A facelift for the 2022 Mercedes-Benz CLS

The Mercedes-Benz CLS coupe-style sedan is getting a major upgrade for 2022, and the company has given us a sneak peek at what's in store for next fall, when the car arrives in Canada.

Let's take a look at how Mercedes-Benz has reinvented its CLS.

Cosmetic tweaks

The current generation of the CLS was introduced in 2019. So it was time to touch up its styling, but you don't mess with a Picasso too much. Thus, we get minor changes, but they are of a nature to add to the style of the model. The front end, for example, has a new, more aggressive bumper and a revised grille. It features a massive logo that highlights the Mercedes-Benz star with its three chrome branches.

A new color has also arrived to mark the new year, a beautiful blue, the Spectral Blue Metallic, to be more precise.

And as has been the case for ages in Canada, the base version of the model benefits from the AMG Appearance Package, which features air intakes and a chrome front spoiler. Either 19- or 20-inch wheels are available. For its part, the 53 AMG version has a redesigned front end. It is dominated by a more aggressive bumper and a distinctive grille that features vertical slats.

Improved interior

Inside, we've also improved on what was already incredible. The layout is still dominated by two 12.3-inch screens that work as one. One is responsible for the information on the instrument cluster, the other for multimedia operations, of course the business of the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) system.

Mercedes-Benz has also added new trim for 2022, which is an open-pore brown walnut wood and a high-gloss gray wood. There are also two new interior color combinations, Neva Gray and Magma Gray, as well as Hazel Brown and Black.

The color choices for the ambience also add an extraordinary touch, especially with the stylized line that cuts through the dashboard only to extend to the inside of the doors

A new steering wheel will even be fitted to versions spoiled with the Intelligent Driving Package that offers adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist. In fact, the steering wheel in question will be able to detect the presence of your hands on the wheel so you can take advantage of the model's autonomous driving capabilities, but still keep an eye (and hands) on the road.

Under the hood

Finally, under the hood, the winning recipe remains the same: a 3.0-liter turbocharged 6-cylinder engine. With the CLS 450 model, it delivers 362 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, while the CLS 53 AMG variant delivers 429 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque. A nine-speed automatic transmission is paired with both models, but the AMG version (Speedshift) offers quicker responses for a sportier driving experience.

4Matic all-wheel drive is standard. The AMG variant has the ability to send 100 percent of the torque to the rear wheels for a sportier driving experience. Pricing for the model will come later, closer to its fall debut.