There’s a new Mercedes CLA on the horizon and we have absolutely no idea what it’ll look like.
From Mercedes’ teaser shots, it looks like the CLA will become even more streamlined and aerodynamically efficient than its predecessor, with a less pronounced boot lid and a longer roofline. New rear quarterlight windows make it look longer and more expensive, too.
The headlights are more rounded than before, and feature a three-pointed star LED daytime running light design – just in case passers-by weren’t already sure it’s a Mercedes. In the brand’s video, which accompanied these pictures, we also see a full-length panoramic glass roof.
Inside, Mercedes says the CLA is the “most intelligent” car it’s ever built. It features a brand-new operating system, called MB.OS, and an AI-powered virtual assistant. The Concept CLA car that previewed this new model featured a wall-to-wall screen panel, with Mercedes’ now-standard digital dials and two touchscreens – one for the front passenger. The climate controls were also integrated into the screen panel.
Mercedes has also confirmed that the CLA will be available as an electric car for the first time. This version will get a blanked-off grille and an exclusive badge to signal its zero-emission output.
While no stats have been revealed yet, the electric CLA uses a two-speed transmission, which is said to make the electric motor more efficient. Ultra-fast charging is enabled by an 800V architecture, with Mercedes’ CEO saying that a charge is “almost as fast as fuelling [a combustion car]”. We’ll have to wait and see just how much weight the ‘almost’ is pulling in that sentence – we’d still expect it to take nearly half an hour for a 10-80% charge.
Alongside the e-CLA, you’ll be able to buy the car with a hybrid petrol engine. This is likely to be a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine with a power output of around 250hp, sourced from Geely – the Chinese powerhouse that owns Volvo, Polestar, Smart and Lotus.
The CLA will become the entry point into the Mercedes range, with A-Class and B-Class models set to be discontinued. With more technology than ever, expect prices to rise. Lower-powered engines are unlikely to feature, so it’s likely that the CLA will start from close to £40,000.
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