Mercedes’ killing spree is kicking into high gear as the company has confirmed plans to phase out the CLS.
The news was first reported by CarExpert and confirmed by The Drive, which was told “In consideration of the global growth potential, and as part of our strategic product portfolio planning, we have decided to end the lifecycle of the CLS on August 31, 2023, with the changeover of the E-Class to the 214 model series.”
The CLS’ death isn’t surprising as reports indicating it was living on borrowed time emerged in February. However, it’s sad news nonetheless as the model was the original four-door coupe.
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Introduced at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show, the CLS was a sleeker take on the E-Class and it turned heads thanks to its revolutionary styling. The avant-garde design continued in the cabin with a wood-trimmed dashboard and two individual rear seats. The latter limited the car’s practicality, but few cared when the CLS looked as good as it did.
Unfortunately, the CLS lost its edge and became redundant once the AMG GT 4-Door arrived in 2018. Interestingly, that model is also expected to be dropped in the near future.
That’s just the tip of the dead Mercedes iceberg as C- and E-Class Coupes and Convertibles will be replaced by the all-new CLE, while the GLC and GLE Coupes are only expected to live for one more generation. The C- and E-Class Estates as well as the CLA Shooting Brake are also said to be living on borrowed time as an unnamed official told Car & Driver earlier this year, “We simply don’t need estate cars or underperforming two-door offerings to boost volumes.”
