The Mercedes-Benz CLS will start from £57k

It appears your reaction to the new, third-generation Mercedes-Benz CLS was fairly mixed, to say the least. Now, we can add a further spice to your debate: prices.

Mercedes has today revealed that the base car – the CLS 350d 4Matic AMG Line - will start from £57,510. And that’s before any options boxes are ticked.

For that, you get a 3.0-litre straight-six diesel, producing 282bhp and 443lb ft to record a 0-62mph time of 5.7secs, and an electronically limited top speed of 155mph. Plenty to keep you occupado.

Next up the food chain comes the CLS 400d, which uses the same straight-six diesel but makes a healthier 335bhp and 516lb ft of torque. This car will run the benchmark sprint to 62mph in five seconds flat.

Top of the range – for now at least – is the 3.0-litre straight-six petrol, badged 450, and it is this one you should focus your attention on. Because it features a new biturbo engine with a 48v starter generator, and pumps out 362bhp and 368lb ft of torque. There’s an additional 22bhp and 184lb ft of torque using Merc’s ‘EQ boost’ system, and all in, you’re looking at 0-62mph in 4.8secs and a top speed of… you guessed it, 155mph.

You can only buy the CLS in AMG Line trim, though that gets you 19in alloys, a parking pack, leather, split-fold rear seats, a pair of 12.3in infotainment and cockpit screens, ambient lighting, and ‘Agility Control’ suspension.

Tick the ‘Premium Plus’ equipment box – for £3,895 – and you get keyless entry and go, electric seats, a better Burmester audio setup, and an electric sliding sunroof. A comfort pack is available also, which adds air suspension, black leather and something called an ‘Energising comfort control package’.

Biturbo’s the one you want, right? Or would you rather just wait for the nutty AMG variants?