Baby CLS: Mercedes-Benz BLS moving closer to production

June 22, 2011June 22, 2011 Omar Rana B-Class, CLS, Mercedes-Benz B-Class, Mercedes-Benz BLS, Mercedes-Benz CLS, Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class, Sedans, Sports Cars

Mercedes produced one of the best looking cars ever made in history back in 2004 with the CLS and has seen a lot of success from it. Not to mention, many other manufacturers followed in the innovative Germans’ steps by producing their own “four-door” coupes with prime examples being the Volkswagen Passat CC and the Hyundai Sonata.

Not too long ago, its was reported that the company is working on a smaller, less-expensive version of the Mercedes-Benz CLS. But just recently, some auto spies spotted a camouflaged “BLS” running about Germany’s soil.

Sources inside Mercedes said that the new “BLS” is aimed directly at the latest Audi A3 sedan and will be based on the A- and B-Class’s front-wheel drive platform. Engine wise, 1.8L gas and 2.1L diesel four-bangers from the current W204 C-Class will be offered and adapted in the new “BLS.” Also in the works are a hybrid version, a range-extending plug-in hybrid model as well as an all-electric variant. And depending on how much R&D gets completed, rumors suggest that an “F-Cell” hydrogen model could also be a possibility.

This does raise some questions though as Cadillac offers a model that has the same badge that Mercedes seeks to call this compact four-door coupe, which may cause a legal stirrup. And with this “BLS” going FWD, could this mean that Mercedes’ direct competitor BMW will have more reason to produce a FWD model to compete with the Mercedes “BLS?” Let us hope that it doesn’t.