Mercedes-Benz CLS500 News

The current Mercedes-Benz E-Class and CLS-Class models are being recalled due to the possibility of an engine bay seal becoming damaged and coming into contact with hot engine bay components. The affected seal is located in the secondary bulkhead in the engine compartment, and could result in fire if it becomes loose.The recall affects just seven vehicles, which were sold in Australia between the start of April and May 2015.Mercedes-Benz will contact the owners of affected vehicles by mail, and the fault will be rectified free of charge.Related: What are car safety recalls all about? 

A refreshed Mercedes-Benz CLS has been captured by Carsguide's spy photographers during the car's testing in the icy weather of northern Europe, giving us a look at the styling tweaks that will give a mid-life update for the prestige four-door coupe four years after it first launched.The barely-camouflaged prototype caught on camera shows minor revisions are on the way for the front and rear fascia and the lights. The headlight clusters are getting new LED beams, now topped by restyled LED daytime running lights echoing the S-Class, while a mesh grille brings the nose styling draws closer to that of the A-Class and CLA-Class.Our spies say the cabin scores a redesigned steering wheel, plus a nearly iPad-sized larger COMAND display screen jutting upwards from the dash. The new CLS is likely to be unveiled later this year and arrive in Australia in 2015, followed by the Shooting Brake wagon version.While drivetrains are yet to be confirmed, they are are expected to continue with the 250 and 250CDi but tipped to echo the rationalisation of the E-Class by dropping the range-topping 500's V8 in favour of a V6-powered 400. Mercedes-Benz has just repositioned the current CLS line-up, slashing the CLS250 and CLS250 CDI by $5000, and the range-topping CLS500 by just over $50,000, while axing the mid-range CLS350 and CLS350 CDI.

The CLS-Class has been around for 10 years -- spearheading a decade ago the trend for 'four-door coupe' styling. And to mark its first double-digit birthday (and while we're waiting for the new one to arrive, likely next year) Mercedes is making some big changes to the line-up.The German prestige brand is adding in a package of new features, dropping the prices $5000 on the lower level models and more than $50,000 on the top sepc, but axing the CLS350 petrol and diesel models from the line-up.Named the Avantgarde 10, the new spec level builds on the existing Avantgarde features, but drops the price by $5000 on both the four-door Coupe and wagon Shooting Brake bodies, now available for $114,900 and $124,000 respectively -- plus on-road costs.The extra features include AMG body kit and five-spoke 19-inch alloy wheels, active-cornering adaptive LED headlights, electronically controlled Airmatic damping system, heated front seats, and a Harman Kardon Logic 7 surround sound system.The Avantgarde 10 treatment has also been given to the CLS500 four-door Coupe, with the price slashed $50,400 to make it now available for $159,900 plus on-roads. It also gets the Avantgarde 10 package with the additions of a digital radio tuner and the Easy-Pack quick-fold rear seat system.The price change on the CLS500 drops it to roughly the price of the axed models, with the petrol CLS350 having started at $158,700 and the CLS350 CDI at $159,200.Mercedes-Benz spokesman David McCarthy says the realignment adds considerable value to the anniversary models. "Customer value if the options are added on is $20,000 extra for the CLS250 and CLS250 CDI and about $45,000 for the CLS500," he says.The changes are a resounding shot fired at key German rivals. However McCarthy says the realignment is not prompted by any perceived threat to sales."It was an opportunity to give the the E-Class and CLS-Class a greater focus. We did really well with E-Class and CLS last year so the buyers are there, but we wanted to sharpen it," he says. "We think with this realignment you get the choice of luxury and the luxury of choice."One of the reasons we're taking the 350 out of the catalogue at this point is that E-Class and CLS buyers -- while they're not the same -- are in the same segment. So excluding the AMGs, you've now got an E-Class E200 that starts around $80,000, and then the range is now topped off by the CLS500 anniversary edition at $160,000."He points out a similar strategy was undertaken when rationalising the E-Class line-up. "When we dropped E500 from the E-Class range we replaced it with E400 -- same equipment, different engine, but again it was about a $50,000 drop."There are still a lot of customers out there that want a V8 other than an AMG, so we decided with the anniversary edition to make that vehicle much more affordable. We think there could be some E500 owners that really wanted a V8... well they've always had the choice of a CLS and we've now made it more accessible."However he emphasises that sales figures have not been a problem with either the E-Class or CLS-Class, which sold 1451 and 456 last year respectively, with the E-Class leading the segment against the BMW 5 Series on 1108."Obviously you always want to sell more. But this is not that we're seeing a problem in that segment -- we won that segment -- it's in response to what customers have been telling us and at the end of the day our job is to meet those expectations and give them what they want," McCarthy says.The new price of the CLS500 now makes it a much more attractive proposition than it's former $210,300 ask, with the Merc now about $70,000 less than the closest BMW rival, the 550i starting at $231,445"Our competitors could be a bit put-out by where we've priced the CLS500," McCarthy says. "But our role is to meet the customers' expectations and provide them with the best product and the best value. I'm not interested in giving our opposition a free kick or any sympathy. Now if that upsets another marque, well ... bah."The reality is we wanted to sharpen the range. And I think it really does -- to the extent that we feel pretty confident about how it's going to sell."2014 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class pricesMercedes-Benz CLS250 CDI Avantgarde 10 $114,900 (-$5000)Mercedes-Benz CLS 250 CDI Shooting Brake Avantgarde 10 $124,000 (-$5000)Mercedes-Benz CLS500 Avantgarde 10 $159,900 (-$50,400) 

