Mercedes-Benz plans new saloon positioned above CLA-Class

Sources report that Mercedes-Benz is planning to expand its compact car line-up with a new saloon that will slot between the next generation CLA and upcoming C-Class facelift.

Reports suggest that this saloon will be a direct rival to the likes of Audi’s A3 saloon and the BMW 1 Series saloon. The new car is expected to be underpinned by the second-generation MFA platform, which is what the next generation A-Class is based on, but will be bigger and more expensive than the CLA.   

Mercedes-Benz may engineer the new saloon for both RHD and LHD markets, and also offer a long wheelbase option for the Chinese market due to the inherent demand for LWB versions. Power for this vehicle could be sourced from the brand’s latest series of 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol and 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel motors. As the second-generation MFA platform supports electrical architecture, a plug-in hybrid version may also join the line-up. 

Though nothing has been confirmed as of now, expect the new saloon to debut in the latter half of 2018 after the fourth generation A-Class hatchback goes on sale.