2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS, SLK & C-Class Coupe Launched In Malaysia

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has launched three models at a go, a testament to its confidence after 2011's record sales performance, which propelled Mercedes-Benz to become the leading premium brand in Malaysia. The three new models—the four-door CLS coupe, the SLK roadster and the C-Class Coupe—cater to relatively niche segments, so they are unsurprisingly fully-imported. The CLS 350 has arrived for RM 760,888, followed by the SLK 200 for RM 460,888, and the C180 Coupe and C250 Coupe for RM 305,888 and RM 388,888, respectively.

The all-new Mercedes-Benz CLS has huge footsteps to follow: the first-generation CLS pioneered the entire four-door coupe segment and reaped the rewards, with over 170,000 units sold worldwide since introduction in 2004. The elegant profile of the original CLS has lived on, but it has been bulked up by a broader stance and bulging rear wheel arches, losing the visual softness of old. Built on a modified version of the E-Class' chassis, the CLS 350 BlueEfficiency taps upon 306 HP and 370 Nm from a 3.5-litre V6, which is paired to the 7G-tronic seven-speed automatic transmission.

The German automaker's representative in the roadster segment is the Mercedes-Benz SLK, which enters its third-generation, 16 years after the SLK first joined the sports car scene. The classic roadster proportion—an impression enforced by the long bonnet and short rear—is maintained, though the latest design is far more intricate, drawing a visual association with the SLS AMG through an upright nose featuring a centrally-mounted three-pointed star logo. The SLK 200 BlueEfficiency has access to 184 HP and 270 Nm from a turbocharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine, which is also mated to the 7G-tronic transmission.

The relative volume seller should be the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe, a car based on the C-Class platform like the E-Class Coupe. With two doors less, a sleek coupe profile and a lowered stance, the C-Class Coupe will find buyers based on looks alone; never mind that the dash design is carried over from the sedan unchanged. The C180 BlueEfficiency and C250 BlueEfficiency are powered by the same turbocharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine with either 156 HP and 250 Nm or 204 HP and 310 Nm. Mercedes' 7G-tronic transmission is standard with both engines. Enjoy the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS, SLK and C-Class Coupe launch event photos below!