Best Shots yet of New Mercedes CLK Replacement/E Class Coupe Caught

Copyight by Automedia / Mercedes E Class Coupe

By Clinton Deacon
September 16, 2008 2:22 PM
Filed Under: German, Mercedes-Benz, Spy Photos

In 2009 Mercedes will launch a successor to the Mercedes CLK which Daimler will move up a notch to the E-Class level. The underpinnings will still be provided by the current generation C-Class, but with a style reflecting very much the new E-Class. We will see a preview of this styling in person in just a few weeks when Mercedes unveil the ConceptFASCINATION. The new direction of its coupe is an attempt by Mercedes to return the E-Class to the legendary status once achieved by the W124 E-Class generation.

As the C-Class is providing the platform we are likely to see a similar engine range which will undoubtedly include Bluetec diesel options and a hybrid model – an area which will account for a large proportion of the German automaker's sales in the future.

These shots caught by our spies show the E-Class coupe continuing its development and has shed a little more disguise. Close inspection on some of the styling lines show the similarities between this and the ConceptFASCINATION.

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Comments

lucifa

September 16, 2008 3:56 PM

all of the new mercs look crap, but this... this actually looks good! maybe merc have finally got their act together after bangle scared them ****less?

Emrys_Myrddin

September 16, 2008 4:19 PM

An E-Styled C-Class Coupe... uhm... quite a mess, but still, very good looking!

Andres2007

September 17, 2008 1:49 AM

CLK? :p

wjaprep

October 21, 2008 11:53 PM

Actually in recent new it will be based off of the E class XD

alessandro

September 16, 2008 5:25 PM

Good despite that wanna-be "piping" and cheapy diffusor.

JackJack

September 16, 2008 6:15 PM

This car is based on a E-Class platform I'm sure, not a C. I'm sure it's gonna look great though. It's gonna have LED "daytime driving lamps" like the Audis. You can see them through the "mesh cover" at the bottom of the front bumper. Gonna be interesting. I heard a rumour though that there won't be an AMG model in this class due to lack of sales. Has anyone else heard this??

benz_man

September 17, 2008 2:03 AM

LED foglights to myknowledge. Not DRLs. This is the first use of LEDs for fog. Should be interesting...

gadroma

September 16, 2008 8:41 PM

All I want to know is when Mercedes-Benz will release the order number for this model. I need to order it before my 50th birthday in Feb next year. I wonder if it will be premired at the Paris car show in October. Can't wait to see this model without its rubber clothing :-) If anyone has any inside info on release date please post it on this forum.

sris

September 17, 2008 7:13 PM

i guess similar to the E Klasse..

rcw

September 16, 2008 8:52 PM

To jackjack:

All of the reading I've done consistently says the platform will come from the current C-Class even though this model will be badged as an E-Class Coupe. Before the CLK line name existed years ago, Mercedes used to shorten the chassis from the (then) E-Class sedan to make it small enough to be a coupe. Using the C-Class platform will save Benz money by eliminating the need for yet another platform or platform alteration. That is my understanding.

qashmere

September 16, 2008 8:57 PM

as far as i can see, the car will be really sweeeeeet

joshg_5

September 16, 2008 9:21 PM

It will be really sweet, absolutely. But, at this stage, does anyone else recognize the striking resemblance to the ACURA RL!?!?!?!?

alexyn

September 16, 2008 9:45 PM

This car must be named "ELK". Following the W124 legend.

wjaprep

September 16, 2008 11:28 PM

E class coupe ftw.

I hope they offer it in a luxury version like the c class so I can get that classic grill.

radmeister

September 17, 2008 12:13 AM

Wasn't the e-class coupe the CLK?

BabyMilo

September 17, 2008 2:02 AM

hmmm im confused... is this a new car in the range or is it replacing something like the cl??

wjaprep

September 19, 2008 11:34 PM

Its the next CLK with a new name.

nendor

September 17, 2008 2:20 AM

This car looks nice, So Far way Better than the SLC

September 17, 2008 3:53 AM

its clear they are going back to the angular lines of the legendary 124 with both the exterior and interior (as per wcf spy shots)and possibly a more musc look just like the first gen CLK...the 124 and original CLK has not been surpassed by anything E yet, looks like this is set to change..will the coupe be named EC?

