CLA Will Usher In a New Era For Mercedes

Mercedes-Benz boss, Ola Källenius, believes the upcoming CLA saloon will be “safer than an S-Class”.

Speaking to Auto Express, he also claimed the CLA will have “world beating four-cylinder engines”. 

Mercedes is, like others, hedging its bets regarding electric and combustion models because EV demand currently is roughly half of what the industry expected.  

The CLA is the first of four new Mercedes ‘entry luxury’ cars using fresh MMA architecture. It is for EVs primarily but also accommodates hybrid powertrains. The other three newcomers are replacements for the GLA and GLB SUVs, and the CLA Shooting Brake. The current A-Class hatchback is not being replaced. 

Hybrid combustion engines will be front and centre for those not wanting an EV. PHEVs will also be available. Mercedes will keep developing ICE power hybrids so they remain compliant with tougher looming European emissions regulations. 

The upcoming baby Benz introduces the new Mercedes Operating System (MB.OS) that manages connected, infotainment and autonomous driving features. 

Mercedes will be the first manufacturer to offer level 3 ‘eyes-off’ assisted driving approved by regulators in Germany and some US states. That’s essentially autonomous control by the car, with the driver ready to take over if necessary. Next year S-Class and EQS owners will be able to watch videos or read emails while their autonomous vehicle cruises behind vehicles at up to 95km/h on the autobahn. 

CLA will have cameras, LiDAR, sensors and back-up steering and braking systems to build on this, extending autonomous driving ability into urban areas in theory. 

Källenius said “The next generation automated driving in the CLA will be the…best assistant system that we have ever done, by a wide, wide margin”. S-Class is good but autonomous drive in “the CLA will beat it.” However, it won’t come cheap and list prices could jump by as much as 20 per cent. 

But the MMA-based EVs look highly competitive. With an 800-volt electrical architecture, the CLA should be able to restore almost 400km of range in around 15 minutes when hooked up to a 300kW DC charger. Total range will likely exceed 736km with the latest battery chemistry.

“We are preparing for the biggest product offensive in the company’s history,” he said. “And we kick it off with the CLA. 

“It’s a fantastic car and it’s a new car that ushers in a new era.”