Photo: SH Proshots
The battery-electric version of the next-gen Mercedes-Benz CLA has returned to the scoop arena roughly half a year after we first saw it testing next to its gas-powered siblings. The latest prototype that became the focus of the camera lens has some key upgrades compared to our previous sighting and looks more production ready.
Last time we saw it, it had provisional lighting units at both ends. This time, however, it featured what appeared to be the final production front and rear lights. We can sort of make out the shape of the closed-off grille, which features a large three-pointed star logo in the middle. What we cannot tell, however, is if it is part of the front lighting signature.
The profile is just what you'd expect, and here we're talking about the sloping roofline that is arched towards the rear. We can see the flush-mounted door handles that will give the new CLA a more modern presence and new lines on the sides. The taillights are also production ready, and they appear to be linked together by a thin light strip that flows across the entire width of the new trunk lid. And don't look for any hidden tailpipes as this is a battery-electric vehicle, as we already told you.
Joining the gasoline-powered versions and likely the plug-in hybrids that will make up the offering, the CLA EV, which may or may not add the EQ to its name, is understood to sit on the same platform as the one used on its ICE siblings. We don't know anything about the powertrain yet, but we could be looking at a single motor driving the wheels, though a dual-motor assembly could also be on the cards. And it should turn out to be a good daily driver from the autonomy perspective, as the Stuttgart-based car manufacturer has announced that they are targeting a total driving range of around 400 miles (645 km) on a single charge.
Some outlets believe the all-quiet version of the next-gen CLA might be previewed by a concept at next month's Munich Auto Show in Germany. The study might breathe the same air as the gas-powered variants of the car, which could also celebrate their world premiere at the same event. As for the unveiling of the production model, it is said to take place sometime next year. This means that by the time it enters the US market, and we don't see any reason why Mercedes will keep it away from our shores, it could launch as a 2025 model. On a final note, the Shooting Brake wagon variant of the next-gen CLA is understood to survive the company's bloodbath, which will see the demise of several vehicles.
The profile is just what you'd expect, and here we're talking about the sloping roofline that is arched towards the rear. We can see the flush-mounted door handles that will give the new CLA a more modern presence and new lines on the sides. The taillights are also production ready, and they appear to be linked together by a thin light strip that flows across the entire width of the new trunk lid. And don't look for any hidden tailpipes as this is a battery-electric vehicle, as we already told you.
Joining the gasoline-powered versions and likely the plug-in hybrids that will make up the offering, the CLA EV, which may or may not add the EQ to its name, is understood to sit on the same platform as the one used on its ICE siblings. We don't know anything about the powertrain yet, but we could be looking at a single motor driving the wheels, though a dual-motor assembly could also be on the cards. And it should turn out to be a good daily driver from the autonomy perspective, as the Stuttgart-based car manufacturer has announced that they are targeting a total driving range of around 400 miles (645 km) on a single charge.
Some outlets believe the all-quiet version of the next-gen CLA might be previewed by a concept at next month's Munich Auto Show in Germany. The study might breathe the same air as the gas-powered variants of the car, which could also celebrate their world premiere at the same event. As for the unveiling of the production model, it is said to take place sometime next year. This means that by the time it enters the US market, and we don't see any reason why Mercedes will keep it away from our shores, it could launch as a 2025 model. On a final note, the Shooting Brake wagon variant of the next-gen CLA is understood to survive the company's bloodbath, which will see the demise of several vehicles.
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