Mercedes Benz CLA Class

Concept Style Coupé (2012)

The Concept Style Coupe is a four-door fastback coupe concept car shown during 2012 at various international locations and previewed the 2013 CLA-Class.

The concept was fitted with a four-cylinder turbocharged engine rated 211 PS (155 kW; 208 hp), front wheel drive system, dual-clutch automatic transmission, diamond-look grille from the 2011 Concept A-Class, Alubeam body colour, headlamps shining red at standby mode, indicators with individual points of light up in succession, 21-inch wheels with perforated pins on the spokes, frameless side windows, panoramic sunroof, metallic-red colouring taillights, instrument panel upholstered in white nubuck leather, anthracite-coloured Alcantara on the upper section of the instrument panel, suede on the sports steering wheel, chrome trim elements and control panels in black anodised finish, surfaces around the HMI control panel in glossy shimmer of black anodised aluminium, four integral bucket seats with four integrated head restraints from Sport version of the W176 A-Class, and air vents in the instrument panel from the 2011 Concept A-Class.

The vehicle was unveiled at Avant/Garde Diaries event in Los Angeles, followed by Auto China 2012, and Huashan 1914 Creative Park.

Overview

The vehicle, known by the model code of C117, was unveiled at the 2013 North American International Auto Show, followed by Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Berlin (15 to 18 January 2013), 2013 New York International Auto Show, and 2013 Osaka Motor Show (CLA 180).

A virtual 2014 car was displayed at the 2013 Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto. A similar virtual model was shown at the 2013 New York International Auto Show in March 2013. Viewers looked through a special display that appeared to project the car on a rotating platform.

The vehicles were scheduled to be on sale by September 2013. Early models include CLA 180, CLA 180 BlueEFFICIENCY Edition, CLA 200, CLA 250, and CLA 220 CDI. CLA 200 CDI can be ordered from 8 April 2013, with the first vehicles to be delivered to customers from September 2013. CLA 250 4MATIC, CLA 45 AMG, CLA 45 AMG Edition 1 were available to order from July 2013 and arrive at dealerships in September 2013.

Mercedes claimed that it would be the most aerodynamic production vehicle on sale with a Cd=0.23, beating the previous most-aerodynamic, the Tesla Model S (0.24). The CLA 180 CDI Blue Efficiency was claimed to be even more aerodynamic with a Cd=0.22. However, independent measurement by Car And Driver Magazine in May 2014 bore out Tesla's claim by exactly confirming a drag coefficient of Cd=0.24, while putting Mercedes' claim into question by measuring the CLA at Cd=0.30. The test done by Car And Driver was in turn criticized for being imprecise as to which model variant of the CLA was tested by Car And Driver and which variant was advertised featuring a Cd=0.23.

The CLA-Class is the most affordable Mercedes-Benz vehicle offered for sale in the United States, with a base MSRP of $29,900 (2014). This undercut the C-Class sedan, the vehicle it replaced as the entry-level sedan in Mercedes-Benz line-up of cars, which starts at $38,200 (2014); the CLA 250 was released in the U.S. on September 20, 2013.

The CLA-Class was the company's first model to feature the company's new design theme for the next generation of Mercedes-Benz. Higher vehicles in the rank like the W222 S-Class (2013), W205 C-Class (2014) and W213 E-Class (2016) have a design theme inspired from the CLA.

2017 Model Year Update

For 2017 the CLA will receive a new facelift with new restyled headlights and restyled taillights with available bold LED lighting.

CLA Edition 1 (2013–2014)

Available in CLA 180, CLA 200, CLA 250, CLA 220 CDI, they are versions of the respective CLA-class vehicles with choice of 5 body colours (mountain grey, cosmos black, night black, cirrus white or designo polar silver magno (expected to be available from the third quarter of 2013)), AMG front and rear aprons, AMG side sill panels, black painted multi-spoke AMG light-alloy wheels, diamond radiator grille with black fin and chrome inserts, bi-xenon headlamps, lowered sports suspension, exclusive NEON ART interior, sports seats upholstered in leather and black microfibre DINAMICA with yellow stitching, instrument panel and the beltlines upholstered in ARTICO man-made leather with yellow stitching, trim elements in aluminium with a light longitudinal grain, a 3-spoke multifunction sports steering wheel with a flattened bottom section and perforations in the grip area.

The vehicles went on sale for the twelve months after the launch of CLA-class vehicles.

CLA 180 BlueEFFICIENCY Edition (2013–)

It is a version of CLA 180 with reduced fuel consumption. Cd value was reduced to 0.22 via low A-pillar shoulder with adapted A-pillar geometry, aerodynamically optimised exterior mirror housings and rear shape, optimised diffuser, optimised underbody and rear axle panelling, radiator shutter, aero wheel trims and serrated wheel spoilers on the front and rear wheel arches.

