But it's styling that distinguishes the CLS. Technically, the CLS is a sedan because it has four doors, but Mercedes calls it a four-door coupe, and that's a good description. The swoop-roof, pillar-less CLS has the graceful, sensuous, feel of a coupe with the rear-seat access of a sedan. It may be the most visually appealing four-door on the market. Those great looks come with a slight penalty in terms of interior space, of course. The CLS only has four seats with four seat belts, while the E-Class cars have five.
In terms of technology, however, the CLS gives up nothing. Its air-spring suspension automatically gets firmer or softer depending upon road conditions. A vast array of Mercedes safety features come standard, including rear-passenger side-impact airbags and one of the most advanced skid-management systems in production. More than 70 percent of the steel in the body and frame is galvanized, high-strength alloy, and even the paint is advanced. The clearcoat layer is impregnated with tiny ceramic particles, increasing resistance to scratches by 300 percent compared to conventional finishes, according to Mercedes.
For 2009, CLS gets minor changes to its exterior appearance. The four-bar grille is replaced with a two-bar version, the mirrors are larger and include built-in arrow-shaped turn signals, and there are new dual-five-spoke 18-inch wheels. In back, there's a new rear bumper with trapezoidal-shaped dual exhaust outlets and arrow-shaped LED taillights. Inside is found a three-spoke steering wheel with a sportier appearance, new gauges in white with silver backgrounds, and a revised central display in the console incorporates Bluetooth for hands-free phone operation, a six-CD stacker and voice control of audio and phone functions. Next Page