Merc sculpture hints at next CLS

Mercedes has dropped a strong hint at the styling of the next CLS saloon with this design sculpture launched today at the Detroit motor show.

The art sculpture has been designed to show how Mercedes design will evolve in the future and the firm claims the concept has been ‘inspired by the forces of nature’.

Mercedes boss Dieter Zetsche said: "It's an abstract idea of how Mercedes perceives distinctive style. It's designed to whet your appetite for more beautiful things to come."

Official Mercedes design sculpture pics

Mercedes deign chief Gorden Wagener says the firm wants to take its future designs to a more artistic level. At the Mercedes end of 2009 event in Abu Dhabi, he told Autocar that the Detroit car was "pure design concept which is long and exaggerated”.

"We want to elevate our design towards art and if any company can do it Mercedes can," he said.

Other inspirations for the concept are liquid silver, with the colour chosen to reflect the brands road car and motorsport heritage. Mercedes design studios in Germany, Italy, USA, Japan and China have all contributed to the concept.

"Many of our designers come from artistic families, carry artistic ambitions in their genes, so to speak, and found their way into automobile design via their artistic talent," said Wagener.

Autocar understands that the concept is the earliest indication of how the next CLS, due to be launched at the end of the year, will look.

“The basic proportions challenge the onlooker to interpret the shape of the future, real product that may be nearing the end of its flowing design process” said Mercedes in a statement. “[It features] amazement and speculation in equal measure.”

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