Wraps have officially come off the
high-performance four-door in advance of its UK arrival.
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the second in a
trio of new price-leading AMG performance models that will go on sale this
year: the CLA45 AMG 4Matic.
Sister car to the recently unveiled A45 AMG
4Matic and upcoming GLA45 AMG 4Matic, the rapid 355bhp turbocharged 2.0-liter
four-door saloon is scheduled to go on sale in the UK in October at an
estimated price of $60,000.
The
Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG has a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that
develops 355bhp
The transversely mounted engine is
identical to the turbocharged four-cylinder unit used in the A45. Its 355bhp is
produced at 6000rpm, and 332lb-ft of torque is available between 2250rpm and
5000rpm.
Drive is channeled through a standard
seven-speed dual-clutch AMG Speed shift gearbox and 'Haldex multi - plate-style
clutch to all four wheels. The AMG Speed shift offers three driving modes - C
(comfort), S (sport) and M (manual), as well as launch and double-declutching
functions.
Official performance figures suggest that
it will storm from a standstill to 62mph in 4.6sec - just 0.4sec slower than
the 451bhp 6.2-litre V8-powered C63 AMG saloon. The top speed is electronically
limited to155mph. Combined fuel economy of 40.9mpg and average CO2 emissions of
161g/km are claimed.
The CLA45 is distinguished from less
powerful CLA models by a series of exterior design changes, including new
bumpers, alloy wheels, wider sills and larger air intakes. Mercedes-Benz admits
that the changes were aimed at providing it with a clear resemblance to the
significantly more powerful CLS63 AMG.
Inside, there’s an upgraded interior, with
standard AMG instruments, part-leather sport seats up front, red seatbelts, AMG
multi-function steering wheel with shift paddles, AMG sill panels and aluminum
dashboard trim, among other unique styling touches.
Underpinning the CLA45 is a heavily
reworked version of the CLA250 Sport’s MacPherson strut and multilink
suspension. It receives unique springs and dampers, additional camber and a
reduction in ride height.
As with the A45, buyers will be able to
choose between two states of tune: standard and Sport.
The ESP (electronic stability program) has
been recalibrated to take into account the CLA45’s added performance potential.
The system provides a choice of three modes: On, Sport and Off.
Also included is an additional Curve
Dynamic Assist function, which is aimed at providing added agility without any
premature stability control intervention.
Further chassis changes - including the
adoption of stiffer steering knuckles and unique software mapping for the
electro-mechanical steering - are aimed at sharpening responses. The brakes
feature 350mm front and 330mm rear steel ventilated and cross-drilled discs.
Audi S3 saloon ready to take the fight
to the CLA45 AMG
This new compact saloon variant of the Audi
A3 will hit the UK in the autumn. The line-up will also include a 296bhp S3
version, seen here officially for the first time.
Audi
S3 saloon launched at the Shanghai show
The A3 saloon is 150mm longer, 11mm wider
and 9mm lower than the A3 Sportback on which it is based. Its chief rival will
be the Mercedes CLA.
Compared with the A3 Sport back, the saloon
gets revisions to the bonnet, bumpers, air intakes and wheel arches, and, of
course, it gains a boot. Audi says the overall look adds “the coupe philosophy”
to a three-box saloon.
The boot capacity is 425 liters, some 45
liters more than the A3 Sport back’s. The rest of the cabin is identical to the
A3 Sport back’s.
Three engines will be offered from launch:
138bhp 1.4 TFSI and 178bhp 1.8 TFSI Petrols and a 148bhp 2.0 TDI diesel.
The four-wheel-drive S3 saloon will be
introduced early next year. Its 2.0 TFSI engine helps to propel it to 62mph in
4.9sec when equipped with the optional six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
With the standard- fit six-speed manual ’box, the 0-62mph time is 5.3sec.
CLA45
gets AMG instruments and an AMG steering wheel
Part-leather
sports seats feature slots for a race harness
Riding shotgun in the new CLA45 AMG
4Matic
Tobias Moers is smiling as he hits the
starter button of the Mercedes- Benz CLA45 AMG 4Matic prototype parked outside
the company’s headquarters in Affalterbach, Germany. “You’re the first outsider
to experience this car,” says the head of AMG development. “It’s a pity you
can’t drive it yet, but I think you’ll be impressed anyway.”
Impressed? Well, if the figures that
Mercedes’ performance car division claims for the new car are any indication.
I’m in for quite a ride.
As soon as Moers finds an empty stretch of
road and begins to extend the engine, a flap in the optional sport exhaust
system opens and the note immediately grows in intensity, eventually extending
to a tremendously deep and menacing blare near the 6600rpm redline. Even better
is the pop and crackle on a trailing throttle.
The CLA45 AMG has the pace to match some
very highly regarded cars. Mercedes claims 0-62mph in 4.6sec. That may even be
conservative. It feels faster.
When Moers throws it at a series of
challenging corners, the CLA45 reveals its magic. It turns in eagerly with
little more than a rolling of the wrists and continues to accept speed on the
way in without any discernible push at the front end. For a car with a
transverse engine layout, the balance is extraordinary.
The most impressive feature of the new
car’s dynamic repertoire, though, is the overall compliancy of its ride. For a
car of such sporting pretensions, it is superbly controlled.
It’ll be six months before we get to drive
the CLA45 AMG 4Matic on UK roads, but it’s already clear that It’s going to be
a force to be reckoned with.
