Midlife facelift of the small, stylish Mercedes-Benz range is primed for launch

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STUTTGART, GERMANY

Mercedes-Benz’s small four-door coupe, the CLA, is getting a midlife makeover with upgraded tech and styling changes. The second-generation CLA was first launched in 2019, and it is getting restyled to keep it up to date as it rolls into the second half of its product life cycle. 

As is the norm with such product updates, the styling changes centre largely around the front and rear bumpers, which are easier to redesign for mass production, and the fitment of a new MBUX operating system featuring Dolby Atmos audio. Mild hybrid drivetrains with 48-volt power are standard across the whole model lineup, and a plug-in hybrid, the CLA 250 e,  featuring a 1.3-litre engine and a total system power output of 213 horsepower is also in the official lineup. 

As with most continental car updates the changes are not easy to spot at first glance. The redesign begins at the new front bumper, with an updated radiator intake grille design, and finishes at the tail end with a new rear diffuser design that Mercedes-Benz claims to “sharpen the sporty character” of the car.

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LED head and taillight elements are now fitted as standard equipment, along with the availability of a new hyper blue paintwork, which is exclusive to the CLA. 

The interior is highlighted by the free-standing double screen, which combines a 7-inch and a 10.25-inch display. If you want to go really big like how Mercedes has done with crs like the S-Class, C-Class, and the crazy OTT-ness of the electric Mercedes-AMG EQS 53, two 10.25-inch displays with a wide-screen look are optionally available. 

Both the regular CLA and CLA Shooting Brake feature the latest generation of MBUX, the brand’s in-car operating system, with newly designed display themes. As before, the instrument cluster and central display can be individualised according to the driver’s preferences, but the real bonus is that the car now has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a step up over the plug-in style of the present car.  

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The Hey Mercedes voice assistant has also been further improved with better adaptive A.I. learning for a more interactive user experience. The power of the new-generation MBUX allows the optional Burmester surround sound system to feature an immersive Dolby Atmos audio experience. The audio entertainment system allows discrete audio elements or objects to be placed in a three-dimensional sound field and adapted to any playback environment.

With active safety a big part of any new car’s strength, the CLA has an upgraded Driver Assistance Package with improved lane keeping assist and active steering control systems. 

It’s still too early to confirm what we will get in Singapore, but it’s highly likely that we will retain the CLA 180 and CLA 200, along with the AMG CLA 35. Both the new CLA 180 and CLA 200 will be powered by 1.3-litre turbo petrol engines with 48-volt mild hybrid drive. WIth power outputs of 136hp and 163hp respectively, both will be Category B COE cars. However, like the brand has done with the C-Class sedan, there is a chance that we get a detuned Category A COE variant. 

Meanwhile the new Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 will still feature all-wheel drive and get its power from a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine with a power output of 306hp. 

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