Mercedes-Benz is evolving its marketing and product positioning drastically. Executive rumblings from a few years ago indicated the brand was making serious changes to lower its perceived demographic – but it all just seemed like lip service at the time.

Well, the arrival of the CLA-Class surely confirms that they were very serious.

Serious… about getting playful.

The CLA is launching in the American market as the front-drive CLA250 and the all-wheel-drive CLA45 AMG. Both run a highly advanced new platform, engine, transmission and electronic architecture.

What perhaps previously took 0.002 milliseconds to transfer info from rear ABS sensors on old cars is now cut in half. Faster data = better responsiveness on tracks.

This is a ground-up design that put emphasis on two things:

– Looking Good in your CLA

– Feeling Good in your CLA

Mercedes has overcompensated for the CLA’s front-drive origins by including an engine stronger than a block a adamantium.

The launch of the standard CLA and AMG models together is a solid strategy, because it lets much of the cool style of the AMG rub off onto the much-cheaper 250 cars.

CLA250 Shown Directly Below

A 4Matic CLA250 will arrive in the U.S. market in April 2014, offering AWD traction and handling on the cheaper cars as well.

But until then: the CLA45 AMG is the sprint king of the segment: an official 4.5-seconds to 60 mph is conservative. Real-world times as low as 4.1-seconds are on the books for this car already while using the Race Start launch control settings.

The very similar A45 AMG hatchback video below shows how quick this car is, its blat on full boost, and the swiftness of the standard seven-speed dual-clutch auto.

Of course, the CLA45 AMG is pretty expensive for a car with a back seat this compact. Even so, the CLA is the quickest car in its class.

The competitive set listed by Mercedes for the CLA is pretty funny, because in my opinion, buyers who want a CLA would never consider a Volkswagen CC or any Acura.

Until the BMW 135i sedan arrives stateside next year, the CLA’s closest competition will come from the 2015 Audi S3 sedan and the 2014 BMW 235i.

The battle is on!

Special thanks to Germany for improving the sprint pace of all cars. The 3.6-second E63 AMG 4Matic is so effortlessly fast – it makes speed a luxury feature missing on many other premium brands.

And rightly so! When a Civic Si and Toyota Camry V6 hit 60-mph in 6.1 seconds, it is time to get much faster at the top end of the market.

Of the English, American and Asian brands: only the Infiniti Q50S Hybrid in rear-drive gets close: 4.9-seconds is its official time (with full batteries.)

2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG

 

2014 CLA45 AMG Quick Reference Guide

Customer Availability / Pricing

• November 2013: $47,450

 

At a Glance

	CLA45 AMG 4MATIC
MSRP	$47,450
Fuel Economy	TBA
Engine	2.0L inline 4-cylinder Turbocharged
Performance	355 hp 332 lb-ft torque
0-60 (sec.)	4.5 (est.)

2014 CLA250 Quick Reference Guide

Customer Availability

• CLA250 (front-wheel drive) – September 2013

• CLA250 4MATIC – Spring 2014

Standard Feature Highlights

• 2.0L inline 4-cylinder Turbocharged engine

• 7-Speed Dual Clutch Transmission

• mbrace2 – In-Vehicle Technology Suite

• 5.8″ Display Screen

• Powered sports seats with three-position memory

• ECO Start/Stop

• Electro-mechanical power steering

• COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST

• ATTENTION ASSIST

• Frameless windows

Optional Feature Highlights

• Sport Appearance Pkg (18″ wheels & AMG Styling front/rear bumpers)

• DISTRONIC PLUS

• Blind Spot Assist

• Lane Keeping Assist

• PARKTRONIC w/ Advance Parking Assist

• Panorama Sunroof

• Leather Interior Package (MB-TEX on upper dash and doors with topstitching)

