The new CLA draws inspiration from a concept car Mercedes unveiled a year ago. It'll come in both traditional gas-powered and electric versions, built on the company's new MMA (Mercedes Modular Architecture) platform.
At the festival, Mercedes wrapped the CLA in a grey and red exterior, but we can still make out key design elements. The car keeps its sleek profile and compact size, similar to earlier models. But it's got some fresh touches too.
Up front, Mercedes has completely redone the grille, taking cues from last year's CLA Concept. The headlights look a lot like the concept's too. But interestingly, we don't see the Three-Pointed Star daytime running lights that were on the concept. They might be hidden by the wrap, or Mercedes could have decided not to include them in the production model.
Looking at the side, we see bold creases and design lines on the doors. There's also a prominent shoulder line running from the headlights all the way back to the taillights.
Around back, the taillights feature circular LED signatures, another nod to the CLA Concept. There's also a small lip spoiler on the trunk.
Under the hood, gas-powered CLAs will use four-cylinder engines with hybrid assistance. The electric version will have some impressive tech. It'll use an 800-volt architecture and can charge at speeds up to 250 kW. It'll also support bidirectional charging, meaning it can send power back to your home or the grid.
Mercedes plans to fully unveil the new CLA in the coming months. It'll hit showrooms in 2026.
Source: Mercedes-Benz
