March27
The all-new Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class' development has been rather quiet over the last couple of months — with the last sighting in early February — but Mercedes engineers have the CLK back on the roads for some more winter testing. While the prototype is still heavily masked, we can now see a few details nearing completion.
The overall styling isn't difficult to decipher from our spy shots, and the computer-generated renderings below provide a good idea of what the final product might look like. Taking design cues from other recent Mercedes models, the CLK has strong character lines without coming across as overly aggressive.
Sources believe the new CLK — like the next-generation E-Class — will opt to keep the quad-headlight treatment, albeit shifting from a rounded design to a more angular one.
The most recent round of spy shots also shows what the road-going CLK's taillights will look like.
It goes without saying, however, that refinement will be done to the chassis to meet expectations of the somewhat more ambitious coupe drivers.
Engines, on the other hand, will come from the C-class line-up and will include a V8 CLK 550 and a performance-oriented CLK 63 AMG. We expect the car to arrive at the dealers in early 2009 with the drop-top following just a few months later.
It's not known if the convertible will feature a soft top or a folding metal roof.
March 27, 2008
Illustrations & spy shots - February 8th, 2008
Spy shots - September 4th, 2007
Truly a good car, but arouses no passion in me
the clk is boring. the 1st gen was beefy and smart, now theyre just clumsy looking.
Looks like its got a lot of potential, to be overpriced.
This car will kick ass!
I have good expectations for it, but I'll wait until we actually see more of it
I don't like the lines of the CL, this looks pretty similar. kinda boring. CLS is my favorite Benz at the moment.
cls is everyones favorite benz at the moment
its the only design that exudes some emotion
I love my CLS, its my favorite car out of all my previous cars.
As for the new CLK, it looks great (so far) compared to the current model which is dull and a little overpriced. For the price of a current CLK 350 you are better off getting a 3 series coupe [some may disagree]. Although the CLK 63 AMG Black Series is another fav. from AMG, but who doesnt love any of the AMG models?
A car the wife will love
Hardly anything given away in these spy shots. No doubt it'll be a great car.
Jackjimturkey summed it up.
ive seen illustrations of this car and its hideous it will have the rear lights form the current CL
editor: I think you mean CLK 550, not 500.
Now give me a CLK 63 AMG Black.
Madcapp summed it up.
gonna b foldin metal roof.
It'll look no different than the other Mercedes sitting on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck. I'll make sure to wave as I drive by in my Saturn Aura.
Seriously, enough is enough. This site is for auto enthusiasts. Entusiasts are able to pick one model that they would love to have from most of the makes out there. 1487, unless you can come up with a car you like from a non GM make, you don't belong here.
Too bad Mercedes won't build a coupe version of the C-Class that is actually anywhere near as affordable as the C-Class sedan. Currently the CLK350 outprices the C350 by about 10k, and the gap will probably get even bigger when the new one arrives.
And hey that new C63 AMG looks great too for an (estimated) 60k. Unfortunately, if you want a two-door, the CLK63 will probably cost you at least 80k.
Actually I think it is improvement over 4 door coupes oxymorons from Benz. I like lower belt line and airier greenhouse. As far as price, it is not for those who need to ask for price. I am sure Paris will lovely in it if trees are not in the way.
GM_SALES_GUY where you've been? I thought you deserted us.
no one has mentioned how similar the front light cluster looks to the gs line from lexus.
am i the only one who sees it?
ps: great to finally join you guys. ive been a reader for months now and finally got the initiative to begin posting my own random rants..
The bisected lights look silly.
It's not a bad looking car, but…it's nothing we haven't already seen from MB 100 times.
if it comes out like this ima puke
Not impressed with Merc or BMW newer body shape/lines. I think the door is open for another luxury brand to take a big jump in market share. Who will it be; Cadillac, Lexus, Audi???
where is the editor? the CLK500?
My father recently bought a CLK350 Sport. It's not really overpriced. I mean, the sticker price is high, but the lease rates and finance rates are great. My father bought his fully loaded 350 for the same price (monthly) as the 330 coupe he was looking at, which is almost 10k less. So, to me, the CLK isn't really overpriced.
The steering feel of the CLK is just OK. But the car actually handles very well, and it is very comfortable. I probably wouldn't buy one (I am looking forward to the A5), but it's a great car for him.
