Mercedes Benz brings the facelift version of the CLS (with Shoot Brake, C218 / X218) in the fall of 2014 to the dealer, the world premiere of the vehicle end of June 2014 at the Festival of Speed at Goodwood 2014.
The Mercedes Benz CLS facelift will be seen at the Goodwood Festival of Speed end of June 2014 for the first time, while the sales will commence on 23rd June. The redesigned CLS will boast clear styling upgrades including a diamond grille similar to that seen on the A250 Sport hatchback, new high-tech headlamps like those on S-Class flagship and a heavily redesigned front bumper reminiscent of the new C-Class. These images give little away in terms of the finished product, but under the skin, there will be some significant changes, including the first application of 9-speed automatic transmission for the MB brand.
The engine lineup will remain largely the same, with the only difference residing in the fact that the CLS 350 will be replaced by CLS 400, in both Shooting Brake and normal guise. It is motivated by the new 3.0 liter V6 twin turbocharged engine, which is good for pumping out 333 horsepower with 354 pound feet of torque. The 9G-Tronic transmission is said to help the vehicle slash fuel use over the existing 7-speed auto, while also providing smoother shifts. It’s expected to be equipped with diesel and petrol models over time, though it’s not clear if it can be applied to the flagship CLS 63 AMG S that’s propelled by a punchy twin turbocharged 5.5 liter V8 with 430kW and 800Nm.
Technologies from the heavily redesigned E-Class and the flagship S-Class are likely to be available in the updated model, including the Distronic Plus active cruise control with steering assistance and Night Vision assistant that project an infra-red image of the road ahead between the tachometer and speedometer available on some models.
The Mercedes Benz CLS is expected to see a significant interior upgrade as well, with a new top mounted tablet style media display, new door trims and redesigned dashboard.
