MERCEDES-BENZ

BAROQUE AND ROLL STAR Is This A Coupe With Four Doors Or A Saloon With A Swoopy Roof? Even Mercedes Don’t Seem Too Sure. Andy Enright Reports

Conventional wisdom dictates that a coupe has two doors, occasionally three if you count a hatchback. Five doors, as boasted by the Mazda RX-8 are pushing things a bit. A quartet of doors is the one attribute that really precludes entry to the coupe club. Possessed of four doors, you are usually a saloon. Saloons, as we all know, are generally a bit boring, driven by middle management and chubby gentlemen the world over. The Mercedes CLS breaks that particular mould. It’s breathtakingly striking with flowing coupe-like lines, razor-edged detailing and superb finish. It also has four doors.

Walk around a CLS and – if you’re a student of automotive design – you may well feel a gnawing sense of unease. What is it about this car that’s so unusual? Yes, a four-door coupe isn’t exactly conventional but that isn’t it. After a while the realisation dawns that the CLS just plain doesn’t seem like a German car. History has taught us that German cars feature clean, pragmatic styling. Even the more extrovert and successful German designs, such as Audi’s TT, have a pared-down industrial hygiene to the styling. The CLS is different insofar that it is unashamedly Baroque, with an attention seeking ostentation suffused throughout it. In short, this car looks American. The suspicion is well founded, the CLS being largely the work of American stylist Michael Fink. Priced from £43,957, it almost looks like an evolution of a Los Angeleno low rider from the late fifties and is undoubtedly going to be a very hot ticket in Mercedes’ biggest export market. It’s difficult to take in all of the details of the CLS styling at one go. The way the twin swage lines that run along the flanks become the leading edge of the front wheelarch is beautifully resolved and the big L-shaped front lights mark a welcome departure from the gawky ‘peanut’ headlamps seen on so many contemporary Benzes. Even the door handles look like something from an Art Deco design exhibition.

"History has taught us that German cars feature industrial, pragmatic styling. The CLS must have ditched history class early"

Open the door and the surprises continue. In true coupe fashion the CLS features frameless glass, the windows dropping a centimetre or so as you pull the handle. It’s also a long way down to the driver’s seat. Stand next to the CLS and you’ll soon realise that it’s a good deal lower than either a CL or a CLK coupe, the two big hitters of Mercedes’ coupe range. The cabin is like no Benz currently offered, the fascia being particularly reminiscent of modern Jaguars. A vast plank of wood runs across the dashboard, punctuated by the ventilation controls and a deeply sunk instrument binnacle. If imitation truly is the sincerest form of flattery then Jaguar should be coyly blushing, rather than rushing to issue writs. The CLS is a four seater with a chunky transmission tunnel dividing the two rear seats. It’s easy to forget that there’s an additional set of doors at the back, despite Mercedes not adopting Alfa Romeo’s clever hidden handle feature. Once opened, taller passengers will have to watch their heads as they climb in, but the legroom isn’t bad at all. Compared to its closest rival, BMW’s 6 Series, the CLS is a far more practical proposition. Headroom in the back is 37mm down on the E-Class saloon but is far from problematic although the high waistline gives a slightly claustrophobic feel. The fact that it’s easy to get in and out of the back helps here. Three petrol engines are offered to UK customers. The smallest petrol powerplant is no slouch, being the 268bhp 3.5-litre V8. This CLS350 has a price tag of £43,962, which looks attractive in comparison to the other Mercedes models using this engine. An S350 saloon, for example, is over £56,000, an SL350 over £61,000 with only the compact SLK350 undercutting it. Mercedes predict that this will be their most popular model and although they claim to be aiming at 30,000 CLS sales across the globe in 2005, company insiders are so excited about the concept that they’ll be disappointed if the car doesn’t shift 50,000 units. The CLS350 will get to 60mph in 7 seconds and run on to an electronically limited top speed of 155mph, which means that it’s quick enough to keep a BMW 630i honest. The CO2 emissions are pegged at a relatively saintly 238g/km and a combined fuel figure of 27.9mpg is good news for those who don’t want to be saddled with a gas-guzzler. If you’ve got a little more money to throw at a CLS you may well be tempted by the V8 engined CLS500. Here you get a couple of extra cylinders, a fraction better refinement and acceleration which seems a rather questionable return on what is the thick end of a £10,000 premium. If you really hanker after a CLS that will lift its skirts and fly, best go for the CLS63 AMG version. Expect to see it featuring prominently in rap videos on MTV soon. The sole diesel option is also the cheapest CLS available. £43,957 buys you the 224bhp 320CDI which can hit 60mph in 7s and with 500Nm, it feels quicker in real world driving than the 350. Fuel economy of 37mpg is not to be sniffed at. Marketeers would dub the Mercedes-Benz CLS a ‘high involvement’ car. It’s a car to which it’s possible to form an emotional bond, attracted by its exotic styling and unconventional attitude. This makes it a very special car. When was the last time you could form such a bond with a Mercedes. You could admire a Mercedes, aspire to one, or respect what they did but the three-pointed star was never something that would tug on the heartstrings. The CLS changes that, and this is in part why it’s such a culturally disorientating car and one with such a big capacity to surprise. Henceforth, four-door coupes are set to become rather more appreciated.

