The new Mercedes-Benz CLA has just been revealed in Las Vegas. What Mercedes-Benz calls the most emotional car in its class, the 4-door coupe gets the MBUX Interior Assist and safety features from the upper classes. The car comes to rejuvenate the image of the brand.
A best-seller since it first came into the world, in 2013, with 750,000 units sold, Mercedes-Benz CLA stays at the top of the young customers’ preferences. Mercedes is playing the aces up its sleeve, throwing in the seductive design and the high-tech features.
As the teasers have revealed, the elongated bonnet, the wide track, the prominent wheel arches make it look like a typical GT, while the frameless windows, the greenhouse pulled back and the plunging roofline highlight its coupe silhouette.
The diamond radiator grille has a more powerful stance, the headlights become flatter, while, at the opposite end, the taillights with a two-piece layout and the solid bumper make it look impressively wide. And it is not just an impression, since the car gets 63 extra millimeters at the front and 55 extra at the rear, compared to its predecessor, together with a lower center of gravity.
With an aerodynamics coefficient of only 0,23, identical to that of the triathlon athlete Jan Frodeno on his bike, the CLA once again sets the standards in the segment.
The cabin of the 4-door coupe features a high tech and avant-guard-like ambience. The dashboard runs from one door to the other with practically no visual interruption, while the widescreen display is free-standing.
The MBUX, presented exactly a year ago in Las Vegas, has found room inside the new CLA as well. It is accompanied by spectacular graphics, a fully costumizable display, a full color Head-up Display, navigation with augmented reality and the software based on artificial intelligence, capable of learning, that is engaged when the driver says “Hey Mercedes”. Capable of distinguishing the driver from the front passenger, the MBUX Interior Assist further simplifies operation and recognizes voice and gesture control.
In order to provide top comfort to the occupants, Mercedes fits the company’s 4-door coupe with the ENERGIZING packages with ENERGIZING COACH, a service that recommends programs depending on the situation.
The new CLA is a step forward in terms of dynamics, as well. A decoupled multi-link axle at the rear lowers noise and vibrations level, a Direct-Steer system as standard and hydromounts at the front bring improved handling, while a stabilizer bar with a larger diameter reduces body roll. An adaptive damping system is optionally available.
The wheels range cover sizes from 16 to 19 inches, shod in tyre sizes from 205/60 R 16 to 225/40 R 19.
The CLA also gets a specially tuned ESP for a sportier response in cornering at high speed.
It also receives the assistance and safety systems of its high-class sibling, the S-Class. For the first time, it is capable to drive semi-autonomously, keeping an eye on traffic via the improved camera and radar system, that “sees” up to 500 meters ahead. Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC as part of the optional Driving Assistance Package, the Active Emergency Stop Assist and the Active Lange Change Assist are also there, accompanied by the Active Brake Assist. And the PRE-SAFE PLUS.
The new Mercedes-Benz CLA also gets the optional MULTIBEAM LED headlamps.
In Las Vegas, Mercedes brought the CLA 250 (225 horsepower, 350 Nm), connected to a 7G-DCT dual-clutch transmission. At the moment of the market launch in May, further diesel and gasoline engines, coupled to manual or dual-clutch transmissions and optionally equipped with the 4MATIC all-wheel drive system will be available for order.
