The new CLA is the first vehicle to operate entirely on the in-house developed Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS).
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the new CLA, the third generation of the sedan. At launch, it will be available in electric form, and hybrid models will follow in the future.
The new CLA’s design feels more evolutionary. It does carry forward the smooth lines of its predecessors. Up front, you get a panel instead of the trademark grille. It features a large Mercedes star logo and 142 chrome-effect stars, creating a distinctive brand signature. The illuminated grille has various animations to greet and say goodbye to the driver. There are sweptback LED headlamps connected by a thin light strip. With the optional MULTIBEAM LED headlights, the daytime running lights are designed in the shape of the Mercedes-Benz star.
Moving on, there are flush door handles along with frameless doors. Ten alloy wheel design options are offered, ranging in size from 17 to 19 inches. All wheels have also been aerodynamically refined. At the rear, you get star-shaped LED tail lamps connected by a light band which is animated during coming home and leaving home scenarios. The rear diffuser is finished in gloss black.
Dimensions-wise, the new CLA measures 4,723 mm in length, 1,855 mm in width and 1,468 mm in height. It has a wheelbase of 2,790 mm. Overall the new car has grown in size over the earlier model. The CLA gets a 101-litre frunk and boot space of 405 litres.
Coming to the interior, the new CLA gets a very minimalist dashboard layout. The highlight is the optional MBUX Superscreen that comprises a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14-inch centre screen for the infotainment. After the market launch of the CLA, the MBUX Superscreen will be available with an additional 14-inch display as an optional extra for the front passenger. Other design elements include round AC vents on the sides and a flat vent in the centre.
The feature list includes a large panoramic sunroof, 64-colour ambient lighting, 16-speaker Burmester sound system with Dolby Atmos, a new multi-function steering wheel, heated front seats and single zone climate control. Three trim options are on offer for the interior: Brushed aluminium, open-pore wood, or “Gold Anthracite anodized look”.
The new CLA is the first vehicle to operate entirely on the in-house developed Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS). It controls infotainment, automated driving, body & comfort and driving & charging.
The new CLA gets the fourth-gen MBUX system that uses artificial intelligence from both Microsoft and Google. The system uses ChatGPT4o and Microsoft Bing as well as Google Gemini. The latter specializes in navigation-based questions. The MBUX Virtual Assistant can switch between the Automotive AI Agent from Google and ChatGPT, depending on the topic being discussed.
At launch, there will be two electric variants on offer. First is the CLA 250+ with EQ Technology. It puts out 268 bhp and 335 Nm of torque. It has a range of up to 792 km and does the 0 to 100 kph sprint in 6.7 seconds.
The CLA 350 4MATIC with EQ Technology gets a dual motor all-wheel-drive system putting out 349 bhp and 515 Nm torque. 0 to 100 kph comes up in 4.9 seconds with a claimed range of up to 771 km.
The all-electric CLA comes with an 800-volt electrical architecture and advanced drive units with a two-speed transmission on the main drive at the rear axle. The 800-volt system maximises efficiency and performance and significantly reduces charging time in conjunction with the new battery generation. It can recharge up to 325 kilometres of range in just ten minutes. Fast DC charging is possible with up to 320 kW for both, the CLA 250+ and CLA 350 4MATIC.
A petrol-hybrid model will be offered towards the end of the year. It will come with a 1.5-litre (M 252) petrol engine combined with a 48-volt battery with lithium-ion technology offering a capacity of up to 1.3 kWh. The electric motor, including the inverter, is integrated into a new, compact eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. A special feature of the electric motor is its ability to recuperate in all eight gears, recovering up to 25 kW of energy.
The hybrid variants will be available with front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options.
The CLA models with hybrid tech will be produced on the same line at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Rastatt as their all-electric counterparts. After the gradual ramp-up in Rastatt, Beijing Benz Automotive Co., Ltd (BBAC) will build the CLA for the Chinese market.