The vehicle was set to go on sale in September 2013.

Mercedes-Benz Sport Equipment CLA 200 concept (2013)

It is a version of Mercedes-Benz CLA 200 demonstrating Mercedes-Benz Accessories GmbH equipment for CLA-Class vehicles. It included "Road & Track" decal kit (number '1' decal at front door and hood, decorative stripe in red/grey runs along the centre of the car), carbon fibre-style exterior mirror housings, front apron spoiler lip and rear spoiler; red-painted brake callipers, Styling Package Night (black window surrounds, black shoulderline trip strips), 18-inch two-tone 5-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels in matt black with red rim flange, Sport badge at front wings, illuminated door sill panels with Sport lettering, a leather sports steering wheel, sports pedals in brushed stainless steel, Sport floor mats Drive Kit Plus.

The vehicles were unveiled in 2013 Frankfurt International Motor Show.

Shooting Brake (2015–)

Mercedes-Benz unveiled a world premiere at the 2014 LA Auto Show of the CLA in a new estate or station wagon variant, which measure in at the same length as the standard CLA four-door coupe and also share the same 2,699mm wheelbase. The only visual changes starting from the B-pillar, which provides more headroom in the backseat area. It also provides more loadspace than the sedan, 470 litres to 495 litres, while folding the rear seats flat frees a usable 1354 litres.

Like the saloon, four trim levels are available: Sport, AMG Sport, Engineered by AMG, and AMG. Mercedes also released a special Orange Art edition with bright orange detailing inside and out. Engine options remains largely the same as the coupe, with two exceptions. The four-wheel drive 208 bhp 250 4MATIC model is only offered as an Engineered by AMG version, while a new 220 CDI 4MATIC will launch in September 2015 on the Shooting Brake and follow on the coupe.

Engines are minutely less efficient than the saloon, due to the slight kerb weight increase and the drag coefficient dropping from Cd=0.22 to Cd=0.26. However the CLA 200 CDI still returns 72.4mpg, with CO2 emissions of 101g/km.

Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 (2013–)

The Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 (previously Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG) is a current high-performance model of the CLA-Class from Mercedes-AMG. The car shares its drivetrain with the A45 AMG, and it will include an AMG 2.0-litre four-cylinder twin-scroll turbocharged petrol engine, 4MATIC all wheel drive, SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed transmission with paddle shifters, AMG sports suspension with independently developed front and rear axles, electromechanical AMG speed-sensitive sports steering, AMG high-performance braking system, three-stage ESP with "SPORT Handling" mode. Other features include AMG "twin-blade" radiator grille in matt titanium grey, AMG front fascia with front splitter in matt titanium grey, Large side cooling air intakes with black flics, Side sill panels with inserts in matt titanium grey, "TURBO AMG" lettering on front wing, AMG rear fascia with stylised side air outlet openings, Rear diffuser insert with trim in matt titanium grey, AMG sports exhaust system with two rectangular chrome-plated tailpipe trims featuring twin-tailpipe design, Bi-xenon headlamps, Tail lights with LED technology, Red seat belts, sports seats in ARTICO man-made leather/DINAMICA microfibre with red contrasting topstitching and red seat belts, the multifunction sports steering wheel with shift paddles, and the AMG DRIVE UNIT with E-SELECT lever, instrument panel trim in brushed aluminium and five galvanised ventilation outlets, central colour display incorporates the AMG main menu including RACETIMER.

The vehicle was unveiled in 2013 Geneva Motor Show, followed by 2013 New York International Auto Show. It went on sale in late September 2013.

For the 2016 year model, Mercedes-AMG has increased the horsepower of the CLA 45. It now has 375 hp @ 6,000 rpm which sprints the car from 0–60 in only 4.1 seconds compared to the previously 4.4 seconds on 355 hp. New features that were added include AMG DYNAMIC SELECT and an introduction to AMG DYNAMIC PLUS package which brings enhanced acceleration, suspension, and transmission.

CLA 45 AMG Edition 1 (2014)

Edition 1 model includes Night package, red accents on the radiator grille and exterior mirrors, and AMG sports stripes in matt graphite grey above the side sill panels; optional Intelligent Light System includes red accents on the headlamps, AMG multi-spoke alloy wheels in matt black with special AMG hub caps featuring a centre-locking look, red brake callipers, 8 x 19 alloy wheels with 235/35 R 19 tyres, spoiler lip in high-gloss black on the boot lid, choice of 2 standard (cirrus white, night black) and 4 optional (cosmos black metallic, mountain grey metallic, polar silver metallic, designo polar silver magno) body colours.

CLA 45 AMG Racing Series (2013)

The vehicles is a race car version of CLA 45 AMG for the CLA 45 AMG Racing Series, with carbon-fiber reinforced plastics doors. The vehicle was unveiled in 2013 Frankfurt International Motor Show.