Imagine yourself in a life-or-death confrontation with an oncoming car, but as you turn the wheel away from danger the car wants to go back into the shooting line. It happened to me in Italy a while back, driving a then-new Mercedes-Benz CLS. And it was scary. But it will never happen again, to me or anyone else, thanks to revisions to Benz's electronic lane-keeping assistant. In case you need a reminder, this safety technology is still on its way down to your car, the 'active' lane-keep assist is intended to intervene if it detects you wandering off the road. It's one of the latest electronic countermeasures to fight fatigue and distracted drivers. At first, the lane-keeper system wobbled the steering wheel as if you were running over a string of cats eyes, then it moved on to a system which brakes the inside-front wheel to straighten the car for you. A bit like electronic stability control, with a twist. That's fine - unless you have deliberately eased away from danger and the car thinks you've dozed off. The Carsguide crew reported the glitch to Benz after the CLS drama and, to the company's immense credit, it reacted quickly and positively. I was soon on a flight to Germany to re-create the situation on a frozen airfield and other journalists were quizzed about their experiences with the CLS, including one who had nearly bowled a motorcycle who was riding in the car's blind spot at the rear three-quarter. Then, at the global preview of the flagship S-Class I am reminded of Benz's safety-first approach to motoring when a new-and-improved Active Lane Keeping Assist system is introduced, complete with revisions from the Carsguide experience. Instead of just checking to see if the driver is signalling a lane change, or that they are applying more than 10 degrees of lock on the wheel, it now uses front and rear scanners before activating the lane-keeper. One system looks far ahead for a potential collision target and another looks behind to ensure there is nothing in the blind spots. It's great, because it's a good idea that just needed some tuning. Even better, Benz admits there was room for improvement - and that Carsguide triggered the changes. “Yes, you can claim the credit,” says Benz's latest safety guru, Jochen Haab, as I climb from the S-Class. He explains the changes and the process, as well as the trickle-down effect that will take the system from the S-Class down into the E-Class and beyond - and even into other brands, as Mercedes-Benz has always been happy to share anything on the safety front. “It's a lot more intelligent now. It has the same name but it monitors a lot more inputs,” Haab says. “If we find these things, we incorporate them.” This reporter is on Twitter: @paulwardgover  

