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Future models - Mercedes-Benz - CLABenz claims new CLA stands for cleverMercedes-Benz CLA four-door coupe due in Australia mid-2026 with BEV or MHEV drive 14 Mar 2025 MERCEDES-BENZ says its newly announced CLA compact four-door coupe, billed as the “cleverest” car it has ever made, offers more to customers in every dimension: space, refinement, comfort and efficiency compared to its predecessor, as well as deep integration of artificial intelligence as debut vehicle for the latest MB.OS software architecture.
The striking looker, on a new 800-volt Mercedes Modular Architecture (MMA) shared with the C-Class sedan, will be available with battery electric (BEV) – with up to 792km of claimed range – and mild hybrid (MHEV) drives, possibly arriving Down Under in the first half of next year after a European launch late in 2025.
BEV variants will be first to lob but indicative pricing this far out from launch is not available.
Though smaller than most in the segment, the CLA is listed as a medium-size model that will likely be competing with MHEV, BEV and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions of premium passenger models such as the Audi A4/A5, BMW 3 Series and i4, Polestar 2, and Lexus ES, along with the Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai’s Ioniq 6.
Style-wise, the new CLA has much in common with the current model’s swoopy profile, arcing roofline and rounded-off edges but is incrementally larger dimensionally.
New LED head and tail-lights lift its appearance front and back with backlit MB emblems to define the brand.
Plenty has changed under the sheetmetal, including DC fast-charging at up to 320kW which translates into gaining 325km of range in a claimed 10 minutes if using the right equipment.
Two BEV powertrains will be available, single and a dual motor options with the former front-wheel drive CLA250+ calling on a 200kW/335Nm output and the AWD dual-motor CLA 350 4Matic motivated by a combined 260kW/515Nm.
Electrons emanate from an 85kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt battery said to be capable of a maximum 792km of range on the single motor CLA250+ and 771km on the CLA 350 (WLTP cycle).
Additional to the two BEVs will be MHEV variants running a Mercedes-developed, Geely-supplied 1.5-litre petrol four-cylinder engine combining with a 1.3kWh 48-volt battery and a small electric motor integrated into the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The electric motor, inverter and transmission form an integrated unit with the former providing “intelligent” support across the entire speed range. At urban speeds and when less than 20kW is needed, the hybrid models can drive on electric power alone.
Electric cruising is possible at speeds of up to around 100km/h while a special feature of the combustion engine is its ability to recuperate in all eight gears, recovering up to 25kW of energy.
Inside, the new CLA features a 10.25-inch digital driver’s screen, 14-inch multimedia screen and an optional 14-inch screen for the front passenger.
The new CLA will be the first in the manufacturer’s line-up to fully operate on the in-house developed Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS), making it the most “intelligent” Mercedes-Benz ever.
Run through the central touchscreen the system includes built-in Google and an MBUX virtual chatbot powered by Google’s artificial intelligence language model Gemini.
The AI-enhanced system makes it possible to equip every vehicle with a supercomputer connected to the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Cloud that further enables regular over-the-air updates for the most important vehicle functions, including driving assistance systems.
Mercedes-Benz says this will ensure the CLA stays up-to-date and “attractive” for years to come.
MB.OS marks the start of the fourth MBUX generation “opening up a new world of personalised experiences and intuitive interaction between human and vehicle” that Benz says sets new standards in the automotive industry.
The new MBUX generation is the first in-car infotainment system to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) from both Microsoft and Google, combining multiple AI agents in one system for the first time
The new MB.OS is also said to offer maximum flexibility to seamlessly integrate content from third-party providers while the typical (familiar) Mercedes interface remains.
Occupants travel under a UV-resistant panoramic glass roof as standard and a range of optional trim materials from aluminium to open-pore wood and leather as well as optional synthetic and real leather or microfibre upholstery.  Read more17th of March 2025  Mercedes-Benz G 580 EQ priced for OzFully electric Mercedes-Benz G-Class joins Australian line-up priced from $249,00012th of March 2025  GLC 200 4Matic rejoins ‘Benz line-upReintroduced Mercedes-Benz GLC 200 4Matic SUV now available from $89,900 +ORC27th of February 2025  Mercedes-Benz to drop EQ naming; return V8 & V12Electric about face likely as larger combustion engines get stay of executionCLA pricing
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