Production

Trial production of CLA at the Kecskemét plant at southeast of Budapest, Hungary started in 2012, with production at Kecskemét plant began in January 2013.

Marketing

As part of CLA-Class US product launch, a television commercial featuring Kate Upton was produced for, and premiered during the 4th quarter of Super Bowl XLVII. Additional commercials titled 'Dishes', 'Jukebox', 'Sundae' were premiered during Super Bowl XLVII. A TV commercial titled 'Soul', featuring a devil played by Willem Dafoe was also premiered during Super Bowl XLVII.

In a promotional campaign under the slogan "Untamed. The new CLA", a TV commercial titled 'Wolf' asks how it is possible to stand out from the crowd, when so many others are also striving for individuality – the answer is provided by the new CLA. The commercial was premiered until mid-March 2013 on all major German TV channels. The print materials show the 'style rebel' from a range of perspectives, which had appeared until mid-April 2013 in high-circulation news and business magazines, specialist motoring publications and special interest media under headings such as "Form: non-conformist" or "Untamed".

The #Untamed was launched in February 2013, a digital photo installation inspired by the new Mercedes-Benz CLA, for which Mercedes-Benz will be exploiting the power of the popular social media photo platform Instagram. Users could to go to www.untamed-installation.com and upload the most unusual images from their personal Instagram photo stream to the multivdevice-compatible CLA campaign website. On the homepage, participants can see how individual their photos are, and the extent to which they stand out from the images captured by other participants. In accordance with the central theme of "The natural enemy of the ordinary", participants are encouraged to break free from the constraints of convention and demonstrate their creativity. A poster of the personal pictures can then be downloaded, sent by email or shared with friends via Facebook, Google+ and Twitter. Began in April 2013, these personal photos were digitally reworked and, together with the CLA, incorporated into an actual photo installation, to be presented to an international audience in Paris.

The AMG CLA 45 first made its video game appearance in the 2014 PlayStation 4 video game Driveclub.

Specifications

For MY2015 changes include: updated infotainment with bigger central screen and updated head unit with iPhone interface as standard, Collision Prevention Assist Plus autonomous braking made standard and an extra 5 kW for the CLA 220 CDI. Furthermore, MY2016 brings Carplay as an option to the CLA.

Engines

All CLA-Class models are powered by four-cylinder engines, including a choice of 1.6 L and 2.0 L gasoline, and 1.8 and 2.1 L diesels. Most of the engines come in a range of different states of tuning, and all include a stop-start facility.

Transmissions

The 7G-DCT transmission includes electric activation of the hydraulics for the parking lock, which is locked by mechanical means; three gearshift programs (ECONOMY, SPORT, MANUAL). 7G-DCT transmission option became available for CLA 180 in June 2013, followed by CLA 200 CDI in September 2013.

Euro NCAP

The CLA-Class achieved the best possible rating of five stars for occupant safety, pedestrian protection and assistance systems in the demanding Euro NCAP assessment scheme. The CLA comes standard with a number of safety systems like Collision Prevention Assist, Attention Assist, Adaptive braking technology, Daytime Running Lamps and Rain-sensing windshield wipers. The CLA also received three "Euro NCAP Advanced" rewards for these safety innovations, including the radar-assisted second-generation Collision Prevention Assist, the Attention Assist drowsiness detection system and the anticipatory occupant protection system Pre-Safe (optional equipment). Mercedes-Benz upgraded the safety systems for the 2015 CLA with even more of the latest technology, this includes the Collision Prevention Assist Plus, which helps to reduce the risk of rear-end collisions, and also upgraded the Attention Assist and Traffic Sign Assist (with Speed Limit Assist) systems.

Recognition

The CLA-Class has been a controversial vehicle among some of Mercedes-Benz biggest fans as it isn't much like the other cars by the German automaker. In contrast to most Mercedes models sold in the U.S., the CLA is small, based on a front-wheel drive platform, and powered exclusively by four-cylinder engines. Called as a new "gateway" into the Mercedes-Benz brand with sales "beyond our optimistic expectations" by Mercedes-Benz, Consumer Reports rate the CLA as "140% worse than the average car" in the 2014 Annual Auto Reliability Survey.

Despite the criticism, the CLA received praise worldwide from professional reviewers. The price, which starts from $30,000, has been the highlight for many reviewers. The front-wheel drive has been praised for giving the CLA a better fuel economy, which gives especially the CLA 250 a 26 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the road. The performance has also been praised, with 208 hp, the CLA 250 sprints to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds. The coupe-like handling has been praised, which has been described as "quick and direct". The interior has been praised for making the CLA a more "youthful choice". Though the CLA is an entry level car, professional reviewers agree that it still looks and feels like a proper Mercedes.