Next-gen Mercedes CLA previewed ahead of global debut

New-gen CLA coupe showcased in near-production form; camo conceals final design.

Published On Oct 15, 2024 01:25:00 PM

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Mercedes-Benz had showed the CLA concept around a year ago. Now, the production-spec model, albeit camouflaged, was displayed at an event in France, giving us a better picture of what to expect from the final product before its official unveiling sometime next year.

New CLA 4-door coupe is underpinned by the MRA platform
Will come with multiple powertrain options
Will get an MBUX Superscreen setup

The next-gen CLA will continue to be a stylish 4-door with the swooping roofline giving it a mini-CLS, coupe-esque look. The grille is wider and merges with the bumper, and its headlamps get a new design. It resembles the concept quite a bit and looks like a production-ready model. The grille on this particular car has been closed off, hinting that it's an EV. The new CLA will be based on the MRA modular platform that supports multiple powertrains, including EV, plug-in hybrid and conventional hybrids.

The interior of the coupe has not been revealed, but like the exterior, we expect that the interior will also resemble the concept and feature multiple textures and shades. The new CLA is expected to get a full-width MBUX Superscreen similar to the one in the Vision EQXX, and runs Mercedes-Benz's new MB.OS operating system. The new chip-to-cloud architecture, which will support Google Maps among other embedded apps, represents a new approach to in-car infotainment for Mercedes-Benz. The brand had earlier confirmed that it will be included in all upcoming models, starting with the new CLA.

The new CLA is slightly larger than its predecessor and could be the only entry-level model available from Mercedes-Benz, at least in some markets – the brand could phase out the A-Class sedan. There is no official confirmation from Mercedes-Benz about the new CLA coming to India; however, we expect the 4-door coupe to be positioned below the C-Class and take on the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe if launched here.

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