Car Enthusiast - click here to access the home page


 


CLA and Shooting Brake facelifted. Image by Mercedes-Benz.

CLA and Shooting Brake facelifted
Mercedes CLA and Shooting Brake get new looks, more kit, stupidly powerful AMG versions.
<< earlier Mercedes-Benz article     later Mercedes-Benz article >>

 


News homepage -> Mercedes-Benz news

What's all this about?

It's facelift time for the Mercedes-Benz CLA and CLA Shooting Brake models.

But I can't see any differences...

Then you're not looking hard enough. As with so many mid-life updates these days - and certainly as was the case with the A-Class 'overhaul' in 2015 - what we have here are a raft of minor changes. There's a new diamond radiator grille in black, revised bumpers front and rear that can (either as standard or optionally) have a variety of trim inserts in them and exhaust surrounds that are integrated flush into the car. Five designs of 18-inch alloys are on offer, while the new body shade of Cavansite Blue Metallic is included in the ranks. Options include LED High Performance headlamps.

OK, but looking at the pictures, the interior is untouched, surely?

Wrong again. Scrutinise the cabin and you might note new seat upholstery, updated trim parts for the dash and door cards, a slimmer version of that freestanding eight-inch screen on the dash and new instrument cluster dials that are supposedly easier to read. The tech count is up too, as Hands-Free Access (open or close the boot by waving your foot around near it), Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity and a trailer coupling facility on AMG Line models are all offered.

How about under the bonnet?

Familiar drivetrains from the pre-facelift line-up, including the presence of the old 2.1-litre diesel in the CLA 200 d and 220 d models; the all-new 2.0-litre Mercedes turbodiesel, as seen in the latest E-Class, hasn't found its way here yet. There are some newbies, though: firstly, there's a BlueEfficiency Edition of the CLA 180 d, which - with 109hp and 260Nm - offers 80.7mpg and 89g/km CO2 as the Coupé, or 78.5mpg and 94g/km as the rakish Shooting Brake. Expect 0-62mph in 11.6 seconds (11.9 SB) and a top speed of 119mph.

I like a bit more pace. What can you tell me on that score?

The CLA 220 2.0-litre petrol now comes with 4Matic all-wheel drive. Sending 184hp and 300Nm through a seven-speed 7G-DCT automatic gearbox, the Coupé checks off 0-62mph in 7.1 seconds on its way to a 150mph top speed, while the Shooting Brake turns in comparative figures of 7.2 seconds and 147mph. You'll get 43.5mpg and 152g/km from the four-door, 42.2mpg and 154g/km for the estate.

Not quick enough. Give me more!

Right. The Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 and CLA 45 Shooting Brake twins are also overhauled. With more aerodynamic bodies and a few extra facelift details - like the A-wing front bumper design - this is a pair of compact rocketships, as they now have the more potent 381hp/475Nm 2.0-litre turbo four as installed in the A 45 last year. Performance is therefore bonkers; both are limited to 155mph, but the CLA will do 0-62mph in 4.2 seconds while the Shooting Brake takes just 4.3 seconds for the same benchmark. That puts the wagon in a class of one, which we will term 'lunatic asylum escapee compact estates with enough acceleration to scare Ferraris'. We can't wait to drive it.

Such power scares me; I've changed my mind. Tell me more about BlueEfficiency.

Well, the CLA 180 BlueEfficiency Edition petrol powerplant - a 1.6-litre four of 122hp and 200Nm - can now be had in the Shooting Brake as well as in the Coupé. You'll get 51.4mpg and 126g/km from this wagon, with 0-62mph in 9.1 seconds and a 119mph top speed.

Is there anything else you'd like to add on the technical front?

Yes, and it relates to those mega AMG versions. Both now benefit from AMG Dynamic Select transmission modes, their AMG Speedshift DCT seven-speed gearboxes have shorter gear ratios and if you pick the Dynamic Plus Package then you get a mechanical differential lock thrown in for good measure.

When will we see these cars in the metal?

The facelifted CLA Coupé will debut at the New York Auto Show at the end of March; the Shooting Brake will be unveiled later, in Berlin in mid-April. UK order books open in April ahead of first deliveries in July.



Matt Robinson - 16 Mar 2016


2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA. Image by Mercedes-Benz.2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA. Image by Mercedes-Benz.2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA. Image by Mercedes-Benz.2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA. Image by Mercedes-Benz.2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA. Image by Mercedes-Benz.

2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA. Image by Mercedes-Benz.2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA. Image by Mercedes-Benz.2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA. Image by Mercedes-Benz.2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA. Image by Mercedes-Benz.2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA. Image by Mercedes-Benz.









www.mercedes-benz.co.uk    - Mercedes-Benz road tests
- Mercedes-Benz news
- CLA images






Mercedes-Benz unveils all-new E-Class. Image by Mercedes.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class revealed
The popular executive saloon comes with S-Class tech and will go on sale this summer.
 
Mercedes claims end to range anxiety with Vision EQXX concept. Image by Mercedes-Benz.
Long-range Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX concept
Mercedes-Benz has revealed the Vision EQXX concept, which previews tech for future long-range electric cars.
New Mercedes-AMG SL flexes its muscles. Image by Mercedes-Benz.
Mercedes SL gets athletic
Mercedes has revealed the next generation of the SL and it seems less touring roadster and more sports car hunter.

