Mercedes CLA: A play for the younger set
| Sponsored by |
| » | ||
| » | ||
| » | ||
| » | ||
| » |
Reprints
Print
Respond
- 2012 European Automakers: Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, Volkswagen
- 2012 Chrysler-Fiat Future Product
- 2012 Japanese Automakers: Infiniti, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru and Suzuki
- 2012 Ford Product Plans
- 2012 Korean and Chinese Automakers Future Product
- 2012 European Automakers: Aston Martin, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Rolls-Royce, Smart, Volvo
- 2012 Japanese Automakers Product Plans: Acura, Honda, Lexus, Scion, Toyota
- 2012 GM Product Plans
DETROIT -- Mercedes-Benz is ready to go a little Scion, with a luxury twist.
Mercedes-Benz' sleek and sculpted CLA sedan will go on sale in the United States in September as the first of three new front-wheel-drive vehicles from the luxury marque.
The new compacts -- which will include a plug-in electric sedan and a small crossover -- are expected to attract new and younger buyers to the brand and help it expand sales.
"We aim to reach new target groups with the CLA -- including those who never wanted to drive a Mercedes," said Joachim Schmidt, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Mercedes-Benz Cars.
The CLA debuted at a private press preview Sunday evening in Detroit but will not be displayed on the auto show floor. Mercedes plans to show it to the public at this week's Berlin Fashion Week and in March at the Geneva auto show.
The CLA is built on a new fwd architecture that replaces Mercedes' A- and B-class models that were not sold in the United States.
The new platform was also created to help Mercedes-Benz meet tougher U.S. fuel economy rules.
The CLA four-door with coupe styling will cost about $30,000 -- about $6,000 less than today's entry car, the rear-wheel-drive C250 sedan priced at $36,255, including destination.
Mercedes-Benz hasn't marketed a vehicle in the $30,000 price range for several years.
Its chief rival, BMW, won't offer a fwd vehicle until early 2014 when its new fwd compact family debuts with a small crossover based on the Concept Active Tourer unveiled at last year's Paris auto show.
An all-new Audi A3 sedan, also fwd and designed for the United States, is to arrive for the 2014 model year.
Although the CLA is priced lower than the C class, the 2014 CLA is slightly longer at 182.3 inches compared with 180.8 inches for the C class. The CLA has a shorter wheelbase of 106.3 inches compared with 108.7 for the C class.
This is the first time Mercedes-Benz has released CLA specifications.
C class reclassified
The CLA's size will allow Mercedes-Benz to reposition the C class when it is redesigned in 2014. The new C class is expected to grow by about three inches in length, have a longer wheelbase and improved interior room, according to insiders.
Mercedes previously said C class production for the United States will shift to its factory in Alabama with the redesign.
Mercedes-Benz did not disclose annual U.S. sales targets. A dealer source said that when the additional two compact models are added, total annual volume will approach that of the C class.
Last year, Mercedes-Benz sold 81,697 C class cars in the United States.
"The CLA is a car that does not confuse 'mid-size' with 'mid-quality.' Its sporty design underscores the sporty side of the Mercedes-Benz brand," said Dieter Zetsche, chairman of the Daimler AG board of management.
The CLA has been dubbed a baby CLS because its aggressive styling echoes that of the larger sporty sedan -- which has been used by most luxury competitors, including BMW with its Gran Coupe.
The CLA250 with a four-cylinder engine will be the first model to go on sale in the United States. It will have a transversely mounted turbo 2.0-liter inline aluminum engine that produces 208 hp and 258 pounds-feet of torque. It is a mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
 |
The CLA250 with a four-cylinder engine will be the first model to go on sale in the United States. It will have a transversely mounted turbo 2.0-liter inline aluminum engine that produces 208 hp and 258 pounds-feet of torque. It is a mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. |
An all-wheel-drive model will be available in the spring of 2014.
The CLA will be loaded with premium Mercedes-Benz features. They include:
• A collision prevention assist system that warns of obstacles ahead and increases brake force when the driver steps on the pedal
• A start-stop feature that improves fuel economy
• An attention assist system that detects drowsiness and warns the driver
• The mbrace2 cloud-based entertainment and communications system that offers online and concierge services and links applications with smartphones
Optional features include Distronic, a radar-based system that keeps the car a certain distance away from the vehicle in front of it as well as blind spot, lane keeping and parking assist systems.
You can reach Diana T. Kurylko at dkurylko@crain.com. -- Follow Diana on 