After giving Australian journalists a look at the Shooting Brake overseas, Mercedes has revealed details of the high-powered AMG version.Under the bonnet it packs one heck of a punch with a 5.5-litre V8 biturbo engine with a power output range of 386-410kW and an AMG SpeedShift MCT 7-speed sports transmission and AMG Ride Control sports suspension.That generous boot allows up to 1550 litres of storage space, while the stylish interior will have many second guessing the practical nature of the Shooting Brake – and just to confuse you further, look out for the wooden luggage compartment flooring.The proportions still aim to make it carry a coupe style. Glance at it again and you’ll notice there are five practical doors. But with an AMG workover, this is a sports car with five seats and plenty of bootspace – sting, style and a sensible package.Mercedes-AMG GmbH Chairman Ola Kallenius claims the Shooting Brake will follow the company trend of creating a new market segment. "After the successes of the CLS 55 AMG and CLS 63 AMG, with the new CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake we are consistently pursuing the philosophy of offering our customers unrivalled, exciting high-performance cars.”While Mercedes are eager to attract new buyers, Kallenius says existing customers will be equally delighted. “The CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake is establishing a completely new, small and select niche sector, and is expected to delight new customers just as much as it will existing AMG enthusiasts. The combination of performance, style and usability is unique."Sitting between the coupe and wagon markets, the Shooting Brake currently has no direct competition. However, a sporty, spacious and curiously good-looking car such as this will be highly appealing – young families are an obvious target, yet you’d expect interest from a range of other groups as well. 

...A second-generation CLS is a no-brainer for Mercedes-Benz.But there is a twist, called the Shooting Break, which stretches the coupe into an upscale station wagon.It's just a pity it looks like a Hyundai i40.

Kids aren’t usually a factor in Car of the Year judging.  But child friendliness rates highly with women buying cars – and with women judging cars.The countdown has been kicked off to decide the Women’s World Car of the Year, and the kid factor is one the judges pay a lot of attention to.“Statistics show that women drive children in cars significantly more often than men – and that means women need to take that into account, both when buying and as judges of cars,” WCOTY president Sandy Myhre said from New Zealand.“Any woman who has grappled constantly with child seats and belts and children considers those things when looking at buying a car.  Men might too but the fact is, women drive children in cars more than men.“Women would not consider that aspect in a Porsche 911 more than a bloke. The point is, it can be considered in these awards - and that is one of the points of difference in these awards.”Myhre points out that significant research into buying habits show that in addition to buying for themselves, women have a major influence in household purchase decisions for big ticket items.Ford Australia, for example, says their research shows that women are behind the majority of purchases of the Territory SUV – either as single women buying one, or in influencing the joint decision with their partner. “A report from Mattingly & Associates in Australia concluded, in part, that businesses that didn't understand this influence would be hard-pressed to stay in business.  That report was aptly called 'When I've Made Up Our Minds',” Myhre says.However, the kid factor is just one of the criteria by which the 2012 Women’s World Car of the Year will be judged.There are four categories in the Women's World Car of the Year – Family Car, Luxury Car, Sports Car and Economy Car. Points are allocated to each of ten criteria: driveability, engineering, comfort, child friendliness, style, interior, storage, dashboard efficiency, carbon footprint and colour range.The 20 judges from eleven countries have submitted their own personal short list and more than 300 cars were suggested. These individual choices were then whittled down to form a master list of 32 in terms of popularity. Judges will now allocate points for these cars from a criteria list.The announcement of the winning cars in each category and the supreme winner will be made before the end of March. The supreme award trophy and category certificates will be presented to the car companies concerned at the Mondial de l’Automobile 2012 – the Paris Motor Show – in September. The supreme trophy will this year be made in The Netherlands. Category-winner certificates will be designed at Peartree Studios in Colerne, UK.The first winner of the Women's World Car of the Year was the Jaguar XF in 2010 and the trophy made in South Africa was presented at the Jaguar boutique showroom in Knightsbridge, London. In 2011 there was a dead-heat between the Citroen DS3 and the BMW 5 Series. The two trophies made in India were presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2011. 

