Photo: SH Proshots
Almost half a year after it made its spy debut, the next-gen Mercedes CLA has returned to the scoop arena. The latest prototype of the Stuttgart brand's premium subcompact four-door coupe was spotted testing in sunny Spain, retaining the heavy camouflage and the occasional fake cladding.
Sporting similar proportions to its predecessor, which could've been expanded by a hair to make it roomier at the back and slightly increase the trunk capacity, the new Mercedes CLA retains the arched roofline behind the central pillars.
It has a new face with a similarly-sized grille that appears to have been moved further down and a sizeable intake in the front bumper. The headlamps are also new, and they're taller and narrower this time. We can also see a pair of small vents on each side of the central one, which are smaller than before.
Flush-mounted door handles will probably be a thing, as one of the previously-snapped testers of the car did have them. This prototype doesn't, however. At the back, the license plate holder was mounted further up and will still be flanked by the reflectors. The taillights are likely not the final production units. And don't mind the apparently smaller rear windscreen, as that's just the camouflage doing its thing.
Zooming in on certain images will allow you to take a partial look at the new cockpit. However, the angle and low resolution combined with the wraps covering the dashboard make it impossible to tell what's new. Will it retain the dual-screen setup, albeit in a more modern interpretation, or will it get a portrait-oriented infotainment display and a tablet-like digital instrument cluster? Only time will tell, and we hope we get a glimpse of the cabin soon.
This prototype featured internal combustion power, as per the single small tailpipe pointing down, visible from underneath the car. The third-gen CLA is expected with the usual gasoline powertrains, joined by plug-in hybrids and at least one battery-electric assembly. It is likely that the family will still be topped by the sporty Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S, and it will be interesting to learn whether the Affalterbach brand will settle for a slightly punchier 2.0L or if they will give it hybrid assistance.
It appears the normal four-door CLA will be joined by the CLA Shooting Brake, aka the sporty wagon, one last time, as it will reportedly be the final iteration of the car to get a five-door body style. The Shooting Brake is on the chopping block, part of Mercedes' bloodbath that will also see the demise of wagons, coupes, and other body styles. We expect the all-new Mercedes CLA to launch sometime next year, likely arriving stateside as a 2025 model.
It has a new face with a similarly-sized grille that appears to have been moved further down and a sizeable intake in the front bumper. The headlamps are also new, and they're taller and narrower this time. We can also see a pair of small vents on each side of the central one, which are smaller than before.
Flush-mounted door handles will probably be a thing, as one of the previously-snapped testers of the car did have them. This prototype doesn't, however. At the back, the license plate holder was mounted further up and will still be flanked by the reflectors. The taillights are likely not the final production units. And don't mind the apparently smaller rear windscreen, as that's just the camouflage doing its thing.
Zooming in on certain images will allow you to take a partial look at the new cockpit. However, the angle and low resolution combined with the wraps covering the dashboard make it impossible to tell what's new. Will it retain the dual-screen setup, albeit in a more modern interpretation, or will it get a portrait-oriented infotainment display and a tablet-like digital instrument cluster? Only time will tell, and we hope we get a glimpse of the cabin soon.
This prototype featured internal combustion power, as per the single small tailpipe pointing down, visible from underneath the car. The third-gen CLA is expected with the usual gasoline powertrains, joined by plug-in hybrids and at least one battery-electric assembly. It is likely that the family will still be topped by the sporty Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S, and it will be interesting to learn whether the Affalterbach brand will settle for a slightly punchier 2.0L or if they will give it hybrid assistance.
It appears the normal four-door CLA will be joined by the CLA Shooting Brake, aka the sporty wagon, one last time, as it will reportedly be the final iteration of the car to get a five-door body style. The Shooting Brake is on the chopping block, part of Mercedes' bloodbath that will also see the demise of wagons, coupes, and other body styles. We expect the all-new Mercedes CLA to launch sometime next year, likely arriving stateside as a 2025 model.
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