FACTS AT A GLANCE CAR: Mercedes CLS range PRICES: £43,957-£73,997 – on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 18-20 CO2 EMISSONS: [CLS350] 238g/km PERFORMANCE: [CLS350] 0-60mph 6.8s / Max Speed 155mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [CLS350] (combined) 27.9mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side & window airbags, ABS, ESP WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 4913/1873/1403mm

MISHMASH MASTER CLASS Quite Where Mercedes’ CLS 320CDI Fits Into The UK Prestige Car Market Is Anyone’s Guess But Its Unusual Make-Up Should Render It A Hit With Buyers Keen To Stand Out From The Crowd. Steve Walker Reports…

We were just about getting used to the idea of prestige coupes with diesel engines and then Mercedes-Benz saw fit to confront us with this – the CLS 320CDI. Bafflement ensued around the office, heads were scratched and chins were stroked in an attempt to get a handle on the vehicle and its place in the market. The CLS on its own is pretty hard to pin down. It has four doors and a boot like a saloon but we’re told it’s a coupe and the swoopy styling would appear to back that up. Chuck the 320CDi engine into the mix and the waters are muddied further. It’s a remarkable powerplant but its practical values don’t really tally with the ostentatious appeal of the CLS in the way that the big petrol engines do. What sort of person would buy one?

To choose a Mercedes-Benz CLS in the first place, you have to be a person who’s driven by the way things look and feel. Here’s a vehicle that’s around £7,000 more model for model than an E-Class and yet it offers significantly reduced interior space and luggage capacity. It does have four doors along with space to seat four adults in comfort, however, and the styling, although initially challenging, does grow on you with its elegant lines and retro influences. The CLS is a classy product, obviously conceived for people who like to stand out from the crowd and perhaps this is where the 320CDi engine comes in. Like the CLS itself, it’s an offbeat choice but it’s also an informed one. If you had to pigeonhole the Mercedes-Benz CLS, it would probably be as some kind of luxury grand tourer and that would lead you to expect that it functions best with the drama of a big petrol engine snarling away under its bonnet. In the 350, the 500 and the 63 AMG models, the CLS has a V6 and two V8s to fire the imagination. You can visualise it snaking up a remote mountain pass or blasting down an autobahn but couldn’t the same effect be achieved with a diesel? If we’re talking about the Mercedes-Benz 320CDI diesel, it most certainly could.

