Mercedes-Benz CLS "4-door coupe" car design review: start of something BIG! | Niels van Roij Design
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#DesignReview #Mercedes-Benz CLS #AMG
The Mercedes-Benz W219 CLS, marketed as a four-door coupe, originally launched in 2004, was designed by the American Michael Fink in 2001 and was based on the W211 E-Class. Fink was also responsible for the first CLK, the C-Sportcoupe, and both the Maybach 57 and 62.
The Mercedes-Benz press release stated the CLS-class was designed to combine the "strong, emotive charisma" of a coupe with the "comfort and practicality" of a sedan.
The CLS marked Mercedes-Benz's return to the executive-size coupe market, but more importantly it introduced a new segment into the luxury market of high end saloon and coupe cars. Its sleek roofline and low DLO reduces the rear passenger room to a 2+2 arrangement.
The CLS’s were sold with a price 10% in excess of the E-class, making the CLS-project a successful undertaking for the brand. The trend was set and many competitors followed with similar body styles.
The prominent bone line on the side profile was used for a number of reasons and it was combined with secondary design elements: The teardrop shaped headlamps lead the eye backwards over the bone line towards the low roofline of the car, as well as towards the sharp edged tail-end, which creates a sporty cut-off look. The bone line also helps to develop an impression of solidity, combined with the wide C-pillar. The facet on the shoulder is originated from the area in front of the front wheels and runs all the way towards the cut-off tail. It accentuates not only the large dash to axle ratio, but the entire length of the vehicle. It is a shame the bone line, and especially the character line below it, is lost in the taillights and is not concluded or used in the rear three quarter.
The specific CLS in this homage sketch is the 63 AMG. Its body kit improves the stance, by adding more visuals weight and horizontal character on the lower end of the body. In particular the front end of the car looks more trapezium-like. The five-spoke wheels, in the rear with a deeper dish compared to those in the front, complete and compliment the package well.
The clean surfacing combined with hard creases on especially the side and rear end of the CLS could be seen, according to some, as a link to the great Bruno Sacco area of Teutonic, solid Mercedes-Benz design. And although the front end lacks definition and character compared to the rear end, the CLS has played an important role in introducing an important new segment to modern automotive design, both for Mercedes-Benz and many competitors.
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Пікірлер: 36
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In my opinion, one of the most beautiful cars ever made. It's the perfect Mercedes design. It's elegent but subtly muscular, not overally agressive, ostentatious and subsequently inelegant, like today's Mercedes. Mercedes of recent times have completely lost their charm.
@NielsvanRoijDesign
3 жыл бұрын
This was everything the brand needed: smart, inventing a new sector within the realm of automotive, clean, well proportioned, crisp, Germanic. As per your last sentence: Mercedes of recent times have completely lost their charm.
I Love my Cls 550
@NielsvanRoijDesign
Ай бұрын
Excellent! Enjoy yours with that lovely engine!
I finally bought one last year. It really is my dream car.
@NielsvanRoijDesign
Ай бұрын
Thank you for tuning in! Glad you like the video and the Merc! Enjoy your CLS!
@NielsvanRoijDesign
Ай бұрын
Enjoy yours! Thank you for tuning in.
Still one of my father's favourite car.
@NielsvanRoijDesign
3 жыл бұрын
Rightfully so! 👍
future classic!
@NielsvanRoijDesign
3 жыл бұрын
Indeed! 👌
Helemaal fijn en duidelijk
@NielsvanRoijDesign
3 жыл бұрын
👍👍
Sporty, sculpted body, the rear, where you don't want to change anything... and, like you've said, front-end that lacks definition. To be honest, I've no idea what could redeem lackluster look of the front.
@NielsvanRoijDesign
3 жыл бұрын
The front-end lacks definition indeed. The front and rear are almost two entirely different worlds stylistically. Clean, tout surfaces on the side and rear, with simple graphics for taillights, DLO and numberplate emboss (but to name a few) are met with rather soft, weak graphics of the headlights and indeed lackluster solutions of the grille and lower intakes. A more focussed and Sacco-esque solution for the entire nose and DRG would have made this car close to a true masterpiece. It is not that as it sits here now. The interior also lacks especially (perceived) quality with its soft, weak and unpleasantly warping surfaces...
CLS W219 63 AMG LEGENDARNI COUPE
@NielsvanRoijDesign
3 жыл бұрын
👌
First gen CLS is the best looking for me. Such a characteristic design. To me, it's the only 4 door sedan that has a real 'coupé' look and feel. The second generation broke the clean line from front to rear with it's 'bump' at 3/4 from the side. The latest generation is much better, but lacks character. It's dull and anonymous.
@NielsvanRoijDesign
3 жыл бұрын
Simply put: spot on. Make sure you tune in to the video when it goes live! 👍
@Jorcap
3 жыл бұрын
@@NielsvanRoijDesign i will as always
@NielsvanRoijDesign
3 жыл бұрын
@@Jorcap Good stuff! 👍
@kriskross63
3 жыл бұрын
I agree absolutely. So proud, of being able to order a black CLS 350 by end of March 2005, which was delivered June 10th in 2005. Unfortunately, I had to sell it after 10 year (1st hand! only 150tkms), and I was really shocked, how hard it was to sell... Maybe, one day, the prices will soar.. the first 4-door coupé ever... The funny thing is: I always thought, the designer was a guy called Murat . Which models did Michael Fink design afterwards?
@kriskross63
3 жыл бұрын
Günak. Murat Günak... For now over 15 years, I thought, the designer of the first CLS, the C219, was Murat Günak... I´ll have to look that up! Ok, I see, I was wrong for all these years... which other cars did Michael Fink design?
👍 ive thought about getting aone of these but all of the ones in my price range are diesels😬
@NielsvanRoijDesign
3 жыл бұрын
Well, even these must be lovely rides. You just might be banned from bigger cities in the future... 😬
What are you thoughts on the Brabus variant of this model?
@NielsvanRoijDesign
3 жыл бұрын
☹️
This car had real character, but I never liked it. There is something gangsterish about it. It was influential, but I don’t think it invented the style. Japanese manufacturers used to regularly produce “hardtop” versions of all their sedans with lower roofs, frameless windows, sometimes no B-pillar, and sometimes a 100% different body compared to the standard sedan. And the price was always a little higher than for the sedan.
@NielsvanRoijDesign
3 жыл бұрын
Indeed, hardtop versions of regular sedans also were common in the States, for instance Cadillac made a selection them. The CLS is something to love or hate, but what it did do was starting the modern day four door coupe line-up, positioned next to - or better upwards of - regular and more traditional and formally shaped sedans. In one way one can argue everything has been done before, of course.
@martinherrington9499
3 жыл бұрын
@@NielsvanRoijDesign ...and I own an Audi A5 Sportback, which is arguably one of the "children" of the CLS.
@NielsvanRoijDesign
3 жыл бұрын
@@martinherrington9499 It sure is! Meantioned - well, showed to be precise - around the 1:29 mark for that exact reason!