Mercedes CLS gets facelift

Mercedes is gearing up for the launch of the facelifted CLS. When it goes on sale next year, the German brands updated four-door coupe will follow hot on the heels of the recently-revised E-Class on which its based, to help keep it competitive with the Audi A7 Sportback.The Mercedes CLS shares the same platform as the E-Class, so auto lovers expect the former car will receive similar changes to those Mercedes recently applied to the latter. The exterior revisions for the CLS will be limited to a new front bumper, slightly tweaked headlamps and some fresh alloy wheel designs.Inside, the revisions should be equally minor. Save for some subtle trim upgrades, the current cars dashboard design will remain, though Mercedess 12.3-inch dual screen infotainment system will gain revisions which should ditch the old clickwheel function for a touchscreen interface.Complementing the upgraded system, the CLS will gain the brands latest multifunction steering wheelthe same item fitted to the facelifted E-Class.The new wheel features touch sensitive controls in place of the old cars physical buttons. It also supports capacitive feedback, meaning owners will no longer need to wiggle the wheel to inform the cars semi-autonomous driving mode that theyre paying attention to the road. Simply gripping the wheel is enough to keep the system running.Mercedes shouldnt completely restructure the CLSs engine range, either. The current car is only available with three engines; a 261bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel, a 325bhp 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel or a 429bhp 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol-hybrid for the range-topping AMG CLS 53.All three engines will be transferred onto CLS with the addition of 48-volt mild-hybrid technology, as theyre found on the latest E-Class. Mercedes should also introduce two new plug-in hybrid versions of the CLS as additions to the range, using technology borrowed from the E-Class.The E-Class is available with two PHEV powertrains; the petrol-based E 300 e and the diesel-based E 300 de. Both systems use the same 13.5kWh lithium-ion battery pack and 90kW electric motor and both provide a maximum electric range of around 30 miles.The former is mixed with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, for a combined output of 316bhp and a best-case scenario fuel economy figure of 176.6mpg on the E-Class. The latter is mated to a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel and produces 302bhp and 700Nm of torque, while returning up 235.4mpg on the WLTP combined cycle.
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