"It’s an outstanding powerplant, definitely one of the world’s finest diesels"

The engine is an absolute stormer, producing 224bhp from its 6-cylinder 24-valve configuration. It’s actually a 3.0-litre unit, despite what the 320CDI title might lead you to believe, and it’s the least powerful option in the CLS Range but you wouldn’t know that to drive it. The 510Nm maximum torque output means there’s a tidal wave of acceleration poised to wash over you when the throttle is depressed at virtually any point in the rev Range. 0-60mph acceleration of seven seconds is on a par with the CLS 350 but drop the hammer while cruising at 40mph and the diesel’s monumental torque would leave that car floundering. Other advantages include the 37.2mpg average fuel economy and the 202g/km CO2 emissions, both figures being far superior to anything the CLS petrol engines can mange. The CLS is a car of contradictions and nowhere are these more apparent than when you’re seated behind the wheel. The low, laid-back driving position will come as a surprise to anyone who had this down as an E-Class with a prettier face. The high window line and low roof add to the sports car feel, as does the pronounced transmission tunnel that runs through the centre of the cabin. You feel cocooned within the car and it’s an altogether different experience than you get from an E-Class. Traditional Mercedes-Benz customers may not like the restricted visibility or the more strenuous entries and exits that result from the low-slung seats but once you’re in, it’s extremely comfortable. Once you get moving, the CLS surprises again. The car’s dynamic exterior lines are forgotten as it serves up an experience that is typical Mercedes-Benz. Beautifully-damped suspension obliterates uneven road surfaces and anyone harbouring concerns over the refinement of the 320CDI engine will quickly lay them to rest after a stint at the wheel. The ride can be firmed-up with a press of a button but the CLS tackles corners with aplomb, even in the standard setting and the benefits of the sport mode’s more fidgety ride aren’t that great. When you’re pressing on, the CLS seems to shrink around you and it’s an involving drive in a way that you wouldn’t expect from a car of this size. It’s no sports car because there’s always that level of shielding from the sensory input of the engine, suspension and steering but there’s definitely fun to be had in the CLS. The CLS is a car of various contrasting views and you’ll wander round it more than a few times before you finally decide how you feel about that look. Most observers suspect an American influence and they’re right to do so, CLS being largely the work of American stylist Michael Fink. Priced from £43,250 in 320CDI form, it almost looks like an evolution of a Los Angeleno low rider from the late fifties and is undoubtedly going to be a very hot ticket in Mercedes’ biggest export market. It’s difficult to take in all of the details of the CLS styling at one go. The way the twin swage lines that run along the flanks become the leading edge of the front wheelarch is beautifully resolved and the big L-shaped front lights mark a welcome departure from the gawky ‘peanut’ headlamps seen on so many contemporary Benzes. Even the door handles look like something from an Art Deco design exhibition. The CLS is a non-conformist concept from one of the world’s most conservative manufacturers and the 320CDI engine is a similarly leftfield option when fitted to this kind of car. It isn’t that hard to understand how the type of customer who appreciates the CLS for its unorthodox make-up and dramatic appearance could be drawn to the 320CDI. It’s an outstanding powerplant, definitely one of the world’s finest diesels but, more importantly, it isn’t the obvious choice.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Mercedes CLS 320CDI PRICE: £43,275 – on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 18A CO2 EMISSONS:] 202g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 7.0s / Max Speed 155mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 37.2mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side & window airbags, ABS, ESP WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 4913/1873/1403mm

POWER CURVE The Swoopy Mercedes CLS63 AMG Doesn’t Major On Moderation. Andy Enright Has A Wallow In Excess….

Somebody needs to have a word with the top brass at Mercedes Benz and inform them that the Eighties ended quite some time ago. That was the era when too much was just a starting point, when everything was in your face, high octane and without social conscience. The CLS63 AMG is a car that does wanton excess with such panache that despite its postmillennial refinements, its heart still seems locked into the Eighties.

