Next-Gen Mercedes-Benz CLS Tipped To Arrive In 2018

Ever since the Germans lifted the veils off the new E-Class earlier this year, fans have been wondering when will the CLS gain a proper successor as well.

The answer comes from AutoNews, which states that the four-coupe sedan is expected to hit US dealers in mid-2018. On the visual front, it shouldn’t offer any surprises, as it's believed to be inspired by the latest products in Mercedes-Benz's lineup, while maintaining its sloping roofline.

Some believe that with the arrival of a new generation, the Shooting Brake (wagon) might be dropped from the lineup, and there's even some hints towards a renaming scheme, one that sees the CLE moniker brought into discussion, but the automaker has yet to confirm any of them.

Since the current CLS shares the same underpinnings as the previous E-Class, it's only natural that its successor will follow the same route, and this means that the MRA architecture is said to be adopted by the upcoming four-door coupe, along with a wide array of technology taken from the executive car, including the semi-autonomous driving features.

Rumor has it that the new inline six-cylinder lump that will be introduced in the facelifted S-Class next year will serve as a replacement for the current V6, as the entry-level model, but, again, there's no official confirmation about that. What we can tell you, though, is that the next generation model will continue to rival the likes of the BMW 6-Series and Audi A7.