Mercedes-Benz is evolving its marketing and product positioning drastically. Executive rumblings from a few years ago indicated the brand was making serious changes to lower its perceived demographic - but it all just seemed like lip service at the time.
Well, the arrival of the CLA-Class surely confirms that they were very serious.
Serious... about getting playful.
The CLA is launching in the American market as the front-drive CLA250 and the all-wheel-drive CLA45 AMG. Both run a highly advanced new platform, engine, transmission and electronic architecture.
What perhaps previously took 0.002 milliseconds to transfer info from rear ABS sensors on old cars is now cut in half. Faster data = better responsiveness on tracks.
This is a ground-up design that put emphasis on two things:
- Looking Good in your CLA
- Feeling Good in your CLA
Mercedes has overcompensated for the CLA's front-drive origins by including an engine stronger than a block a adamantium.
The launch of the standard CLA and AMG models together is a solid strategy, because it lets much of the cool style of the AMG rub off onto the much-cheaper 250 cars.
CLA250 Shown Directly Below
A 4Matic CLA250 will arrive in the U.S. market in April 2014, offering AWD traction and handling on the cheaper cars as well.
But until then: the CLA45 AMG is the sprint king of the segment: an official 4.5-seconds to 60 mph is conservative. Real-world times as low as 4.1-seconds are on the books for this car already while using the Race Start launch control settings.
The very similar A45 AMG hatchback video below shows how quick this car is, its blat on full boost, and the swiftness of the standard seven-speed dual-clutch auto.
Of course, the CLA45 AMG is pretty expensive for a car with a back seat this compact. Even so, the CLA is the quickest car in its class.
The competitive set listed by Mercedes for the CLA is pretty funny, because in my opinion, buyers who want a CLA would never consider a Volkswagen CC or any Acura.
Until the BMW 135i sedan arrives stateside next year, the CLA's closest competition will come from the 2015 Audi S3 sedan and the 2014 BMW 235i.
The battle is on!
Special thanks to Germany for improving the sprint pace of all cars. The 3.6-second E63 AMG 4Matic is so effortlessly fast - it makes speed a luxury feature missing on many other premium brands.
And rightly so! When a Civic Si and Toyota Camry V6 hit 60-mph in 6.1 seconds, it is time to get much faster at the top end of the market.
Of the English, American and Asian brands: only the Infiniti Q50S Hybrid in rear-drive gets close: 4.9-seconds is its official time (with full batteries.)
2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG
2014 CLA45 AMG Quick Reference Guide
Customer Availability / Pricing
November 2013: $47,450
At a Glance
CLA45 AMG 4MATIC
MSRP
$47,450
Fuel Economy
TBA
Engine
2.0L inline 4-cylinder Turbocharged
Performance
355 hp
332 lb-ft torque
0-60 (sec.)
4.5 (est.)
2014 CLA250 Quick Reference Guide
Customer Availability
CLA250 (front-wheel drive) - September 2013
CLA250 4MATIC - Spring 2014
Standard Feature Highlights
2.0L inline 4-cylinder Turbocharged engine
7-Speed Dual Clutch Transmission
mbrace2 - In-Vehicle Technology Suite
5.8" Display Screen
Powered sports seats with three-position memory
ECO Start/Stop
Electro-mechanical power steering
COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
ATTENTION ASSIST
Frameless windows
Optional Feature Highlights
Sport Appearance Pkg (18" wheels & AMG Styling front/rear bumpers)
DISTRONIC PLUS
Blind Spot Assist
Lane Keeping Assist
PARKTRONIC w/ Advance Parking Assist
Panorama Sunroof
Leather Interior Package (MB-TEX on upper dash and doors with topstitching)
Model Positioning
All-new segment established with CLA-Class
World’s most powerful four-cylinder engine built in series production
Trendsetting four-door coupe design
Main Competitors
Acura ILX
Audi A3
BMW 1-Series
Volkswagen CC
Safety Feature Highlights
COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST ATTENTION ASSIST
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Anti-Theft Alarm System
Electronic Parking Brake
Driver Air Bags
Window Air Bags
Driver Knee Air Bag
Side Impact Air Bags
Remote Key with Panic Button
2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 Sport and CLA250 4Matic
At a Glance
CLA250
CLA250 4MATIC
MSRP
$29,900
TBA
Fuel Economy
City: 26 MPG
Highway: 38 MPG
Combined: 30 MPG
TBA
Engine
2.0L inline
4-cylinder Turbocharged
2.0L inline
4-cylinder Turbocharged
Performance
208 hp
258 lb-ft torque
208 hp
258 lb-ft torque
0-60 (sec.)
6.9
6.8 (est.)
CLA250
CLA45 AMG 4MATIC
Vehicle Type
Four-door, five-passenger coupe
Four-door, five-passenger coupe
Chassis
Steel unibody
Steel unibody
Engine
CLA250
CLA45 AMG 4MATIC
Type
2.0-liter inline four-cylinder Turbocharged
2.0L inline four-cylinder Turbocharged
Material
Aluminum
Aluminum
Valve arrangement
Four valves per cylinder
Four valves per cylinder
Valvetrain
Overhead cam, roller-type rocker arm
Overhead cam, roller-type rocker arm
Displacement (cc)
1,991
1,991
Bore (in.)
3.27
3.27
Stroke (in.)
3.62
3.62
Compression ratio
9.8 : 1
8.6 : 1
Horsepower @ rpm
208 @ 5,500
355 @ 6,000
Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm
258 @ 1,250 - 4,000
332 @ 2,250-5,000
Intake system
Turbocharged, direct injection
Turbocharged, direct injection
Max. engine speed (rpm)
6,500
6,700
Performance
CLA250
CLA45 AMG 4MATIC
0-60 (sec.)
6.9
4.5 (est.)
Top speed (mph)
149
155
Fuel economy:
city
hwy
26
38
TBA
TBA
Transmission
CLA250
CLA45 AMG 4MATIC
Type
7-Speed Dual Clutch Automatic
7-Speed Dual Clutch Automatic
Shift controls
DirectSelect
DirectSelect
Gear ratios
1
3.86:1
3.86:1
2
2.43:1
2.43:1
3
2.67:1
1.54:1
4
1.05:1
1.05:1
5
0.78:1
0.78:1
6
1.05:1
0.61:1
7
0.84:1
0.48:1
R
-3.38:1
-3.37:1
R2 "comfort mode"
-
-
Final drive
4.13:1
2.44:1
Suspension/Steering
CLA250
CLA45 AMG 4MATIC
Suspension type
Independent sport suspension
Independent AMG Sport Suspension
Front
McPherson spring strut & wishbone
Three-link, coil springs, McPherson gas-filled struts, stabilizer bar with anti-dive geometry
Rear
Wishbones & control arms
Four-link, coil springs, gas-filled struts, stabilizer bar, anti-squat geometry
Steering
Rack-and-pinion, peed-dependent electric power assist
Rack-and-pinion, speed-dependent electric power assist