Mercedes has officially revealed the all-new CLA
Coupe at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas as promised through a
series of teasers. The new compact four-door coupe measures 4688 mm long and 1830 mm wide,
making it 48 mm longer and 53 mm wider than its predecessor, while the wheelbase
is also 30 mm longer. As you would expect, the bigger footprint of the new CLA
Coupe has given it a roomier interior.
The second-generation CLA debuted in Las Vegas in
CLA 250 form, meaning it’s powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder
petrol with 222 hp and 350 Nm of torque. Paired to it is a
seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Mercedes didn’t detail the rest
of the engine range, only saying that it’ll include most of the engines on
offer with the A-Class, along with the selection between manual or dual-clutch
transmissions and the option of the company’s 4Matic all-wheel drive.
Driving dynamics play a big role in the new CLA; the
front and rear tracks are now wider by 63mm at the front and by 53mm at the
rear, compared to the previous model, which are combined with a lower center of
gravity. Mercedes says that the new CLA is the most engaging member of its
compact car lineup to date. Models like the CLA 250 that’s on display in CES will come with a
decoupled multi-link rear suspension for reduced noise and vibration, a fatter
stabilizer bar for reduced body roll and optional adaptive dampers.
Mercedes worked hard on the aerodynamics of the new
CLA, making it as slippery as possible. The end result is a drag coefficient of
0.23. This is a success despite the previous car managing a 0.22Cd, as the new
CLA features a significantly larger frontal area. As expected, the new CLA shares
the same interior architecture with the A-Class, starring of course the latest
MBUX infotainment system with its dual-display setup and ‘Hey Mercedes’
advanced voice control feature.
As for the active safety kit, the list gets pretty
long; the new Mercedes CLA adopts many of the systems that originally debuted
in the S-Class, including a semi-autonomous function, Active Emergency Stop
Assist, Active Lane Change Assist, Active Brake Assist and more. Sales of the new Mercedes CLA
Coupe will start this May in Europe, while the US market will get it in late
2019.