Not good enough pictures to say much about design, but should be a nice, comfy, understated coupe for midlife-crisis curing.
The first CLKs were nice. The current one is a girl and grandpa car. The styling is boring!
The new CL63 AMG is absolutely stunning in real life. Ballin!
Fletch: One of those three is a Luxury brand, the other is a damn-near-luxury brand, and the third is toyota
there are illustrations of this on the net and it will have the rear lights from the current CL class. I'm no CL fan and i doubt i will like this new CLK but lets hope Mercedes put effort into it and come up with something good.
lexus gs?
It looks cool, i'm 110% sure it will be stunning. MB's design team haven't let us down for quite some time now, they have only gotten better and better. Just let me remind you some of the most recent (or recently redesigned) models:
CLS
SLK
ML
S
CL
C
They won't let us down.
THIS WILL BE A FASCINATING MODEL.
IT WILL BE AWESOME
ps: great to finally join you guys. ive been a reader for months now and finally got the initiative to begin posting my own random rants..
Comment by eddyjoe_md, posted on October12 at 9:49 am
.
welcome aboard eddyjoe_md, always glad to have new oponions
Yeah the headlights look like the GS. But the grille is unmistakenly Mercedes.
yeah, but lexus started it with the GS copying the E back in 97.
other than looks, how is this different from the cl?
jordan, it's smaller, it will offer less technological goodies… interior materials will be less opulent… based on the c class chassis, not the s class
and if you drive one, huge difference.
Those lights in the illustration cannot be accurate. They are WAY too Lexus-like
Rodd: you're saying Audi is just another VW?
eh. Looks like a Civic coupe was used to make the illustration.
-Dallas
thanks, atourya.
I'd buy that for a dollar.
Is it just me, or has the pace of new MB introductions just gotten completely out of hand? It seems that every WEEK there's something on LLN about another new Mercedes. And they all look the same to me. I'm glad I'm not an MB salesman; I don't think I could keep all those alpha-numeric names straight!
CLK: The Mercedes for gullible morons who don't realize they just plunked down $9,600 extra for a C-class with two doors missing.
Gotcha!
Fuck, Mercedes design just gets more Korean with each new car
It does look like an Asian design. i first thought Honda Accord coupe.
looks like a lexus GS.
the back reminds me of the 3 series coupe
and the 3 series coupe reminds me of an older civic
Yeah and the front headlamps of that illustration have LEXUS written all over it!
Not that bad, but nothing special either! I mean the front looks like a past generation Lexus and the back reminds me more of a japanese car or the back of the current BMW 3-series.
I just wonder who designed this stuff 'cause I think there are amateurs out there that can do better than this! The problem is that everybody, today, keep upgrading their stuff more and more often so bad stuff occurs more than usual. They should do it like in the old days: take your time and when you've done a really decent design, then release it.
Psssssss.a car for the weekend I rather buy a nice SLK 55 AMG beside this 2-door CHEAP WONDER
Lexus front & Infiniti rear. The only CLK I liked was the first generation.
I have seen some great spy shots of the CLK, the best shots on the web!
>> http://www.autoscoop.biz/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=1826
mk1 CLK was cool
the current one is too plain and …conservative. Turned into something for the wives….
The 1st-gen CLK was sporty but done on the cheap.. the sedan-like center pillar and fixed side windows were the first and last time used on a M-B coupe… not to mention it looked vaguely like a Civic. The 2nd-gen tried to follow the grand coupe tradition of the old 250C,the SEC/SLC models and the current CL with true hardtop styling, but somehow came off more conservative and stuffy than any of those! This third-generation CLK needs to dump the overly tall, glassy greenhouse for a chopped CLS-like roofline, but from the spyshots it appears the CLS 4-door will continue to be the sportiest "coupe" M-B offers.
hunter.. the majority of content on that site hasn't been updated since June 2007. Not exactly a strong selling point.
I sure hope the front end turns out better. It kinda looks like someone just chopped off a piece and stuck a front clip on it.
Still just another European pile of shit waiting to drain your wallet and make you look like an ass for not buying American.
The headlights in the illustration seem to remind me slightly of an Acura or Hyundai look, and that's not a good thing. Not to say Acura's aren't good-looking, but Mercedes always had a more authentic, better-looking design in my opinion.
Promising but still waiting for right-handed GLK.