The scaled down Mercedes CLS four-door coupe is the new trendy alternative to the Audi A3 saloon and BMW 1-Series coupe and will be unveiled late this year. Mercedes have taken out a heavily disguised version this winter to iron out any possible teething problems before us journalists get our mitts on it. The shape of the Mercedes BLS test vehicle only gives away its commitment to copy the F800 Style Concept`s bonnet and grille design.
We can see here from the pictures of the concept the sharp incisions in the bodywork and chiseled waistline. We don`t expect the production version will get sliding doors or such a space age cabin but it will be spacious and hopefully follow the sporty theme. Engine choices will include the debut of a 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine able to produce either 120bhp or 154bhp as well as a lighter, thriftier 1.8-litre diesel which will also be shared with the E-Class and C-Class for 2012. For the power hungry amongst us, an AMG model will follow and this is likely to use a turbocharged 2.0-litre option with a throng of 260bhp. The entry level price of a Mercedes BLS will be around £25,000 and a batch are expected to be shipped to the UK before the year is out.
