paris mondial

Officially, Official: 2nd-Generation Mercedes-Benz CLS 4-door Coupe

style="text-align: center;"> 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS – Click above for high-res image gallery

In 2004, Mercedes-Benz kick-started a whole new automotive genre with the debut of the CLS. Now that the CLS has inspired a whole slew of competitors including the Audi A7 and the upcoming BMW Gran Coupe. Next month at the Paris Motor Show, Mercedes will launch the second generation of the four-door coupe that retains the basic roof profile while changing everything else.

The look of the new CLS was previewed last April at the Beijing Motor Show in the form of the sporty-wagon Shooting Break concept. Up front, the CLS has a adopted the more upright grille design that we first saw last year on the gull-wing SLS AMG. Like most other recent premium cars, the CLS has strings of LEDs for running lamps and turn signals. However, even the headlamps are now comprised of the low-power, long-life lighting. The flanks of the CLS now have a much more sculpted and muscular look than before with arched rear fenders that are similar to the new E-Class.

Inside, the CLS features a further evolution of other recent Mercedes designs and like the E-Class features an LCD display in the center of the speedometer to provide a variety of information to the driver. So far Mercedes hasn't announced any powertrain information but we can expect to see the latest direct injected V6 and V8 engines in the U.S. with European models also getting a variety of diesels.

Gallery: 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS