The Mercedes CLA sedan is based on the A-Class platform and is being imported as a CBU in the country in the compact premium sedan space.
Having launched the absolutely maddening CLA45 AMG earlier this year, Mercedes-Benz India is gearing up to launch its saner version the CLA-Class sedan in the country. The German automaker has imported two units of the CLA 200 variant with petrol and diesel engine options for homologation from its Hungary based facility with the launch scheduled in the first quarter of 2015. With the compact luxury segment doing extremely well for Mercedes India, the company plans to add another feature to its hat with the CLA, after the success of the A-Class and the B-Class models.
Expected to be available in a single 200 trim for both petrol and diesel engines (like the GLA), the Mercedes CLA is essentially a boot fitted version of the A-Class hatch and will be sharing several mechanicals with the hatchback. The CLA will also be the fifth model to be sold in the country coming from the MFA platform. The sedan uses the same 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder motor producing 181 BHP and 300 Nm of torque, while the diesel motor uses a 2.1-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder unit producing 136 PS and 300 Nm of torque. Both the engines come paired to the 7G-DCT automatic transmission as standard.
Mercedes will continue to bring the CLA as a Completely Built unit (CBU) in the country much like the other premium compact models in its range and that is certainly going to keep the prices a tad bit optimistic. Primarily competing against the Audi A3 sedan in the segment, the CLA will also lock horns with the Skoda Superb, Toyota Camry and the likes. The German automaker also plans to start assembling the CLA and GLA models offering a more competitive pricing as these will be major volume spinners in the long term. In the mean time, Mercedes is working to launch the new generation C-Class on 25th November.
Source – Zauba
