TOGETHER WITH THE new Mercedes-Benz E-class, the coming CLK will make its debut at the 2002 Geneva Motor Show, while the estate of the E-class and the CLK Cabrio will follow one year later, in March 2003.

The next generation CLK will be positioned higher in the Mercedes model range as otherwise the car – today placed between C- and E-class – would get under too much pressure from the newly introduced C-class Sportcoupe.

Therefore the new CLK-range will be slightly bigger, better equipped and somewhat more expensive. Growing in length it will anyway, as the new car is sharing the platform with the current C-class. The result is not only a roomier interior but also a sleeker, more elegant appearance.

Seen for the very first time ever is the new layout of the taillights. One of our spies has seen the lamp unit displayed on the stand of the light-company Hella at the recent Frankfurt Show. After snapping the picture, he informed the staff of Hella of the mistake they’ve made by showing the taillight of the new CLK rather than the current model’s.

Half an hour later the secret lamp unit disappeared and was replaced by the unit of today’s CLK. It didn’t help them much as our pictures were shot already...



FACTS
· Coming Mercedes-Benz CLK
· Coupe (2002) and Cabrio (2003)
· Air suspension
· 4-Matic all-wheel drive
· Brake-by-wire standard
· New direct injection petrol engines
· Entry: 1.8-litre 4 cyl, 168 bhp
· Diesel engines

Images:
Computer drawing of the coming CLK. Test car at Nürburgring. The secret taillight.