2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 After dazzling us with the concept in Shanghai, Mercedes Benz pulled the wraps off the 2014 CLA-Class production model for just one night in Detroit, the evening before the Detroit Auto Show officially kicks off. The car will not be on the exhibit floor during the show as it officially debuts on January 15 at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Berlin. Touted as the baby CLS, the CLA a stunning four-door coupe that draws design inspiration from the CLS, with its length (all 182.3 inches of it) dictated by the A-Class.
2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250
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| 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 |
2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250
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| 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 |
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2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250
For the most part, Mercedes stuck close to the CLA concept's look in creating this new member of the luxury carmaker's growing lineup.
Hard creases across the sheet metal cut every possible panel starting with the hood and pushed out nose to its frameless doors and sloping roof that gives it such a unique profile. There's an elegant asymmetry to this car's lines that keeps your eye busy as you try to figure it out. There's also an optional panorama roof. Mercedes has sprinkled LED jewels on the external mirrors, horizontal taillamps and elongated headlamps (which have LED daytime running lights), making it sparkle from every angle. All of that bodywork apparently paid off in the wind tunnel, with the CLA-Class reaching a drag coefficient of .23 - the best of any Mercedes ever, as well as any other production vehicle, the company said.
The interior takes on a less modern appearance but retains qualities found in the bigger CLS. Anthracite surface finish is standard trim, and optional choices include a forest of burl walnut or black ash wood, or aluminum. A freestanding 5.8-inch display is set in piano black with a silver frame in the center stack. Like all Mercedes, the new CLA-Class will offer connectivity and apps galore to connect the driver to the world through Mercedes Mbrace2 service. Buyers can upgrade to a 7-inch display screen and add Mercedes' COMAND system, which includes hard-drive navigation, voice controls, and an in-dash, six-disc CD/DVD changer. That system also includes a rearview camera and SiriusXM traffic and weather.
Mercedes will also offer a raft of performance technology such as its Collision Prevention Assist, which works at speeds above 4 mph. This radar-based braking system can warn drivers of a pending accident and pre-charge the brakes to create faster braking abilities. The CLA-Class lineup will also offer Distronic cruise control, lane keep assist, and blind spot detection system as part of a Driver Assistance package. While we haven't driven the CLA-Class, it looks promising. Tipping the scales at 3264 pounds, the CLA-Class will be powered by Mercedes' 2.0-liter, turbocharged direct-injection inline-four aluminum engine. The engine creates 208 horsepower at 5500 rpm and 258 lb-ft of torque starting at 1200 rpm. The CLA-Class will also use Mercedes' seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. The base CLA250 will arrive with 17-inch wheels, there will be an optional sports package upgrade, giving it 18's. Additionally, Mercedes will offer an all-wheel drive 4MATIC version of the CLA. Buyers will get the chance to add the CLA-Class to their families in September, when it is scheduled to start arriving at U.S. dealers.