It was previewed as a motor show tease in 2010 and is now almost ready for showrooms, as this Carparazzi picture shows. The design is more about style than carrying space - a bit like the Holden Commodore Sportwagon - and it's a good looker that increases Mercedes-Benz's model lineup at the top as it also grows its A-Class family at the bottom. Look for it in Australia from late in 2012.

More importantly, the new A7 Sportback comprises the essentials of the new generation A6 sedan and wagon, which will in turn be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show next March. Visually the striking the four seat A7 is at 4.9m by 1.9m (but only 1.4m high) a longer and wider version of the A5 Sportback, built on a lengthier version of the MDS platform that debuted in the A5 Coupe and underpins in various configurations the A4, A8 and Q5 ranges. While Audi Australia is negotiating price and specification, two engines are certain for Australia; the 3.0 TDI V6 turbo diesel and the 3.0 TSFI which uses the supercharged V6 petrol unit from the S4/S5. An entry 2.8 naturally aspirated V6 petrol, as is found in the outgoing A6, is being considered and would lower the guestimated starting priced. All Australia bound models will have quattro all-wheel-drive with torque vectoring and a seven-speed S tronic dual clutch transmission. Audi spokeswoman Nadine Giusti says the front wheel drive multitronic version on offer in Europe is not on the local shopping list in the immediate term. All engines feature thermal management, start-stop system and energy recovery. A Bose sound system is standard, as is Valcona leather and either wood grain or aluminium finish. So too is MMI navigation with touchpad and 8-inch display, convenience key, a three spoke steering wheel with shifting paddles and four zone air conditioning. Options include Quattro sport differential at about $3000, sports air suspension, which is an extra $2200 in the new A8 sedan, side assist, adaptive cruise control, Bang and Olufsen sound system, and an S line sport package with lowered suspension, 19-inch alloys, sports seats and bespoke trim. The brands first self-reverse parking function is also on the options list. Audis first heads up display is a possible standard option, but its online services, including a sat-nav function that integrates a Google Maps display, is unlikely for our part of the world. Significantly, in terms of the A7s relevance to the sedan and wagon, the A6s project manager Burkhard Wiegand was present at the launch in Sardinia. Both ranges are integral to Audis plan to have on sale 40 distinct variants by 2015.  If you have children and want to drive a coupe that is more elegant than hatchback, the A7 is perfect, he says. And despite attempts to name rivals as diverse as the CLS and BMWs 5 Series GT, Wiegand says: I think it is a unique concept (in this price range). Perhaps it seems similar, but they are very different.  Asked if the lack of a V8 in the current range pointed to an S7, Wiegand says only: In the future we will see. He is, however, more forthcoming on continued criticism of Audi steering. Despite employing a revised system that is linear and accurate, the A7s continues the trend of most Audis in lacking feel something of a drawback in a brand that so readily proclaims its sportiness. The weighting depends on the speed, he says. You can choose the mode with Drive Select. Our sense is the customer wants this. At least the A7 promises a dynamic fillup for the forthcoming A6 which cannot come fast enough for Audi. As a rival for BMW and Mercedes-Benz, the oldest current Audi is a non-starter selling only 354 units in the year to August, while 120 5 Series and 172 E-Classes sold in that month alone.

And the Carparazzi picture car this week is being hussled at high speed around the Nurburgring in Germany.  And the curvy roofline and low-to-the-road suspension settings do suggest something similar to the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo. But this is actually an Audi, and the newest segment-buster from the German brand.  The test car is the A7, which arrives in 2011 as a sporty alternative to the A8 luxury limousine at the top of the family tree. The design is a lot like the A5 Sportback — and the car is expected to be called A7 Sportback — but it picks up its inspiration from the Mercedes-Benz CLS and is likely to be shopped against BMW's new 5 Series GT. Carparazzi shooters report the A7 is as big as the A8, but with a much more rounded roofline and a hatchback rear end. With some of the camouflage stripped away it is much more dramatic, too, than the A8 with a chiselled look and sports-set suspension. The A7 is likely to be revealed at either the upcoming Moscow Auto Salon or the Paris Motor Show in October, with Australian sales in the second half of next year.