Next-Gen Mercedes-Benz CLS Caught Uncovered

The production Mercedes-Benz CLS was introduced in 2004 at the New York International Auto Show and went into production in 2005. For a fashion icon, that is a long time.

This years later, the CLS still looks fresh to our eyes but it is time for a freshening. And one is coming, for the 2011 model year.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it - for a hit like the CLS, that is the usual formula manufacturers follow. The CLS looks set to show off a more dramatic, edgier styling language for Mercedes.

If it looks familiar (besides being a CLS), that's because it echoes the CLS Shooting Break Concept that Mercedes introduced at the Bejing Auto Show.

We like the large, dramatic face and the rear haunches that are beginning to become a Mercedes styling trait. They begin at the rear door and provide the car an aggressive stance.

The 2011 model CLS is shaping up to be an excellent update to the CLS without straying too far from the original formula.

With companies like Hyundai and Volkswagen aiming to replicate the CLS' styling, this will help set it apart yet again. We look forward to hearing more official details. For more spy shots of the CLS, check out Inside Line.