How to Draw a Mercedes-Benz CLS

Throughout its history, Mercedes-Benz has created many cars with stunning designs, one of which is the CLS. Here we will show you how to draw a Mercedes-Benz CLS in three-quarter view, convey its characteristic elongated body shape with a sloping roof, and create volume in your drawing.

As always, the process is based on the basic principles of drawing a car, with the addition of characteristic body shapes and details.

How to draw a Mercedes-Benz CLS step by step

Step 1: Sketch the car’s basic shape

Start with the most basic contours of the Mercedes-Benz CLS. Use a pencil to sketch the overall shape of the car’s body. Draw the long, low silhouette with a slightly sloping hood, a curved roof, and a short rear section. Here you should create a large three-dimensional form. Use very light lines in this and the next step.

Step 2: Mark the main car details

Start at the front and sketch the outlines of the headlights and grille. Pay attention to their placement on the front surface, which is turned slightly toward the viewer. Next, outline the side mirror, wheels, and wheel arches. Draw the wheels as ellipses, since they are viewed at an angle. Both wheels should follow the same perspective.

Step 3: Draw the grille and headlights

Starting with this step, use clear, dark lines. Begin refining the Mercedes-Benz CLS at the front, carefully drawing the grille with the Mercedes-Benz emblem and the headlights. Follow the outlines from the previous step, but make the shapes more accurate. Erase the unnecessary construction lines from this area.

Step 4: Outline the bumper and hood

Continue working on the front of the Mercedes-Benz CLS. Carefully draw the contours of the bumper with its air intakes and license plate. Follow the shape of the front surface, which curves around the corners of the car. Next, move slightly higher and draw the hood with long, smooth lines.

Step 5: Draw the roof and windows

Continue the line of the hood and carefully draw the low roof of the Mercedes-Benz CLS, which slopes smoothly toward the trunk. This long, flowing roofline is one of the main features of the car’s silhouette. Next, draw the narrow side windows and the windshield. Refine the side mirror and add the window frames.

Step 6: Refine the doors and body

Move slightly lower and draw the side of the Mercedes-Benz CLS. Outline the doors, door handles, and lower edge of the body. Make the door lines follow the curved side surface, and place the handles along the same general direction. In this step, also draw the visible rear section of the car and the decorative lines.

Step 7: Draw the wheels and rims

Carefully refine the outer contours of the wheels. Since the car is shown in three-quarter view, the wheels should appear elliptical. Draw the tire sidewalls and then outline the rims inside them. Make the inner and outer ellipses share the same center and direction. After that, draw the spokes and other rim details, checking that they follow the angle of each wheel.

Step 8: Add shadows and reflections

Use hatching in the areas that receive less light. Follow the direction of the surfaces with your strokes to make the body appear three-dimensional. Add a few light reflections to the windows and the smooth painted panels. In the same step, draw the texture of the grille using crossed lines.

Car design is one of those areas of art where everything changes regularly, but the fundamental features remain.

In certain models and series, designers follow their own traditions and try to make each subsequent model similar to the previous one in many ways.

So, using this Mercedes-Benz CLS drawing tutorial, you will be able to easily draw both earlier and more modern versions of the car.

For more practice with Mercedes-Benz designs, try to draw a Mercedes-Maybach. You can also try drawing the Mercedes-Benz CLS from the side.