Mercedes-Benz CLA Concept Debuts With Star-Studded Front End and Roof, Plus 466-Mile Range

Mercedes-Benz revealed the CLA concept car at the IAA 2023. It is a model with a sleek silhouette, keeping up with the tradition of the CLA, which has been on the market since 2014, and Mercedes says it is inspired by the Vision EQXX concept in terms of styling as well as tech.

The four-door coupe, dressed in Pomegranate Red, has received an elongated hood and a massive hexagonal star-studded fully inclosed front grille, similar in shape to what we see in the AMGs. The stars are in 3D and backlit. The silhouette continues with seamless lines, flared fenders, and a sloping roof, also displaying the illuminated stars and flowing into a curved rear end.

Both head- and taillights feature full-width LED lighting, and there are three-pointed daytime running lights, while slim, illuminated strips nearly surround the entire car. The model rides on 21-inch wheels that also display a distinctive star pattern.

There are sustainable materials on board the CLA Concept, just like in the Vision EQXX. But what gets all the spotlight is the Superscreen. It includes three separate displays: the instrument cluster, a central touchscreen, and another one in front of the passenger’s seat. The infotainment system runs the MB.OS, a successor of the MBUX, featuring a liquid-cooled processor from NVIDIA. There is a total of five displays in the cabin of the CLA.

The seats are wrapped in silver and white Nappa leather, tanned using coffee husks. Meanwhile, the purple fabric is made from recycled PET plastic. Bamboo was used for the strips of what seems to be silk in the door panels and floor mats. Mercedes put recyclable paper in the satin silver door pulls and armrest trim.

Mercedes does not say much about the figures of the concept car. But since it previews a whole breed of compact cars, we will learn more when the right time comes: the moment Mercedes will be working on the actual cars. The first of them, most likely the CLA itself, should hit the market by the end of 2024.

What we do know is that two different battery packs will be available: there will be an entry-level lithium-iron phosphate unit, while the range-topping models will be getting the silicon-oxide anodes with higher energy density. No word on the exact capacity of the batteries, but Mercedes-Benz mentions a 466-mile range (750 kilometers). Thanks to the 800V architecture and the 250 kW DC fast charging capability, the unit only takes 15 minutes to charge for up to a 248-mile (400-kilometer) drive, according to the WLTP testing cycle. The upcoming CLA is expected to have an energy consumption of 5.2 mi/kWh (12 kWh/100 km).

The powertrain integrates the rear-mounted electric motor that generates 235 horsepower (238 PS) and weighs less than 243 lbs (110 kilograms) and a two-speed transmission. The MMA platform is also capable of receiving a dual-motor setup, so we can expect more potent versions of the upcoming models.

The concept car comes with Level 2 semi-autonomous driving, based on a LiDAR sensor and several cameras.

The CLA is most likely going to be the first of the electric compact siblings to make its debut. The GLA and the GLA should arrive soon after that.