Model Positioning

• All-new segment established with CLA-Class

• World’s most powerful four-cylinder engine built in series production

• Trendsetting four-door coupe design

Main Competitors

• Acura ILX

• Audi A3

• BMW 1-Series

• Volkswagen CC

Safety Feature Highlights

• COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST ATTENTION ASSIST

• Tire Pressure Monitoring System

• Anti-Theft Alarm System

• Electronic Parking Brake

• Driver Air Bags

• Window Air Bags

• Driver Knee Air Bag

• Side Impact Air Bags

• Remote Key with Panic Button

2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 Sport and CLA250 4Matic

At a Glance

	CLA250	CLA250 4MATIC
MSRP	$29,900	TBA
Fuel Economy	City: 26 MPG Highway: 38 MPG Combined: 30 MPG	TBA
Engine	2.0L inline 4-cylinder Turbocharged	2.0L inline 4-cylinder Turbocharged
Performance	208 hp 258 lb-ft torque	208 hp 258 lb-ft torque
0-60 (sec.)	6.9	6.8 (est.)

 

	CLA250	CLA45 AMG 4MATIC
Vehicle Type	Four-door, five-passenger coupe	Four-door, five-passenger coupe
Chassis	Steel unibody	Steel unibody

Engine

	CLA250	CLA45 AMG 4MATIC
Type	2.0-liter inline four-cylinder Turbocharged	2.0L inline four-cylinder Turbocharged
Material	Aluminum	Aluminum
Valve arrangement	Four valves per cylinder	Four valves per cylinder
Valvetrain	Overhead cam, roller-type rocker arm	Overhead cam, roller-type rocker arm
Displacement (cc)	1,991	1,991
Bore (in.)	3.27	3.27
Stroke (in.)	3.62	3.62
Compression ratio	9.8 : 1	8.6 : 1
Horsepower @ rpm	208 @ 5,500	355 @ 6,000
Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm	258 @ 1,250 – 4,000	332 @ 2,250-5,000
Intake system	Turbocharged, direct injection	Turbocharged, direct injection
Max. engine speed (rpm)	6,500	6,700

Performance

		CLA250	CLA45 AMG 4MATIC
0-60 (sec.)		6.9	4.5 (est.)
Top speed (mph)		149	155
Fuel economy:	city hwy	26 38	TBA TBA

Transmission

	CLA250	CLA45 AMG 4MATIC
Type	7-Speed Dual Clutch Automatic	7-Speed Dual Clutch Automatic
Shift controls	DirectSelect	DirectSelect
Gear ratios
1	3.86:1	3.86:1
2	2.43:1	2.43:1
3	2.67:1	1.54:1
4	1.05:1	1.05:1
5	0.78:1	0.78:1
6	1.05:1	0.61:1
7	0.84:1	0.48:1
R	-3.38:1	-3.37:1
R2 “comfort mode”	–	–
Final drive	4.13:1	2.44:1

Suspension/Steering

	CLA250	CLA45 AMG 4MATIC
Suspension type	Independent sport suspension	Independent AMG Sport Suspension
Front	McPherson spring strut & wishbone	Three-link, coil springs, McPherson gas-filled struts, stabilizer bar with anti-dive geometry
Rear	Wishbones & control arms	Four-link, coil springs, gas-filled struts, stabilizer bar, anti-squat geometry
Steering	Rack-and-pinion, peed-dependent electric power assist	Rack-and-pinion, speed-dependent electric power assist
Turns, lock-to-lock	TBA	TBA
Steering ratio	14.4 : 1	14.5 : 1
Turning circle (ft.)	36.1	36.1
Stability control	ESP Stability Control	AMG 3 Stage ESP Stability Control
Traction control	ASR	ASR

Exterior Dimensions

	CLA250	CLA45 AMG 4MATIC
Wheelbase (in.)	106.3	106.3
Length (in.)	182.3	184.7
Width including mirrors (in.)	80.0	80.0
Width excluding mirrors (in.)	70.0	70.0
Height (in.)	56.6	55.74
Ground clearance (in.)	3.9	TBA
Track front (in.)	60.9	61.3
Track rear (in.)	60.8	61.4