2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Buying Advice

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class will have taller side windows and better rearward visibility than the current CLS-Class, shown here.

If you like today's CLS-Class, you'll probably like the new one too. But the upcoming Audi A7 looks to be a very tempting alternative. It's said to be a dead-ringer for the gorgeous Sportback Concept unveiled at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, which means hatchback convenience that the CLS-Class lacks, plus standard all-wheel drive. There's also talk of a four-door A7 convertible as another trump to the glamour-puss Mercedes. Other sexy-sedan alternatives are the above-mentioned 2010 Porsche Panamera and 2010 Aston Martin Rapide, which are hatchbacks too, and likely to cost a good deal more than a comparable next-gen CLS-Class. Of course, all these are expensive cars that sell chiefly on emotion in normal times. But these are hardly normal times, so "value" could be more important to sales even in the elite market. Alas, we don't have final prices for any of them yet, but it will be interesting to see how they fall out and how buyers respond.

2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Release Date: As noted, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class will likely start U.S. sale in late 2010, probably in the third or fourth quarter. The car is expected to make its European debut at the late-2010 Paris Auto Show.

2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class First Test Drive: Mercedes isn't talking yet, but we'd look for a worldwide press launch in the fourth quarter of 2010, followed by U.S. media previews.

2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Prices: The global economy is now so turbulent and uncertain that it's tough to peg future-car prices with any accuracy. Nonetheless, and all things considered, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class should run a few thousand bucks more than comparable current models. We'd guess the 2012 CLS550 will start around $75,000 and the hot-rod CLS63 AMG at just under $100K, with a possible "price-leader" V6 CLS350 in the region of $65,000.