Mercedes-Benz CLS500 Makes Canadian Debut In Montreal
MONTREAL, QUEBEC- Mercedes-Benz Canada will unveil a totally distinctive model series at the press day preceding the Montreal International Auto Show which opens to the public January 14-23, 2005, at the Palais des congrès de Montréal. Never before have two contrasting concepts been brought together so effectively and attractively as in the new CLS-Class. The four-door CLS500 is the first vehicle to combine the emotional design of a coupe with the comfort and functionality of a sedan.
The new model once again underlines the role of Mercedes-Benz as a pioneer and trendsetter in automotive thinking. With its exquisite styling, exclusive appointments and groundbreaking technology, the CLS-Class will appeal most strongly to drivers with a passion for cars and motoring. The CLS500 will be powered by a five-litre V8 engine producing 302 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque accompanied by the new seven-speed automatic transmission. It will be priced at $92,600.
The overall design is an accurate reflection of the coupe's emotional, experience-oriented character. Based on familiar Mercedes-Benz stylistic elements, the lines of the CLS-Class bring out the best in normally conflicting characteristics such as dynamics and spaciousness, power and elegance, aesthetics and functionality.
Powerful, Smooth and Economical: The Engine for the New CLS-Class
Dynamic driving pleasure is just a push of the right foot away when considering the power development and the exceptional torque characteristics of the CLS500. The CLS500 is a match for full-blooded sports cars such as the Mercedes-Benz SL roadster in terms of power output, while also offering the eight-cylinder comfort of a top-class sedan. The CLS500 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in about 6.1 seconds and reaches an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.
Other features of the standard equipment package for the CLS500 include AIRMATIC DC air suspension, luxury automatic climate control and 18-inch light-alloy wheels with 245/40 R 18 tires.
Elegant, Luxurious and Spacious: The Interior of the CLS-Class
The elegant styling of the CLS-Class extends throughout the interior. Engaging colours create an inviting ambience and top-quality materials ensure an extremely pleasant in-car environment. Soft leather and exquisite wood form the most important design elements of the interior, with the seats, steering wheel and automatic transmission selector lever finished in leather trim as standard.
Handcrafted burl walnut wood lends the interior of the CLS-Class a particularly elegant and sophisticated feel. A large and lavishly sculpted trim element distinguished by satin-painted wood dominates the instrument panel.
The four-door coupe also allows the rear passengers to get in and out of the car in comfort. Luxurious individual seats offer impressive freedom of movement, with a distance of 829 mm between the front and rear seats, while 1,472 mm of elbow room in the front and 1,464 mm in the rear, provide more space than many sedans. The newly developed seats for the driver and front passenger are electrically adjustable and can be ordered optionally with active ventilation or as dynamic multi-contour seats.
The CLS-Class can boast of luxury-sedan levels of trunk space, offering up to 495 litres of capacity for luggage.
Thinking Ahead and Setting the Pace: The CLS-Class Safety Systems
Equipped with state-of-the-art safety technology such as adaptive front airbags, window bags and sidebags, plus belt tensioners and belt force limiters on all seats, the CLS-Class offers impressive yet typical Mercedes levels of occupant safety.
The new CLS-Class also comes standard with electro-hydraulic brakes and the latest generation of the Electronic Stability Program (ESP), yet another demonstration of the technological leadership of Mercedes-Benz in the automotive industry. The new CLS-Class is also available with an optional host of other innovations that make life on the road even safer. The high-output bi-xenon headlamps with active cornering headlamp system are a good example.
Distronic adaptive cruise control, the voice-operated control system, the control and display system COMAND with its DVD navigation and the keyless-access and drive-authorization system Keyless-Go are further examples of leading Mercedes technology for greater comfort and driving pleasure.
About Mercedes-Benz Canada
Mercedes-Benz Canada is responsible for the sales, marketing and service of the three brands within the Mercedes Car Group in Canada; Mercedes-Benz, smart, and Maybach. Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Mercedes-Benz Canada employs approximately 910 people in 23 locations across Canada. Through a nationwide network of 19 Mercedes-Benz owned retail operations and 39 authorized dealerships, Mercedes-Benz Canada sold 13,259 vehicles during 2004.
For additional information, visit our media site at www.media.mercedes-benz.ca or contact us at:
JoAnne Caza 416-847-7550 caza@mercedes-benz.ca
Arden Nerling 416-847-7556 nerling@mercedes-benz.ca
