German auto giant Mercedes, riding high on the success of selling more than 10,000 units in 2014, is all set to launch its Audi A3 competitor, the all-new CLA sedan. The car, which was launched only in AMG version last year, received a lot of positive reviews with audience waiting to catch a glimpse of the standard version. To be manufactured in Pune, the CLA will be a key product for Mercedes-Benz to regain the top position in the Indian luxury car market. Ammar Alvi has more.
Mercedes-Benz plans to get back to the top in India by 2016 and its new range based on MFA (Modular Front-wheel Architecture) will spearhead the challenge in this all-German battle.
The CLA shares many of its design cues with the A-Class like the floating dots grille, massively sculpted air intakes and chin spoiler that sits rather prominently in the front. Mercedes has really been working hard on giving the car clean sculpted lines and this is very evident on the side and in the back especially the rear bumper and the rather sharp-looking boot lid. The company said the CLA has a drag coefficient of 0.23—that is the lowest among any series production vehicle.
To be offered in a choice of petrol and diesel engine options, the CLA 200 will be powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine offering peak power of 181 bhp at 5,000 rpm and 300 Nm torque at 1,200-1,400 rpm. This engine will be mated to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission. Mercedes claims that the engine can accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph in 7.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 235 kmph.
On the other hand, the Mercedes CLA 200 CDI will be powered by 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel engine offering 134 bhp power at 3,600 to 4,000 rpm and 300 Nm peak torque at 1,600 to 3,000 rpm. This engine is mated to a 7-speed gearbox. Acceleration from 0 to 100 kmph is achieved in 9.8 seconds while top speed stands at 220 kmph. Both engines offer fuel efficiency of 15.04 kmpl and 17.9 kmpl respectively.
Based on the MFA architecture, the CLA is the third front-wheel drive Mercedes-Benz car in the country after the A-Class and B-Class. It will sport quality interiors with scratch resistant material used on interior panels while the car itself is equipped with an advanced infotainment system and features that include Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free calling, music streaming from music or phone devices. Safety features include six airbags, ABS, EBD and ASR, Collision Prevention Assist and Attention Assist. Also on offer is an optional voice controlled COMAND system with HDD Navigation and 3D maps. Bookings have already commenced.