Looking at the figures tells you only half the story. This £72,995 car features a 6.2-litre V8 that’s good for over 507bhp. Back in the Eighties, that would have been enough to outmuscle a Lamborghini Countach QV. The CLS63 AMG will bludgeon its way to 60mph in just 4.5 seconds and shortly thereafter it will bump heads with its 155mph electronic speed limiter. Expect single figure fuel consumption if driven like this. Nanny the car around a little and you might average 20mpg. As we’ve said, you’ll need to stump up a great deal of money for the privilege of owning one but once experienced, most remotely comparable rivals appear a little bland. The sheer scale of the physics involved take some getting to grips with. Here is car that weighs almost two tonnes yet which will still step off the mark quicker than a Lotus Exige. The 7G-Tronic automatic box is preferred to the five-speed ‘box used in the old CLS55 AMG and isn’t quite as smooth but is much more responsive. Other changes over the ‘55’ are revised hydraulic brakes, a dropping of the ride height by 10mm and smarter wheels and bumpers. Otherwise, if you ignore the fact that the engine is no longer supercharged so has slightly less torque, the recipe is pretty similar. As an autobahn express, this AMG-tweaked CLS still works a treat. As a sports coupe it’s still not quite so bright. Conventional wisdom dictates that a coupe has two doors, a quartet of doors generally precluding entry to the coupe club. Possessed of four doors, you are usually a saloon. Saloons, as we all know, are generally a bit boring, driven by middle management and chubby gentlemen the world over. The Mercedes CLS breaks that particular mould. It’s breathtakingly striking with flowing coupe-like lines, razor-edged detailing and superb finish. It also has four doors.

"Certain elements of this car’s make up are very ‘un-Mercedes’"

Therefore this car shouldn’t be pitched as some sort of rival to BMW’s mighty M5. Instead it’s a car that will suit those captains of industry who need to demolish big mileages but would rather be behind the wheel of car that gave something back rather than in the back seat of a limousine. The speed sensitive steering is a little quicker than that fitted to the E63 saloon but it’s still hardly rich in detailed feedback. While that’s not the ideal solution for cornering as if your trousers are on fire, it provides a pleasantly steady helm when travelling at big velocities. The self-levelling ‘Airmatic’ suspension also does a very good job at filtering out surface imperfections while at the same time keeping the CLS’ not inconsiderable bulk in check. Other modifications include eight-pot front brake calipers that are quite astonishingly effective. Walk around a CLS and – if you’re a student of automotive design – you may well feel a gnawing sense of unease. What is it about this car that’s so unusual? Yes, a four-door coupe isn’t exactly conventional but that isn’t it. After a while the realisation dawns that the CLS just plain doesn’t seem like a German car. History has taught us that German cars feature clean, pragmatic styling. Even the more extrovert and successful German designs, such as Audi’s TT, have a pared-down industrial hygiene to the styling. The CLS is different insofar that it is unashamedly Baroque, with an attention seeking ostentation suffused throughout it. In short, this car looks American. The suspicion is well founded, the CLS being largely the work of American stylist Michael Fink. It almost looks like an evolution of a Los Angeleno low rider from the late fifties and is undoubtedly going to be a very hot ticket in Mercedes’ biggest export market. It’s difficult to take in all of the details of the CLS styling at one go. The way the twin swage lines that run along the flanks become the leading edge of the front wheelarch is beautifully resolved and the big L-shaped front lights mark a welcome departure from the gawky ‘peanut’ headlamps seen on so many contemporary Benzes. Even the door handles look like something from an Art Deco design exhibition. Aside from the big wheels and a slightly more aggressive front end treatment, there’s not a whole lot to distinguish this CLS63 AMG model from a humble CLS350. In true coupe fashion, the CLS features frameless glass, the windows dropping a centimetre or so as you pull the handle. It’s also a long way down to the driver’s seat. Stand next to the CLS and you’ll soon realise that it’s a good deal lower than either a CL or a CLK coupe, the two big hitters of Mercedes’ coupe Range. The cabin is like no Benz currently offered, the fascia being particularly reminiscent of modern Jaguars. A vast plank of wood runs across the dashboard, punctuated by the ventilation controls and a deeply sunk instrument binnacle. Perforated leather with Alcantara detailing covers the seats with the door panels also finished in the soft touch hide. The CLS63 AMG is a car that disorientates like few others. Certain elements of its make up are very ‘un-Mercedes’. It’s ostentatious and, some may argue, rather pointless. On a purely dynamic basis, it certainly doesn’t bring a whole lot to the Mercedes Range. What it does bring is some genuine personality and a sense of fun. Despite its sticker price, the CLS63 AMG is a car that doesn’t seem to take itself too seriously. Attitude and personality in a modern Mercedes? We haven’t seen that for quite a few years.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Mercedes CLS63 AMG PRICE: £72,995 – on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 20 CO2 EMISSONS: 345g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 4.5s / Max Speed 155mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 19.5mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side & window airbags, ABS, ESP WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 4913/1873/1403mm

