Photo: Mercedes-Benz officially presented the stylish CLA sedan (media.mercedes-benz.com) Author: Konstantin Shirokun
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the new CLA sedan. The car has shown a universal style for the company's future models, and has also become a pioneer of a new “multi-energy” strategy: from now on, all of the brand's cars will have hybrid and electric modifications.
This was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to the press service of Mercedes-Benz.
The new CLA is built on the modular MMA platform (Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture). The wheelbase has grown by 61 mm compared to the previous model (up to 2790 mm), and this is the most significant increase of all dimensions. Because the sedan has become 35 mm longer (4723 mm), 25 mm wider (1855 mm), and 29 mm taller (1468 mm).
The Mercedes-Benz CLA has frameless doors, smooth sides and recessed door handles, the drag coefficient Cx has been reduced from 0.23 to 0.21. Electric versions have a radiator grille replaced by a plug with 142 LED stars. Multibeam matrix headlights are an option.
The basic configuration includes an electrochromic panoramic roof (without a sliding section). Thanks to it, the company declares an increase in the reserve of space above the heads of passengers. It has become a little more spacious in the front seats, but in terms of the width of the cabin, the new CLA is slightly inferior to its predecessor. As well as in the size of the trunk: only 405 liters instead of 460 liters. However, electric versions have an additional front trunk with a volume of 101 liters.
It is noted that the basic electric car is equipped with an electric motor with an output of 272 hp and 335 Nm. The all-wheel drive Mercedes-Benz CLA 350 4Matic with EQ Technology is supplemented by an auxiliary synchronous electric motor at the front, which is connected only when necessary, the peak output of the system is 354 hp and 515 Nm. Both versions have a lithium-ion traction battery with a capacity of 85 kWh. The passport power reserve is 792 and 771 km according to the WLTP cycle, respectively.
At the end of the year, a basic electric version with a lithium-iron-phosphate battery with a capacity of 58 kW*h will appear. Also, at the end of the year, the release of three hybrid modifications is scheduled. They will have a new four-cylinder turbo engine of 1.5 liters with the index M252.
It will be paired with an eight-speed preselective “robot” 8F-eDCT, which has a 48-volt electric motor with a capacity of 27 hp. A lithium-ion battery with a capacity of only 1.3 kWh is located under the driver's seat. The indexes of the hybrid versions have not yet been made public, but it is already clear that the range will include two options with front-wheel drive (136 or 163 hp) and an all-wheel drive version (190 hp).
The new CLA will be manufactured at a plant in Rastatt, Germany. Later, production of the model will be organized in China at the Beijing Benz joint venture. In Europe, sales of the new-generation Mercedes-Benz CLA sedans will begin in July, with electric versions being the first to hit the market.
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