Mercedes S-Class Coupe Caught Testing Again

I don't understand why they changed it from CL to S. At face value, I guess it could make sense, but if you're talking about it you will find yourself saying S-Class Coupe, because otherwise people will assume you're talking about the sedan.

I think it's stupid of Mercedes-Benz to rename their cars especially based on the current model.

Then again, why not SEC?

thats what i was thniking. if they rename it then they shouldve titled it as SEC.

Maybe they realized that they don't sell as many CLs as they wanted to since the CLS and the outgoing CLK eats up the CL market portion.

Another reason is because of Bentley Continental's GT, Porsche Panamera Coupe, Maserati GranTurismo, not forgetting the DB9.

They tried to sort out the model names, but they lost the plot. Perhaps they are trying again. There was a logic to "SEC" that does not apply now, so SEC is out out question. It stood for S from S-class, E from Einspritz (injection) - this was the time of curburators, and C from Coupe. So it signified an S clss coupe with injenction. The CL moniker was based on another long standing acronym of Mercedes, SL, which stood for Sport Licht (SL), meaning light sports car. So they thouht of CL for the coupe version (though none are "light", except for the original 300SL). The K signified "Klein(er)" (Small(er) or "Kurz" depending on your interpretation. So for the smaller brother of the CL, CLK was createt. The smaller bother of the SL was the SLK, and so on. But then they added the CLS, and then the CLC, which were obviously not fitting with the name designations. People often thought the C in the CLK signified C-Class and thought that this was the reason why the name was dropped with the latest model. It has nothing to do with this. The original CLK was visually an E-Class but was still called CLK because it was the small CL. Now that mercedes wants in addition to the CL and CLK a smaller C-Class coupe, and possible an A-class coupe, as well as a successor to the CLS, there was no choice but to try to re-name all of the Coupe Class range. So, the modern equivalent of an S-Class coupe in the "SEC" mould should have been, strictly speaking,an SC (which does not sound very nice), and in the "CL" mould, "CLS" (Coupe Licht S-Class), which unfortunately already exists and there marketing wise impossible to be used know for the flagship. It is clear they tried to use this format, but it failed, because the c-class coupe is called now CLC and at some point the E-class coupe was referred to as the CLE.

Thank you for your great detailed explanation. I guess they also realized that their cars are getting bigger and heavier as well. Guess it's the marketing people is behind the rebadging process to push the slow volume models.

I wonder if they ever going to build a convertible version of the S-Class. They never did with the CL, here's hoping.

@mbcy: Great explanation. Thanks.

Noticed MB are bringing all their model names in line now? Why is this a surprise? Especially when there is the C, CLK, CLS, and CLC already. Differentiate your premium products in a way that relates to their market sector and you have the realignment of model names.

I think because they have many models like s, slk, sl, clk, e, gl, glk... they are trying to narrow it down.

Well, the bottom line is that 1. they want to homogenize their range with a coupe version for every sedan and most importantly 2. they found a good excuse to give the CL / S class Coupe a facelift :)Let's hope it will offer more power xD

...MB is trying to reduce model designations but they also did it for other reasons namely to boost the sales count of their individual models. All CLK (the new Eclass coupe) and E class sedans will be counted together for total Eclass sales. For better sales numbers, same with the Sclass ( Sclass sedans + CL-new Sclass coupe). Sales are counted by model and this will makes Eclass and Sclass model sales number higher...

The name CL suits this car more than S coupe, but why not offering the 350 engine in this cae? i think a petrol V6 is a good idea and it will sell more especially because the 500 cost lots of money so poeple who love CL and can't afford the 500 can go for the 350.

Aside from WorldCarFans calling it at S-Class Coupe in the title, is there anything else suggesting MB is changing the name? It seems like SC would work except that Lexus already has that one.

I like the new names, E class coupe, S class coupe :) reminds me of the 80s and 90s. (besides CL and CLK made no sense to me...)and it wuld be cool to see "600SEL, 600SEC, 350CE, 350E, 350TE etc on the back of the cars, but I think that would get just to confusing...

so this is the cl replacement?..mmyeah. and of course youf be better off with the 3.0 l diesel than the 400 hybrid. but, if you can afford that car, you choose the 500, or the 420 cdi.... at the least. cause your not a cheap peasant if u have that kind of money

I think that the new name makes sence, becuase it is basically a coupe version of the S Class. So when you talk to people they will know that it is the top of the range and you dont need to explain it.