It almost feels like Mercedes has found its last piece of the compact car puzzle today, as production of the all-new CLA Shooting Brake has started at their factory in Kecskemet, Hungary. We're talking about a very successful line of small models that have seen their fair share of both heavy criticism and sales.
The next video shows part of the production process, which takes the CLA Shooting Brake from raw steel to sexy small wagon. The process is as complex as it is predictable, so instead, we're going to take a step back and look at how Mercedes ended up with this car.
The first model they launched on the all-new compact car, front-wheel drive platform was the B-Class tourer, followed quickly after by the A-Class hatch. They were bigger and more practical than their predecessors. An all-new type of 4Matic all-wheel drive was also developed specifically for these models, similar to the ones used by the Audi A3.
Instead of only replacing its A and B-Class models, the fresh generation of the Mercedes compact duo was joined by a small crossover, the GLA, and a four-door coupe. From the start, they were designed with the US market in mind and have proven very successful.
The last piece of the MFA puzzle is the CLA Shooting Brake, which just like its CLS cousin is a wagon based on a four-door coupe. But unlike something like a Volkswagen Golf Variant or Ford Focus Estate, Mercedes cleverly focused on looks, designing a sloping rear roof and sacrificing some cargo space.
And also unlike the Golf or the Focus, Mercedes only offers the "big" engines on the Shooting Brake. Don't expect any twin-turbo V8 or even a V6 here. But, the range starts with a 1.6-liter producing 122 PS (90 kW) and 200 Nm (147 lb-ft) and works its way up to the 360 horsepower madness that is the CLA 45 AMG model. Of course, by that time you will be paying upwards of €57,268 in Germany.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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