The CLA 45 AMG was launched in India on July 22 this year, and now Mercedes-Benz India has announced that they will launch the regular model of the CLA on January 22, 2015. Eberhard Kern, Managing Director, had disclosed during the launch of the CLA 45 AMG that they would introduce the CLA within six months and now with this announcement they are fulfilling their promises.
With its coupe-like profile and frameless doors, the CLA sedan seems based on the A-Class and borrows most of the styling clues from the hatchback. The fascia of the CLA sports the floating dots grille, massively sculpted air intakes and the chin spoiler that give it an aggressive look. The clean sculpted lines on the sides add to the styling of the five-door car. At the back, the fair share of immaculate design is completed by the nicely carved bumper with a sharp looking boot lid.
The CLA is the sedan derivative of the A-Class and so the cabin of the CLA is identical to its smaller sibling. The vehicle underpins the MFA (Mercedes Front-wheel drive Architecture) platform which is shared with the A- and B-Class cars as well. The main highlight of the car is the car's drag co-efficient of 0.23, which is the lowest among any series production car.
The Mercedes-Benz CLA might be powered by the same set of engines the A-Class in India is powered with. This means, the petrol version of the CLA will be powered by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged mill that produces 120bhp of power and 200Nm of torque. The diesel variant might come powered with a 2.2-litre four-cylinder unit that produces 107bhp of power and 250Nm of torque. Both the engine options will be mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and the power will be sent to only the front wheels.
The new CLA will be positioned between the B-Class and GLA, with its price bracket to be expected to be from Rs 30 lakh to Rs 35 lakh. It will be assembled in India at the automaker's facility at Chakan, in Pune and will compete with the Audi A3 sedan in the entry-level luxury sedan segment.
