Photo: Catalin Garmacea
July has been a bit of an AMG month for us here at autoevolution. Despite not having planned this in advance, our 2000-mile road trip in a GLA45 AMG was followed by a few days spent with the 2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG Shooting Brake. And now we’re here to talk about the later.
When Mercedes introduced the CLA, I noticed that window line and the first thing that came to my mind was a well-trained German Shepherd. Nevertheless, with the AMG stance sharpening up the car, it’s now more like an open-ankle boot, a truly fashionable creation.
It’s amusing how most people won’t be able to distinguish between a standard GLA Shooting Brake and the Affalterch incarnation. The most visible clues are the “Turbo AMG” badges on the front wings, as well as the naughtier roof spoiler.
Our tester came with optional 19-inch wheels, but, for the sake of ride comfort, we’d stick with the standard 18-inch units.
Turbo lag? Not really. The AMG engineers have done wonders, spreading the lag. So while you do need to hit 3,000 rpm to get things going fast, you’re never completely off guard. Nevertheless, things truly start exploding once you pass 4,000 rpm.
The 7-speed, dual-clutch gearbox offers the same shifting times as we got in the SLS AMG. Given the entirely different expectations, this is a cool thing. This isn’t the kind of tranny that will learn all that much about its driver. However, if you switch roles and learn its ways, you’ll have tons of fun with the car.
And the fact that you have a two-liter engine making 360 hp isn’t anywhere near sufficient to describe the driving experience. For one thing, when you’re done fooling around with the throttle and leave the AMG stuff behind, you are left with the Mercedes-Benz part of the car, which is refined and can sustain you on long trips.
Oh well, at least the thick pillars, one of the main elements that have a negative influence on the visibility, are also part of the CLA Shooting Brake’s brilliant Euro NCAP safety rating.
So, does this mean we have one fast, compact family hauler here? We’ll answer this question and much more in our 2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG Shooting Brake review.
It’s amusing how most people won’t be able to distinguish between a standard GLA Shooting Brake and the Affalterch incarnation. The most visible clues are the “Turbo AMG” badges on the front wings, as well as the naughtier roof spoiler.
Our tester came with optional 19-inch wheels, but, for the sake of ride comfort, we’d stick with the standard 18-inch units.
The M133 engine
I have to start by discussing the engine, I really do. And that because even in this fashionable CLA S/B form, this is a car that’s dominated by its powerplant.Turbo lag? Not really. The AMG engineers have done wonders, spreading the lag. So while you do need to hit 3,000 rpm to get things going fast, you’re never completely off guard. Nevertheless, things truly start exploding once you pass 4,000 rpm.
The 7-speed, dual-clutch gearbox offers the same shifting times as we got in the SLS AMG. Given the entirely different expectations, this is a cool thing. This isn’t the kind of tranny that will learn all that much about its driver. However, if you switch roles and learn its ways, you’ll have tons of fun with the car.
And the fact that you have a two-liter engine making 360 hp isn’t anywhere near sufficient to describe the driving experience. For one thing, when you’re done fooling around with the throttle and leave the AMG stuff behind, you are left with the Mercedes-Benz part of the car, which is refined and can sustain you on long trips.
The overall experience
As for the city driving, the CLA45 AMG Shooting Break can be more difficult to maneuver than expected at times. The main problem is the visibility while the gearbox isn’t exactly zippy when having to go from Drive to Reverse and back during turns.Oh well, at least the thick pillars, one of the main elements that have a negative influence on the visibility, are also part of the CLA Shooting Brake’s brilliant Euro NCAP safety rating.
So, does this mean we have one fast, compact family hauler here? We’ll answer this question and much more in our 2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG Shooting Brake review.
Google News