HighestOfHigh

Soon after the release of Mercedes-Benz CLS was release, competitors begin to work on their own 4-door coupes. Audi will have their A7; BMW may possibly build a vehicle off of the CS concept. Porsche will produce their Panamera and Aston Martin will have the Rapide.

Of course some will be more and might not actually compete, but they will still use the concept that the CLS introduced.

What vehicle would possibly be able to erase the memory of the CLS if possible?

shonguiz

Can we really say that these models are rivals to the CLS ? They are all one class upper.

HighestOfHigh

Just the Porsche and Aston Market are.

But I already mentioned above this thread is really about the 4-door coupe styling going on between the car markers. So of course they will not be all competing in the same "price or engine" class.

Just_me

From design point of view I was never attracted by the CLS, (not a single family member from mine like the car). Its a good car but from design point of view, the car has already lost. A.M has already beated the CLS.

HighestOfHigh

Audi A7 - the drawings have been very impressive and no doubt that the car will have outstanding engineering. If it looks like the photos then it will be a winner. From the spy shot I have seen, it doesn't look like that will be the case. Of course until the finish product comes out I won't be able to tell. In the States the Benz seems to make a greater impression so I would go for the Benz over the audi (for now)

BMW CS - The over all design is "cool", but the front looks dysfunctional. The headlights aren't my taste. I do love the rear though, but the CLS still makes a better impression.

Porsche - It will depend on the final look. Porsche has proven itself when it comes to coupes. Four door will be a different story. I think it will get a lot of attention, but the CLS still will stand out more.

Aston Martin - I'm excited about this one. I think it will be more of a coupe then the CLS.

CLS - The original 4-door coupe. Sales numbers are better then expected and it always seems to catch your eye.


I will still have to debate between the CLS and Aston.

coolraoul

I voted CLS, because the CLS is in my eyes the one and only four door coupe. It really has coupe-looking roofline, flat windshield and rear glass, pillarless doors... It really looks good, the front a bit less maybe. It is as stunning as when it was released, a superb and brilliant car. I don't even see the need of a facelift, the car is just perfect. Even the interior can put an old Jaguar to shame (because the recent Jaguars have lost the inspiration of the older ones)...

The Panamera, and the Rapide, are not really coupeish, they are in my eyes sporty sedan. But sedan.

(I am beginning to fear that the Panamera is more a sedan-version of the Cayenne rather than of the 911, but that is another problem). The Rapide, like this Concept, is looking old. Nothing to do with the absolutely stunning actual Astons...

The A7, well, it is a big A5. Can't become a King when you look like a little brother, in a category where there is a CLS. Need at least a bit of originality, c'mon on! Copy-paste is not the top for a sedan, but for a coupe, even with four doors, it is just wrong. Note that it maybe will be original and nothing to do with the A5, I don't know, but the pic here and the usual habits of Audi are telling me that it will be a bigger A5.

The CS... Waiting to see the final product, but it is for me the only one that could threaten the CLS, but I really am waiting for the definitive model. Because the BMW of the Bangle-era are really not my cup of tea. But the concept really looks good, the front a bit less maybe.

It has the same name than the CLS, but without the L (for Luxus)...Does it mean anything??

Trouble is... That the CS is one category above the CLS, more a 7-Series derivate... And Benz is preparing such a model too...Who will of course be the King. (Don't cheat with Daddy Benz.)

GTA8.5

I`m still in love with the CLS. I see more and more of them everywhere I look!

I think MB has mastered the 4-door coupe concept with the design of this car successfully. Others will try to come up with their own interpretitions but I`ll bet your going to see the more of the sedan language flagged into the design more so than the CLS.

Design wise I don`t think the CLS will have a direct successful compeditor.

shonguiz

If i am not mistaken, the CS coupe will be based on a 7er, so it's one class upper.
In that case i would go fot the bimmer although i am hugely intersted by the Audi.

MikeJ

I'm inclined to think that in this segment the newest car(s) will always attract the most interest. The Aston and to a lesser extent the Porsche will be more exclusive though, so I'll suppose the so-called king of this segment at any time will whichever one of the German big three has the newest model... of course, that doesn't mean it'll be the personal favourite of all the members here.

Centurion

I'm a huge CLS fan but it's star status will fade away when the Panamera arrives. The Panamera will not only be a beauty queen but will raise the standard in the 4 door segment. With the DSG tranny, the world's first expendable pop-up wing and other new technologies it will become the new M5. The waiting lists around the world are growing as we speak and in 2009 it will be "THE" car to have. Overall it will be the most innovative and impressive car out of all the four door "coupes".

Here is a quote from a statement issued by Porsche about the Panamera:

"The Panamera shows in principle what holds true for all Porsche vehicles: not one ounce too much, not one horsepower too little. Basically, we were never interested in building a car whose dizzying specifications are felt to best advantage in the car registration papers. Porsche horsepower are felt on the road."


A7: Having seen the latest Audi's I'm not thrilled about the A7 at all. I'm expecting a stretched A4 with a coupe-ish rear. It will be an attractive car but not as daring and sexy as the CLS.

CS: Superb design but it's really not any more coupe-ish than the Dodge charger.

Rapide: I'm really looking forward to this car. Hopefully AM will get it out the door with some semi-new design cues