2011 Mercedes-Benz CLSpublic car

2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS

2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS

2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS

The second-generation Mercedes-Benz CLS will debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show at the end of September, but it's always a good time to read a little more about it - especially now that the Stuttgart-based automaker finally came out with official shots and some initial details.

Instantly recognizable as a segment-creating CLS, the new model inherits its nose's blunt, coupe-derived styling from the SLS.

The CLS is not only Mercedes' 5th Avenue flagship, it's the face of the so-called 4-door coupe market; therefore, it stands to reason that the newest 4-door coupe would be loaded with tech. I'm sure it will be, but other than the full-LED headlamp assembly, there wasn't much mention of anything but looks, materials, and something called PASSION leather in the press release (engine lineups have been accurately predicted by now, anyway).

Inside, the information stack - much like the nose - also feels like it is derived from the SLS with its climate controls in the kink at the bottom. The interior can be had in five different colors, five different trims (3 wood, 2 synthetic), and three types of leather.

The wood choices are high-gloss brown burr walnut, high-gloss black ash, and satin-finish light-brown poplar (by far the coolest if you need wood); if you're feeling a little more sporty, there's always piano lacquer or carbon fiber.

The car's seats and dash are hand-sewn, and the dashboard leather has been pre-treated to handle a lot of direct sunlight (no special forms to worry about here like with BMW's Frozen Gray M3).

A PASSION option nets buyers super-soft, hand-chosen 1.6 mm-thick leather. Mercedes says "the natural pore structure remains intact," but also that "the natural characteristics also remain visible for the most part, [so] the semi-aniline leather requires a very precise manual selection process."