It will still be a while before you can get up, close and personal with the second generation of the Mercedes-Benz CLS, but thanks to a gallery of official photos that hit the web, there’s nothing left to show but the press release.

The new Mercedes CLS, previewed by the German carmaker’s Shooting Break Concept shown earlier this year, is more of an evolution of the current model than a completely new take on the four-door sports saloon theme.

Set to have its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show at the end of September, the new CLS will be offered with a variety of new engines including the company’s new 3.5-litre V6 producing 225 kW and 4.7-litre bi-turbocharged V8 with 315 kW.

The lineup will also include diesel options (depending on the market) while the range will be crowned with an AMG version powered by Mercedes new 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 making at least 394 kW.

The 2011 CLS will be a direct rival for the all-new Audi A7 Sportback, Porsche Panamera, Maserati Quattroporte and in the very near future, for BMW’s Gran Coupe sports sedan also.

Adapted from CarScoop

The new CLS has been caught in front of more than one camera. The stunning four-door, four-seat coupe was snapped by spies at a photo shoot, where official photographers were taking pictures for press material surrounding the new car’s launch.

As you can see from the pictures, the CLS features a much more angular, aggressive nose than the car it replaces. The new face is even more sharply contoured than the Concept Shooting Break Mercedes debuted at the Beijing Motor Show earlier this year.

We can also see that the creased shoulder line, (which runs from the top of the front wheelarch backwards) and the dramatically flared rear wheel arches (which look similar to those of the Bentley Continental GT), have all made production.

The rear lights and trapezoidal exhausts also stand out, giving the rear of the car a more obviously sculpted appearance than the previous generation CLS.

This particular model is the CLS 350 CGI, equipped with the firm’s V-Generation 3,5-litre engine that produces 225 kW and 370 N.m of torque. It features Mercedes’ fuel-saving BlueEfficiency technology and is the engine that featured in the Shooting Break concept.

More details and the full official set of pictures will be made available ahead of the car’s debut at this October’s Paris Motor Show.

Adapted from AutoExpress