From Mercedes-Benz's own description of their car:

The CLS-Class Coupe
Unrivalled and Outstanding
A completely unique vehicle concept generated by a powerful new vision. The CLS-Class – the first four-door coupé from Mercedes – combines the dynamism of a coupé with the luxury and practicality of a saloon. Now you can get your pulse racing, and still have space for four adults and their luggage.

Of course, the four-door coupe is not unique: think Rover P5B coupe. The term "coupe" is derived from the word "cut"; a coupe traditionally was a cut down carriage. I think it can be applied to any fixed head sporting car with a low roof line. As for "S", in "S-Klasse" it is indeed for Spitzen, but then in "SL-Klasse" it is now for Sports and once upon a time was for Super. It is unlikely to be for "Spitzen" in the CLS because that car sits beneath the CL which is, of course, the coupe S-Class.

Merecdes' nomenklature, like its build quality, has gone to pot!

This is all off-topic, though.

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JJ Rodger
2013 G350 Bluetec
1999 SL 500
1993 E300 diesel T
1990 190

I guess I don't understand why most on this post are bashing the 220...I think for the price its a great car...actually a less expensive car(factored for inflation) than the 140 was.
And having owned a 140 for several years at one point in my life..I can tell you they were no gems int erms of reliability and costs associated with repair.
I have test driven a couple of 220's and they drive great..great ride..great handling..does it have the "heavy" feel of 140..no...however I took curves in the 220 that would have run from.
And I saw something in a publication about the amount of lease business that both MB and BMW do on that type of car...and the figure is 60-75%.
So basically you have a car that most people want to drive for 36 months ,with no maintenance then turn it back in. Then the car is certified and sold again. After the car is sold to the second owner and gets more than 6-7 years old I think the manufacturer cares a lot less about the car.
I think the person that bought the S Class 20 years ago and kept it for 10-12 years is a rare specimen anymore

my .002

Warren
2000 BMW 740/with full sport package
1992 300SD(sold)
Columbus Ohio

In Latin America and most countries were taxes are stupidly high (80% and above -this means that a US$95,000 W140 costed new over US$170,000!-) most S-class owners had this tendency: they would buy a car into the first two years of production and then wait until the new body would come out to change it.

Hence, most W116, W126 and W140 owners kept their cars for periods of about ten years. In many cases I know of, the owners have kept their original S-class as a second car and have additionally bought the new series.

The W220 (with a shorter life cycle) and the new leasing contracts have changed somewhat this trend.

By the way, the CLS is completely based on the current E-class and not the CL coupe. Just the sheetmetal, interior fittings and some minor tweaks to the suspension and electronics were done. A CLS 500 is basically an E 500, and a CLS 350 is an E 350.

The CLS does not have the standing star on the hood due to the publicity stunt pulled by Mercedes-Benz for letting fools believe is a four-door coupe, which basically is a contradictory term.

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A. Rosich
CL 500, 1998
S 500 L, 1998
E 320 T, 1995 [Sadly sold ]

Not so sure about the SL there, still stands for Super lightweight even if it actually isn't. But I'm at a loss as to what CLS actually means too.