Mercedes-Benz CLS History
Catalog record
This is a brief catalog introduction with limited source documentation. A licensed, identity-checked lead photograph has not yet been added for this page. Detailed year, configuration and ownership coverage must be identified separately; this page is not a complete vehicle catalog.
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Model history available. Detailed year guides are not published for this model.
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The CLS (C219, 2004) pioneered the 'four-door coupe' — a low, fastback-roofed sedan on E-Class underpinnings — a format widely copied across the industry.
Three generations followed (C219, C218, C257), the C218 adding a Shooting Brake wagon, before the CLS was discontinued after 2023.
Generations
First generation · C219
Created the four-door-coupe segment; on W211 E-Class underpinnings.
2005 Photo: “2005 Mercedes-Benz CLS 320 CDi Automatic 3.0 Front” by Vauxford / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Second generation · C218
Added the Shooting Brake wagon; on W212 underpinnings.
2012 Photo: “2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS 500 (C 218) BlueEFFICIENCY sedan (2012-10-26) 01” by OSX / Wikimedia Commons — Public domain. Cropped to 16:9.
2013 Photo: “2013 Mercedes-Benz CLS 500 (C 218) BlueEFFICIENCY sedan (2015-08-02) 01” by OSX / Wikimedia Commons — Public domain. Cropped to 16:9.
2014 Photo: “2014 Mercedes-Benz CLS 250 CDI (C 218) Avantgarde 10 Edition sedan (2015-06-27) 02” by OSX / Wikimedia Commons — Public domain. Cropped to 16:9.
Third generation · C257
The final CLS; moved to inline-six engines.
2018 Photo: “2018 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class CLS300d AMG Premium” by Chanokchon / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
2021 Photo: “2021 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class CLS220d AMG Premium” by Chanokchon / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Body styles
- Sedan (fastback)
- Wagon (Shooting Brake)
Notable special editions & performance variants
CLS63 / CLS53 AMG
AMG performance versions — V8 (CLS63), later an inline-six mild-hybrid (CLS53, US 2019–2023).
Related models
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