 
 215 Racing
 9ff
 A. Kahn Design
 Abarth
 Abt
 AC Cars
 AC Schnitzer
 Acura
 Aehra
 AIM
 Alfa Romeo
 Alpina
 Alpine
 Amari
 APS Sportec
 Arash
 Arden
 Ares
 Ariel
 Arrinera
 Artega
 Ascari
 Aston Martin
 Atalanta
 Atomik
 Audi
 Austin
 Auto Union
 Autodelta
 Autofarm
 Autosport
 AVA
 Avatar
 Axon
 Aznom
 BAC
 BAIC
 Bentley
 Bertone
 Bizzarrini
 Bloodhound
 Bluebird
 BMW
 Bosch
 Bowler
 Brabham
 Brabus
 Breckland
 Bridgestone
 Brilliance
 Bristol
 Bugatti
 Buick
 Burton
 BYD
 Cadillac
 Callaway
 Callum
 Caparo
 Capstone
 Carlsson
 Caterham
 CCG
 Chang'an
 Changfeng
 Chevrolet
 Chevron
 Chongfeng
 Chrysler
 Citroen
 Climax
 Connaught
 Cooper Tires
 Corvette
 Cummins
 Cupra
 Dacia
 Daewoo
 Daihatsu
 Daimler
 Dartz
 Datsun
 David Brown
 David Brown Automotive
 DDR
 De Tomaso
 Delta
 Detroit Electric
 Devon
 Dodge
 Donkervoort
 Drayson
 DS
 Eagle
 Eagle E-type
 EDAG
 edo competition
 Eterniti
 Everrati
 Evisol
 Exagon
 FAB Design

 
 Factory Five
 Faralli & Mazzanti
 Fenix
 Fenomenon
 Ferrari
 Fiat
 Fisker
 Ford
 G-Power
 Geely
 Gemballa
 General Motors
 Genesis
 Ginetta
 Giugiaro
 Glickenhaus
 GMC
 Goodwood
 Google
 Gordon Murray
 Gordon Murray Automotive
 Gordon Murray Design
 Gray Design
 Great Wall
 GTA
 GTM
 Gumpert
 Hamann
 Hartge
 HBH
 Heffner Performance
 Hennessey
 HERE
 HiPhi
 Holden
 Honda
 Hulme
 Hummer
 Hyundai
 I.D.E.A
 Icona
 IFR
 Infiniti
 Ionity
 Isis
 JAC
 Jaguar
 Jeep
 Jensen
 Jetstream
 JJAD
 Joss Developments
 Kahn
 Kamala
 Keating
 Kia
 Koenigsegg
 KTM
 Kumho
 Lada
 Lagonda
 Lamborghini
 Lancia
 Land Rover
 Lexus
 Liberty
 Lightning
 Lincoln
 Lister
 Loma Performance
 Lorinser
 Lotus
 LupiniPower
 Luxgen
 Mahindra
 Mansory
 Maserati
 Mastretta
 Maybach
 Mazda
 McLaren
 Mercedes
 Mercedes-AMG
 Mercedes-Benz
 Mercedes-Maybach
 Mercury
 Metrocab
 MG
 Michelin
 MINI
 Mitsubishi
 MMI
 Monte Carlo
 Mopar
 Morgan
 Mosler
 MTM
 Munro
 NAC MG
 Nichols Cars
 Nissan
 NLV

 
 Noble
 Novitec
 Opel
 Overfinch
 Pagani
 Perodua
 Peugeot
 Piaggio
 Pininfarina
 Polestar
 Pontiac
 Porsche
 Praga
 Preview
 Prodrive
 Project Runningblade
 Project Velocity
 Proton
 Protoscar
 Qoros
 Radical
 Range Rover
 Red Bull
 Renault
 Reva
 Rimac
 Rinspeed
 RoadRazer
 Rolls-Royce
 Ronn Motor Company
 Rover
 RUF
 Saab
 SAIC
 Saleen
 Saturn
 Scagliarini
 SCG
 Scion
 SDR Sportscars
 SEAT
 Sin
 Singer
 Skoda
 Smart
 Soleil
 Spada
 speedArt
 Sportec
 Spyker
 SRT
 Ssangyong
 SSC
 Startech
 STaSIS
 Subaru
 Suzuki
 Suzusho
 TAD
 Tamiya
 Tata
 Techart
 Tesla
 The Little Car Company
 THINK
 Thunder Power
 Tojeiro
 Tommy Kaira
 TomTom
 Toray
 Toyota
 Trabant
 TranStar
 Trident
 Tushek
 TVR
 UKCOTY
 Vanda Electrics
 Vauxhall
 Velozzi
 Vencer
 Venturi
 Veritas
 Vizualtech
 VL Automotive
 Volkswagen
 Volvo
 VUHL
 WCA
 WCotY
 Webasto
 Westfield
 Wiesmann
 Xenatec
 Yamaha
 Zagato
 Zarooq
 Zeekr
 Zenos
 Zenvo



 
 






External links:   | Irish Car Market News |

Internal links:   | Home | Privacy | Contact us | Archives | Old motor show reports | Follow Car Enthusiast on Twitter | Copyright 1999-2024 ©