Now that the 2008 Audi A5 has reinvigorated the midsize luxury coupe segment, the redesign of the 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLK is more important than ever. The current CLK is anything but stylish, yet it's a competent coupe that buyers in the segment find appealing nonetheless.
The latest prototypes of the CLK have been caught during cold-weather testing in the Arctic Circle, and they reveal an evolutionary shape that should add some style without getting too radical. The most distinctive change will be a new set of headlights with a more rectangular shape. It's a design cue that started on the current C-Class sedan and will migrate to the E-Class sedan after the CLK's introduction.
From the side, the CLK doesn't appear much bigger than the current model. That's probably a good thing, as the A5 is proving that bigger is not necessarily better when it comes to midsize coupes. The Benz's rear end looks relatively unchanged as well, with new taillights being the most obvious change.
Like the Audi A5/S5, the next-generation CLK will most likely offer both V6 and V8 engines. Figure a 3.5-liter V6 for the base model like the current CLK, and a V8 with roughly 400 horsepower for the top-of-the-line model. An AMG version with upward of 500 hp 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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The latest prototypes of the CLK have been caught during cold-weather testing in the Arctic Circle, and they reveal an evolutionary shape that should add some style without getting too radical. The most distinctive change will be a new set of headlights with a more rectangular shape. It's a design cue that started on the current C-Class sedan and will migrate to the E-Class sedan after the CLK's introduction.
From the side, the CLK doesn't appear much bigger than the current model. That's probably a good thing, as the A5 is proving that bigger is not necessarily better when it comes to midsize coupes. The Benz's rear end looks relatively unchanged as well, with new taillights being the most obvious change.
Like the Audi A5/S5, the next-generation CLK will most likely offer both V6 and V8 engines. Figure a 3.5-liter V6 for the base model like the current CLK, and a V8 with roughly 400 horsepower for the top-of-the-line model. An AMG version with upward of 500 hp 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.
See new Mercedes-Benz models
See future Mercedes-Benz models
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