With its front-wheel drive platform, the CLA may not
be the powersliding four-door coupe that enthusiasts yearn for, but it’s still
a big moneymaker for Mercedes-Benz. It’s so popular that the German
automaker will soon bring it back for its second generation, which will follow
hot on the heels of the recently unveiled 2019 A-Class.
Very similar to the
new-gen compact hatchback, according to XTomi’s rendering, albeit with a few
tweaks made here and there. The rendering looks pretty much spot-on, but it
remains to be seen if the 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA will actually look like this.
Underpinned by the same architecture as the new
A-Class, the next CLA will continue to be offered with standard front-wheel
drive and all-wheel drive will be an option. It will be powered by a host of
small engines, some of them carried with a few improvements from the current
iteration, and some shared with Renault, and it should to be offered with both
manual and automatic transmissions.
The interior of the compact car will be entirely new
as well and come equipped with the latest tech, including the MBUX infotainment
system, which brings a dual-screen layout similar to the one found in the new
E-Class and facelifted S-Class.
Mercedes-AMG will likely offer a CLA45 version as
well, with AWD and the 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol engine of the upcoming A45
hatch that’s expected to generate in excess of 400 horsepower.
