Mercedes-Benz CLA: The 1-Series Competitor We Didn't Know We Needed

[YSSMAN]

2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA

Well, this seems interesting!

From what I can gather, this will be the "American" of the brand-new Mercedes-Benz A-Class sold internationally. We get a sedan of sorts with swoopy lines, ala the CLS. All-wheel-drive seems to be standard fare, as do a line of fuel-friendly I4s, likely strapped with turbos.

Could it be the car we never knew we wanted that actually turns out to be somewhat good? We'll see.

 

[hawkeye122]

So its a C, but a coupe-thing (CL) But with 4 doors (CLS) but instead they call it the CLA?

Ok, i probably got the names so wrong, but you get my point. Just get a C class?

 

[Beeblebrox237]

I really don't care one way or the other for this car. If it turns out to be really great to drive, then I'll be more enthusiastic. Until then, I could get a lot more car for the money.

 

[motortrend]

Wouldn't this be more like a 2 series competitor? Wait the 2 series is a coupe, unleeeessss they make a 2 series GranCoupe

 

[Beeblebrox237]

How long until Audi comes out with a TT four door?

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

You mean A3/S3/RS3?

But, about the merc.. We will see how it turns out. If it shares specs with the AMG A-class..

 

[sumbrownkid]

BMW who now?

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

I'd still take the 1-series 3-door over this.. After all, BMW is targeted for younger audience.

 

[Omnis]

Conjugated linoleic acid.

 

[motortrend]

^

I'd still take the 1-series 3-door over this.. After all, BMW is targeted for younger audience.

Awww yeah M135 xDrive

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

Indeed. If only the front looked less like Alfred Hitchcock..

 

[E28]

How long until Audi comes out with a TT four door?

I'd like that, but only if it was called the TTTT.

Just when you think the Mercedes naming scheme couldn't get anymore complicated!

Looks nice, I guess it's designed to go up against the rumoured (and probably inevitable) 2-Series Gran Coupe.

 

[Dan_]

I see this as an entry point to the brand, if it's not priced much differently from the hatch, it'll be attainable to a more young people. I like it.

They did a proper job with the back, the front is bit too much but still works.

I'd buy this.

 

[Cano]

Finally. I made a photoshop of this car about two years ago, so the rumor about it has been around for a while. I wasn't THAAAT far off:

 

[hawkeye122]

So it's supposed to be smaller than a C... why not call it a B? Or an A?

 

[E28]

I think the C stands for Coupe. The CLS is more E-Class sized, but still a C. I'm not entirely sure though.

 

[psntomaz]

Its a Sedan A-Class but it has a 4 Door coupe appearance (CL) So, its a 4 Foor Coupe (CL) A-Class (A).

 

[alonsof1fan91]

So its a C, but a coupe-thing (CL) But with 4 doors (CLS) but instead they call it the CLA?

Ok, i probably got the names so wrong, but you get my point. Just get a C class?

Its a coupe based on the plattform used by the A Class and B Class, so its a FWD. Its priced between the B class and C class, entry price in Germany seems to be 28k €. The next C Class generation is going to get a bit more expensive, closer to the E Class.

This car is mainly aimed at the american and chinese market, where -from what I have read- hatchbacks like the A class aren`t so popular. Also a estate version is going to be released, the CLA shooting brake, competitor to the A3 sportsback.

 

[Endless-Wilso]

Its a miniature C class I hope it looks like that The new 1 series looks kinda ugly.

Its a coupe based on the plattform used by the A Class and B Class, so its a FWD.

I hope its RWD it kinda reminds me of the 190 Evo back in the day.

 

[alonsof1fan91]

Its a miniature C class I hope it looks like that The new 1 series looks kinda ugly.




I hope its RWD it kinda reminds me of the 190 Evo back in the day.

Its actually slightly bigger then a C class, but still only a 4 seater (like the CLS or C class coupe).

I can assure you 100% that it is a FWD, its based on the A class. Not a bad thing I suppose, the new A class os set up very sporty IMO, on a recent test in a car mag, the A250 sport beat the time of a 125i by full 3 seconds on IIRC Sachsenring and was almost as fast as a 135i.

Here pictures of the CLA:

 

[E28]

So, it's an A-Class, the smaller alternative to the C-Class that's bigger than a C-Class...

 

[alonsof1fan91]

So, it's an A-Class, the smaller alternative to the C-Class that's bigger than a C-Class...

Its slightly longer then the current W204 C Class. The W205 C Class will probably bigger then the current one. From what I know, it will be closer to the E Class.

Its not an alternative to the C Class. It has only 4 seats, the C Class has 5. The C Class is a perfect everyday vehicle, the CLA is a "lifestyle" car. I highly doubt that it reaches the same level of comfort as the C.

Think of it as a smaller brother of the CLS (which is based on the E Class).

 

[Endless-Wilso]

A shame its Fwd a cheaper RWD Merc would of sold like hotcakes .

Its still a real looker though


Its definitely not bigger than a C class ive seen plenty of them and that does indeed look a tad slimmer .
It looks closer to being a competitor for the 3 series also.

 

[alonsof1fan91]

I dont know the size of the production model, but the CLA concept car (which looked better IMO) was 4.64 meters long according to AMS. The W204 sedan is 4.581 meters long.

IIRC a A Class sedan (not a "coupe" like this one) is in development too. Here more pics:

CLA concept:

CLA shooting brake:

Edit:
Just read on a german Mercedes fanpage that this car has a cw coefficient of 0.23!

 

[Beeblebrox237]

Dat shooting brake That car is worth 45 grand on styling alone.

 

[homeforsummer]

So it's supposed to be smaller than a C... why not call it a B? Or an A?

CLA. CL denotes a coupe line, just like it does with the CL and CLS. In this instance, C has nothing to do with C-Class. Though the A very likely refers to A-Class, the platform on which the CLA is based.

 

[Tornado]

So this is like an A-Class... sedan?

 

[Beeblebrox237]

It's essentially a CLS that's based off the A class. The A class is to the CLA as the E class is to the CLS.

 

[alonsof1fan91]

It seems like that this car is a competitor for the upcoming 1 series sedan.

As a Merc lover, I like the CLA. I just wonder why it costs so much more them a A class (24k to 28 k base version). Maybe it just comes with one of the bigger engines from the A.
28k for a entry car is too much IMO. In my local Merc dealership I could get a 1 year old C class coupe with amg package and decent engine for that money.

 

[homeforsummer]

So this is like an A-Class... sedan?

It's essentially a CLS that's based off the A class. The A class is to the CLA as the E class is to the CLS.

Yes to both. Think A Class sedan with a coupe twist.

Though make mine the shooting brake, if they go through with it. High quality, sporty, not-too-big, stylish estate car. Throw in the 220 CDI engine and the 7-speed DCT and job's a good'un.