RS5

September 17, 2008 4:18 AM

I'd take it if it has a six speed, something that will never happen for Mercedes.

September 17, 2008 7:31 AM

? if it is based on the C, mercedes will not attempt to sell it as an E coupe. this will be a marketing disaster and the laughing stock from other brands.

conventionally, coupe variants are priced higher than sedans anyways.

the design of the coupes can be different, and closer to an E in this case, but i doubt MB will name it a E coupe.

September 17, 2008 7:38 AM

a friend of mine who is a benz dealer has recently been to germany and seen both E and the coupe in finished product, whether its named coupe or clk, the word is it will be a much larger car than the current clk and much closer to the e in size and proportion

AG4

September 17, 2008 8:32 AM

The previous CLK-class models are all based on the C-class platform and borrow styling elements from the E-class. Aren't they just going to do the same thing again?

rcw

September 17, 2008 9:35 AM

AG4, you are correct. I don't know why it is taking so many people so much to figure this out. It isn't rocket science. You are correct. The CLK coupes have been based on C-Class platforms but have styling elements and marketing more in line with the E-Class. To M!, Benz is only using the platform from the C-Class, but otherwise the styling, pricing, equipment, badging and marketing will be of the E-Class. It really isn't that complex. It's just the platform under neath the sheet metal folks. As Mercedes insiders have already said, they are trying to resurrect the status that the E-Class once had so they will be trying to reinforce the model name as much as possible, thus the dropping of the CLK name.

rcw

September 17, 2008 9:40 AM

This will only be a name change from CLK to E-Class coupe. This will follow the SAME recipe that Mercedes has been using with the current CLK name and C-Class chassis. The CLK's are not marketing in the same league as the C-Class and they sell well, despite using the same chassis. Very simple concept. This model has been far from a laughing stock or sales disappointment. In fact, this car is very profitable for Mercedes because the platform comes from and was developed for the cheaper C-Class but is being priced at E-Class levels.

September 17, 2008 10:22 AM

same formula just a name change and larger body to move it further upstream to the e. great news they are working hard on reviving the legendary status of the e...with regard to profitablilty it was commented, often, when the original clk was released that it was a very smart opration in using the c platform to build and market a car at e class level. it seems that is not changing.

IpsesNipse

September 17, 2008 9:44 AM

I think the old one looked better. Its my alltime favourite merc

sris

September 17, 2008 7:09 PM

isn't this the CLK?? :O

machida

September 17, 2008 7:56 PM

Concept Fascination is clearly (in the MB tradition) the production model hiding in plain sight. The hoods, front fenders and doors (excepting the handles) are identical between the two, and the concept is a pillarless hardtop, meaning it reveals the new CLK (or whatever they choose to badge it, though I don't see why they would abandon their "Coupe Line" nomenclature) more than the new E.

And just to reassert what rcw said, the CLK has always used E-Class styling and instruments but has been based on the C-Class platform. The real cost savings came in the first (C208) generation, since it was MB's first coupe in decades with a full B-pillar. (The C124 E320 Coupe was priced 50% over an E320 Sedan when it left the US market in 1995.) The current C209 costs more because it's a hardtop, requiring significant engineering differences over the C-Class sedans to attain the structural strength expected of a Mercedes. Looks like the new one butches up a little over the too-feminine C209, which is nice to see. Wouldn't mind the shooting brake body of the concept either (minus that nasty rear wheel arch).

alessandro

September 20, 2008 5:50 PM

Cannot resist the comment: This car looks so good if not just great.

peterjames7

September 22, 2008 9:36 AM

never been a merc fan, but i must admit this and the concept version look really good. my mate has an amg clk cabrolet the car is very fast and capaable, i just ver really liked the styling. But this looks as though it could be something special. BENZMAN and JACKJACK they will be daytime running lights as all new cars from next year have to have daytime running lights on their vehicles in europe.

Targa_Florio

September 22, 2008 4:55 PM

CLK is the (short) "Kurz" CL, as does the SLK relates to the SL. The 'C' letter doesn't relate to the C-class at all (imagine... the CL relating to that "vulgar" sedan)

gadroma

September 26, 2008 8:22 AM

Cant wait, will get it as soon as it comes out. Sad that the CAB will be launched so late in the summer season, I think its due out in September and that means the summer is over for us up here in the north. :-( Anyway its worth the wait ;-)

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