New Mercedes CLA Coupe Is More Baby-CLS And Sportier Than Ever


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 4688mm long and 1830mm wide, making it 48mm longer and 53mm wider than its predecessor, while the wheelbase is also 30mm 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 222hp (225PS) and 258lb-ft (350Nm) 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.

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