BAROQUE AND ROLL STAR Is this a coupe with four doors or a saloon with a swoopy roof? Even Mercedes don’t seem too sure. Andy Enright reports on the latest Mercedes CLS

A cross between a saloon and a coupe, the Mercedes CLS is a highly distinctive proposition, particularly in the company of Mercedes’ other four-door offerings. Extremely refined and silky smooth on the road, it also injects a touch of spice with livelier handling than the E-Class which spawned it. Pick the right power option and running costs are more manageable than you’d think.

Conventional wisdom dictates that a coupe has two doors, occasionally three if you count a hatchback rear. Five doors, as boasted by the Mazda RX-8, is pushing things a bit but a quartet of doors is the one attribute that generally precludes entry to the coupe club. Possessed of four doors, you are usually a saloon. Saloons, as we all know, are often a bit staid, driven by middle management and chubby gentlemen the world over. The Mercedes CLS breaks that particular mould. It’s breathtakingly striking with flowing coupe-like lines, razor-edged detailing and superb finish. It also has four doors. Walk around a CLS and – if you’re a student of automotive design – you may well feel a gnawing sense of unease. What is it about this car that’s so unusual? Yes, a four-door coupe isn’t exactly conventional but that isn’t it. After a while the realisation dawns that the CLS just plain doesn’t seem like a German car. History has taught us that German cars feature clean, pragmatic styling. Even the more extrovert and successful German designs, such as Audi’s TT, have a pared-down industrial hygiene about them. The CLS is different insofar that it is unashamedly Baroque, with an attention seeking ostentation suffused throughout it. In short, this car looks American. Three petrol engines are offered to UK customers. The smallest petrol powerplant is no slouch, being a 292bhp 3.5-litre V6 with piezo-electric direct injection and a spray-guided combustion system. It will get the CLS 350 to 60mph in under 7 seconds and run on to an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph, which means that it’s quick enough to keep a BMW 630i honest. If you’ve got a little more money to throw at a CLS, you may well be tempted by the 388bhp V8-engined CLS 500. Here, you get a couple of extra cylinders offering a fraction better refinement and acceleration, which seems a rather questionable return on what is a significant premium. If you really hanker after a CLS that will lift its skirts and fly, best go for the 514bhp CLS 63 AMG version, a car destined from inception to star in its fair share of gangster rap music videos. The sole diesel option is also the cheapest CLS available. The 224bhp 320 CDI which can hit 60mph in 7s and produces 500Nm feels quicker in real world driving than the 350.

"Neither saloon nor coupe, the Mercedes CLS is a hard car to pin down…."

