2009 Mercedes-Benz CLK Spy Photo!
By Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor
Caught for the first time on the Nürburgring, the 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLK is just months away from its public debut. And it can’t come soon enough as the Audi A5/S5 coupes are capturing all the attention in the midsize luxury coupe segment.
Although the CLK is in dire need of a more engaging design, don’t expect radical changes. From the looks of this prototype, the overall size and shape aren’t much different from the current coupe. A new set of rectangular headlights will be the CLK’s most distinguishing feature — a design cue first introduced on the C-Class sedan.
The rest of the car remains conservative, featuring a gently sloping roofline and mildly tapered rear end. There’s still no B-pillar — a visually desirable design element that’s slowly losing favor thanks to stricter side-impact crash standards. It’s one of the current model’s few unique design elements, so we’re glad to see Mercedes has spent the money to keep it around for another generation.
Our shooters also managed to catch one of these prototypes with a window down, giving us our first look at the CLK’s interior. Mercedes’ latest navigation system is now perched high atop the dashboard, while the gauge cluster appears similar to the C-Class sedan. Chrome rings around the gauges and some metallic dashboard trim add flash to an otherwise gray interior.
Expect a familiar lineup of engines, with a 3.5-liter V6 on base models and a V8 for the top-of-the-line CLK. An AMG-tuned version with upward of 500 horsepower will come later, along with a convertible and possibly another Black Series edition.
After a fall debut at the 2008 Paris Auto Show, the 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLK Coupe should go on sale in Europe by the end of the year. U.S. sales are expected to start in the spring of 2009.
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