Mercedes-Benz had showcased the Concept Style Coupe sedan last year. The German luxury automaker has now unveiled the production version, called the CLA which is a new entry level luxury sedan. The Mercedes-Benz CLA will be positioned between the A-Class hatchback and the C-Class sedan, offering a competitive price to the customers. The CLA is based on the new Modular Front Architecture (MFA) platform, sharing most of the elements from the A-Class hatchback. Mercedes-Benz will offer CLA with a standard trim and a souped up AMG trim.
For the USA market, Mercedes-Benz will offer the CLA250 featuring a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol unit churning out 208 BHP of power and 350 Nm of torque mated to a 7-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. This engine helps the CLA reach from 0 – 100 km/hr in just 6.7 seconds and enables a top speed of 240 km/hr. The sole diesel engine at launch is the CLA220 CDI, which uses a 2.2-litre motor to churn out 167 HP of power and 350 Nm of torque. This diesel-powered Mercedes CLA does the 0-100 km/hr sprint in 8.2 seconds and has a top speed of 230 km/hr.
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All the power and torque will be transmitted to the front wheels on the base version and to all the four wheels in the 4Matic version of the CLA-Class. In order to keep the engine fuel efficient, the ECO stop/start system will come as standard on all versions. The automaker will offer a range of diesel and petrol motors on the CLA in other markets. Mercedes-Benz has also introduced a four-wheel drive CLA45 AMG powered by a re-tuned 2.0-litre petrol motor, seen in the A45 AMG hatchback, producing a maximum power of 350 BHP and a peak torque of 450 Nm.
The CLA compact sedan comes equipped with premium features including panorama roof, Attention Assist for drowsiness detection, radar based Collision Prevention Assist with adaptive Brake Assist, Blind Spot Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, an optional AMG styling kit and a choice of multimedia systems. The CLA will celebrate its official world premiere at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Berlin this month. The company will price the CLA at around $30,000 (Rs. 16.35 lakhs) in the US, with sales starting in September. The CLA’s India arrival happens next year.