The ‘four-door coupe’ billing of the CLS leads us to expect a degree of agility and athleticism beyond that of Mercedes saloons such as the E-Class with which this model shares its basic chassis. It delivers on this to an extent with a greater firmness to the suspension and a tauter feel under cornering loads but the CLS does not sacrifice the ride quality you expect from a four-door Mercedes costing what the CLS costs. The car cossets its driver and passengers while thrilling them with its majestic performance and effortless pace. It doesn’t feel particularly like a coupe though and certainly never like anything so uncouth as a sports car. The CLS almost looks like an evolution of a Los Angeleno low rider from the late fifties and was always destined to be a very hot ticket in America, Mercedes’ biggest export market. It’s difficult to take in all of the details of the CLS styling at one go. The way the twin swage lines that run along the flanks become the leading edge of the front wheel arch is beautifully resolved and the big L-shaped front lights mark a welcome departure from the gawky ‘peanut’ headlamps seen on so many contemporary Benzes. Even the door handles look like something from an Art Deco design exhibition. The latest revisions include a revised radiator grille, LED taillights and shapelier mirrors. Open the door and the surprises continue. The cabin is like no Benz currently offered. A vast plank of wood runs across the dashboard, punctuated by the ventilation controls and a deeply sunken instrument binnacle. Mercedes has kept the cabin fresh by introducing a revised three spoke steering wheel and white-faced instrument dials. Chestnut wood inserts improve the perception of quality and uprated infotainment systems also feature. The CLS is a four seater with a chunky transmission tunnel dividing the two rear seats. It’s easy to forget that there’s an additional set of doors at the back, despite Mercedes not adopting Alfa Romeo’s clever hidden handle feature. Once opened, taller passengers will have to watch their heads as they climb in, but the legroom isn’t bad at all. Compared to its closest rival, BMW’s 6 Series, the CLS is a far more practical proposition. Headroom in the back is far from problematic although the high waistline gives a slightly claustrophobic feel. The fact that it’s easy to get in and out of the back helps here. In order to get a handle on the value proposition of the Mercedes CLS, it helps to put it up against some putative rivals. This is, in fact, no easy task, as the CLS is rather out on a limb when it comes to comparisons. Nothing else directly measures up against it, from the BMW 6 Series (not enough doors) to the Audi A8 (too big and bulky). It’s not even a particularly valuable exercise to highlight quite how much the CLS costs when compared to an equivalent Mercedes E-Class, as most CLS customers want That Shape and are prepared to pay a significant premium to get it in their garage. The CLS 350 CGI petrol model is set to become particularly popular in terms of global sales and it’s not difficult to see why. A typically specified model will roll out of dealerships in the upper £40k bracket and it offers a lot of car and a whole heap of capability for the money. Think of it as being equivalently priced to, say, a Porsche Cayman S and it looks solid value. The CLS 320 CDI diesel looks a desirable option too, costing similar money to the CLS 350 CGI but lacking that engine’s sonorous exhaust note. The 5.5-litre CLS 500 is the preserve of the very wealthy but even the entry-level models don’t leave you wanting for much equipment-wise. Climate control, cruise control and part leather trim are standard. The options list holds gems like Keyless Go, a Harman Kardon stereo upgrade, a TV tuner and adaptive Bi-Xenon headlamps. The diesel is the CLS for those looking to bypass big fuel bills. It manages a very creditable 37.2mpg along with 200g/km CO2 emissions, making it a viable option for company car users. The CLS 350 CGI can achieve 31mpg, so it too is hardly crippling to run in the scheme of things. Costs rise sharply once you progress onto the V8 CLS 500 with 24mpg and 275g/km on the cards. Then it’s the CLS 63 AMG which returns 19mpg and emits 345g/km of CO2. Greenpeace could hardly be any more offended if you fitted a whaling harpoon gun to the bonnet. The desirability of the CLS should help it perform strongly on the used market. Comparatively rare cars with evocative styling rarely fall out of bed by the time owners come to sell them on and this shouldn’t be an exception. Servicing is not cheap however and the car’s coupe status hardly encourages generosity from the insurance industry. Groups range from 18 to 20. Marketers would dub the Mercedes-Benz CLS a ‘high involvement’ car. It’s a vehicle to which it’s possible to form an emotional bond, attracted by its exotic styling and unconventional attitude. This makes it a very special car. When was the last time you could form such a bond with a Mercedes? You could admire a Mercedes, aspire to one, or respect what they did but the three-pointed star was never something that would tug on the heartstrings. The CLS changed that, and this is in part why it’s such a culturally disorientating car and one with such a big capacity to surprise. Neither saloon nor coupe, the Mercedes CLS is a hard car to pin down. Its exotic looks and driving experience suggest it’s sportier than a Mercedes four-door should be but its four doors produce practicality and comfort that isn’t in keeping with the coupe job description. What’s not in doubt is that the CLS remains a ground-breaking car for Mercedes and for the market as a whole.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Mercedes-Benz CLS range PRICES: £44,000-£74,000 [est] – on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 18-20 CO2 EMISSONS: [CLS320 CDI] 202g/km PERFORMANCE: [CLS320 CDI] 0-60mph 7s / Max Speed 153mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [CLS350] (urban) 26.7mpg / (extra urban) 47.9mpg / (combined) 37.2mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side & window airbags, ABS, ESP WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 4913/1873/1403mm

