Don’t get us wrong; we love women, but we also love cars and as good as Eva Padberg looks, we had to chop her face in order to give you a better view of the new Mercedes-Benz CLC sports coupe that will make its public debut at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin, which takes place from 27 - 31 January 2008. According to the German carmaker, the CLC, which will replace the C-Class SportsCoupe, will act as an affordable entry into the Mercedes-Benz coupé family aiming primarily to younger people.

Although it is based on the outgoing C-Class SportCoupe, Mercedes-Benz supports that 1,100 components have been either developed from scratch or refined from the previous model. The technical highlights of the CLC include new direct steering, modern infotainment systems with colour display, Europe-wide DVD or hard-drive navigation with multimedia interface and a more powerful 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with 184 HP. -Press Release and… a full-frame picture of Eva after the jump

PRESS RELEASE

Two stars in the photo studio: Top model
Eva Padberg and the new Mercedes-Benz CLC

Leading model Eva Padberg and the new Mercedes sports coupé CLC share top billing in the key visual for the second Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin, which takes place from 27 - 31 January 2008. The new CLC will be unveiled to the public for the first time at the fashion event.

The purpose of the key visual is twofold: it will be used as a motif on adverts, posters and event materials promoting the Berlin event, and at the same time will generate interest and a sense of anticipation in advance of the world premiere of the new CLC, because the photo reveals only part of the sport coupé. Most of the body is hidden by the vivid yellow fabric of the evening gown worn by Eva Padberg.

“The choice of Eva Padberg as our brand ambassador lends a fascinating face to our long-standing commitment to fashion,” says Dr Olaf Göttgens, Vice President Brand Communications Mercedes-Benz Cars. “Like Berlin, she epitomises a young, modern lifestyle. That's why we are introducing our new sports coupé here, at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin, and are presenting the CLC and Eva Padberg together in the key visual.”

Eva Padberg has been representing Mercedes-Benz as a brand ambassador at international fashion and lifestyle events since May 2007. Her encounter with the new CLC was captured on film by the renowned fashion photographer Ellen von Unwerth, whose photos encapsulate perfectly the relationship between fashion and Mercedes design – both worlds in which innovation and perfection, coupled with elegance and style, are critical success factors.

Elegance, style and lifestyle: in the automotive world, the name Mercedes-Benz epitomises these values. The commitment to fashion is therefore a logical development of the Stuttgart motor manufacturer's traditional image and claim.

Just like fashion, the car is now an expression of personal lifestyle. This is particularly true of the highly individual and exclusive species of the coupé.

New Mercedes sports coupé is the attractive “youngster” of the coupé family

The new CLC, available in the UK from June 2008, is an attractive and affordable entry into the Mercedes-Benz coupé family. The design, technology and equipment of the sports coupé meet the desire of young people for a car that is fun to drive and has a high lifestyle value, yet which also offers typical Mercedes standards of quality in respect of safety, comfort, environmental compatibility and functionality. 1,100 components have been either developed for the new sports coupé or refined from the previous model. The technical highlights of the CLC include new direct steering for even more nimble handling of bends, modern infotainment systems with colour display, Europe-wide DVD or hard-drive navigation with multimedia interface and a more powerful four-cylinder engine with 135kW / 184 bhp. Fuel consumption is up to 10.8 per cent better than in the predecessor model.

The key visual was shot in a studio near Barcelona, and features a black CLC with sports package picked out in a headlight beam. The coupé contains further exclusive technical innovations and extra fittings such as 18” light alloy rims, wide base tyres, headlights with black painted inner frames, sports suspension with lowered bodywork and chrome trim.

Top fashion designers present their collections

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin 2008 takes place from 27 – 31 January 2008 at Postbahnhof, the city's former mail train station. Leading international fashion designers will be presenting their latest collections, including the following brands: 30paarhaende, Heiress, Hugo, Intuitive, Joop!, Macqua, Michalsky, Marcel Ostertag, Sinemus, Stefan Eckert, Strenesse, Suzana Peric,
Unrath & Strano, Sisi Wasabi and Zac Posen.

Facts about the key visual for the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin 2008

Photographer: Ellen von Unwerth
Model: Eva Padberg (Mercedes-Benz fashion brand ambassador)
Vehicle: Mercedes-Benz CLC with sports package
Stylist: Victoria Adcock - WIB
Hair stylist: Sebastien Richard - Jed Root
Makeup stylist: Maiya - Calliste