the diesel range is the CLS 400d, sending 243kW and 700Nm from a 2.9-litre turbo diesel inline-six to all four wheels for a 5.2-second 0-100km/h dash, 250km/h top speed, and 6.2-6.5L/100km combined fuel consumption claim.

The entry-level petrol option, the CLS 350, drives the rear wheels from a 220kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder, enabling a 6.1-second 0-100km/h time and a combined fuel economy claim of 7.0-7.3L/100km.

The petrol-powered flagship is the CLS 450 4Matic, which employs a 270kW/500Nm 3.0-litre turbo inline-six with 48-volt mild-hybrid assistance and all-wheel drive to power to 100km/h from rest in 4.8 seconds, towards a 250km/h top speed.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz CLS facelift will go on sale in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2021. Local pricing and specifications will be announced closer to launch.

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Alex Misoyannis

Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family.

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