MERC’S CURVE BALL Models Covered: CLS saloon- 2005 to date: (CLS350, CLS500, CLS55 AMG, CLS63 AMG petrol, CLS320CDI diesel]

BY ANDY ENRIGHT

When it comes to buttoned-down saloon car rectitude, Mercedes-Benz has the market taped. Leave aside the gut-wrenchingly rapid AMG models and it has to be said that the C-Class, E-Class and S-Class models are about as straight as they come. It’s easy to imagine senior suits in Stuttgart intoning that "For the saloon car, we have a procedure. The procedure must not be deviated from. Deviation will not be tolerated." Quite how the CLS slipped through the net is anyone’s guess, but here’s a car that takes the saloon car book of conventions, rips it to shreds and dances on the tatters. As a used buy, it’s one of the most interesting saloon choices around.

The underpinnings of the CLS are never quite as radical as the banana styling would suggest, being ostensibly an E-Class chassis down below. This is no bad thing, the E-Class having improved beyond measure prior to the emergence of the CLS, but it’s also a very clever piece of marketing from Mercedes. Ask most potential purchasers – and a good few owners – of the CLS and they’d take the S in the title as suggesting it’s built on the bones of an S Class. Close, but no cigar. The basic CLS shape was first displayed at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show, dubbed the Vision CLS Concept. Mercedes was swamped with requests and speculative letters of intent should they ever decide to put the car into production. The hopes of enthusiasts were realised in 2004 when the car was displayed in virtual production-ready form at the New York Auto Show. Later that year, the CLS55 AMG hot rod was unveiled at Paris and the cars arrived in dealers in late April 2005. The range comprised the CLS350, the CLS500 and the CLS55 AMG petrol models as well as the CLS320CDI diesel. The racy CLS55 AMG was not long for this world, replaced in short order by the big capacity, naturally-aspirated CLS63 AMG in July 2006.

Walk around a CLS and – if you’re a student of automotive design – you may well feel a gnawing sense of unease. What is it about this car that’s so unusual? Yes, a four-door coupe isn’t exactly conventional but that isn’t it. After a while the realisation dawns that the CLS just plain doesn’t seem like a German car. History has taught us that German cars feature clean, pragmatic styling. Even the more extrovert and successful German designs, such as Audi’s TT, have a pared-down industrial hygiene about their bodywork. The CLS is different insofar that it is unashamedly Baroque, with an attention-seeking ostentation suffused throughout it. In short, this car looks American. The suspicion is well-founded, the CLS being largely the work of American stylist Michael Fink. It almost looks like an evolution of a Los Angeleno low rider from the late fifties and was always destined to be a very hot ticket in Mercedes’ biggest export market. It’s difficult to take in all of the details of the CLS styling at one go. The way the twin swage lines that run along the flanks become the leading edge of the front wheelarch is beautifully resolved and the big L-shaped front lights mark a welcome departure from the gawky ‘peanut’ headlamps seen on so many contemporary Benzes. Even the door handles look like something from an Art Deco design exhibition. Open the door and the surprises continue. In true coupe fashion, the CLS features frameless glass, the windows dropping a centimetre or so as you pull the handle. It’s also a long way down to the driver’s seat. Stand next to the CLS and you’ll soon realise that it’s a good deal lower than either a CL or a CLK coupe, the two big hitters of Mercedes’ coupe range. The cabin is like no Benz currently offered, the fascia being particularly reminiscent of modern Jaguars. A vast plank of wood runs across the dashboard, punctuated by the ventilation controls and a deeply sunk instrument binnacle. If imitation truly is the sincerest form of flattery, then Jaguar should be coyly blushing.

Super-strong demand from new can cause used values to collapse when a faddish car is no longer flavour of the month. That’s not the case for the CLS which has held up very well in the used arena. A 54-plated CLS 350 opens at £34,000 with a similar vintage CLS500 setting you back around £39,000. You’ll pay about the same for a CLS 320CDI, while the CLS 55AMG will require at least £50,000 from the slush fund. Insurance ranges from Group 18 for the diesel car to a predictable Group 20 for the AMG specials.

Trade pundits advise buyers to seek out AMG alloys and leather upholstery while avoiding dull non-metallic colours for easy selling on. White cars have staged a bit of a recovery of late but don’t be tempted for a white CLS – they look dreadful. Yellow should also be given a wide berth unless you want your car to look like a ballistic banana. Buying from a franchised dealership is undeniably expensive, but the selection will be good and this route should take the worry out of purchasing a CLS. Going this route also entitles you to Mercedes' helpful PCP finance scheme and an impressive back-up package of after-sales benefits.

(approx based on an 2005 CLS350) A starter motor will be about £265 and a radiator around £275 while an alternator is around £325. Brake pads are about £86 for the front and £55 for the rear. A replacement headlamp is £440.

The CLS is a four-seater only, with a chunky transmission tunnel dividing the two rear seats. It’s easy to forget that there’s an additional set of doors at the back, despite Mercedes not adopting Alfa Romeo’s clever hidden handle feature. Once opened, taller passengers will have to watch their heads as they climb in, but the legroom isn’t bad at all. Compared to its closest rival, BMW’s 6 Series, the CLS is a far more practical proposition. Headroom in the back is 37mm down on the E-Class saloon but is far from problematic although the high waistline gives a slightly claustrophobic feel. The fact that it’s easy to get in and out of the back helps here. The smallest petrol powerplant is no slouch, being a 268bhp 3.5-litre V8. This has proved the most popular model and although Mercedes claimed to be aiming at 30,000 CLS sales across the globe in 2005, company insiders claim that the car actually shifted more than 50,000 units. The CLS350 will get to 60mph in 7 seconds and run on to an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph, which means that it’s quick enough to keep a BMW 630i honest. The CO2 emissions are pegged at a relatively saintly 238g/km and a combined fuel figure of 27.9mpg is good news for those who don’t want to be saddled with a gas-guzzler. If you’ve got a little more money to throw at a CLS, you may well be tempted by the V8-engined CLS500. Here you get a couple of extra cylinders, a fraction better refinement and acceleration which seems a rather questionable return on what is the thick end of a £10,000 premium. If you really hanker after a CLS that will lift its skirts and fly, best go for the CLS63 AMG version. The sole diesel option, the 224bhp 320CDI, can hit 60mph in 7s and with 500Nm, it feels quicker in real world driving than the 350. Fuel economy of 37mpg is not to be sniffed at.

There aren’t too many saloon cars - even in this price bracket - that give you a real buzz of excitement to own. Yes, there are quicker saloons that rely on brute force to supply the thrills but the Mercedes CLS operates on a subtler plane. As a used buy, it may still be a year or two before it starts to attain true bargain status but an ‘04 CLS350 would make a very tempting alternative to something newer but less charismatic.