Skip to main content

2013 Detroit Auto Show: Mercedes-Benz’s compact CLA-Class “four door coupe” finally breaks cover in Detroit

2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 low perspective viewMercedes-Benz calls its new CLA-Class a “style rebel,” and it seems to be rebelling against the company’s own design conventions. Radical styling first seen on the Concept Style Coupe cloaks a chassis most people don’t associate with the three-pointed star. This rebellious Benz was unveiled at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show and goes on sale later this year.

Mercedes says the CLA-Class is a “four-door coupe,” part of a category the company invented a few years ago with the CLS. As such, the CLA has a practical amount of doors, but the sloping roofline of a coupe. That’s not much of a rebellion, though.

Recommended Videos

What really makes the CLA stand out is how it ditches the formal look of other Mercedes cars. It’s design is just as overwrought as an SL or E-Class, but a curvy silhouette makes it look bold and distinctive.

We got a peek at the CLA’s winning looks in December, but the car’s Detroit unveiling gives us a better idea of what it will be like to drive.

The CLA is based on the Mercedes A-Class which means that, unlike most Mercedes, it is front-wheel drive. In the United States, it will be sold as a CLA250 only, with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 208 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque.

The engine features an eco-friendly start/stop function, and is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Mercedes’ 4Matic all-wheel drive will be available beginning in the Spring of 2014.

The CLA will also get Mercedes’ mbrace2 cloud-based infotainment system, displayed on a 5.8-inch screen. The Multimedia package adds a seven-inch screen and Mercedes’ COMAND, which balances out the software with hardware. Buyers can load their CLAs up with: a hard drive-based navigation, voice control, 10GB of music storage, an SD card slot, iPod connector, six-disc CD/DVD changer, and rearview camera.

2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 overhead motion viewAll of that infotainment may seem like a distraction, but there are plenty of smart safety features to pick up the slack. Collision Prevention Assist with Adaptive Braking Assist uses radar to identify the distance between the car and an obstacle, and modulates braking force to slow the car in the safest way possible.

The optional Driver Assistance package adds Blind Spot Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, and Parktronic autonomous parking. With Parktronic, the CLA can back itself into perpendicular or parallel spaces.

With the 2014 CLA-Class, Mercedes tried to redefine what an entry-level luxury car can be, but it could end up redefining what a Mercedes can be. Packing the tech of bigger Benzes into a stylish front- and all-wheel drive chassis is definitely unusual. We’ll see if it works out this fall, when the CLA250 goes on sale.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Cheaper EVs ahead? GM and LG say new battery cells are the key
2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV front quarter view.

General Motors and LG Energy Solution have announced a new phase in their ongoing partnership: developing a new battery cell chemistry that could significantly lower the cost of electric vehicles. The joint effort centers on lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) battery cells, a variation of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) that’s gaining popularity for being more affordable and less reliant on expensive materials like nickel and cobalt.

This is a big deal because battery costs are still the single largest expense in producing EVs. According to GM and industry experts, LMFP cells could help bring the cost of electric vehicles close to — or even on par with — gas-powered cars. The goal? Making EVs accessible to a broader range of drivers without sacrificing range or performance.

Read more
Waymo recalled 1,200 robotaxis following collisions with road barriers
Waymo Jaguar I-Pace

Waymo’s autonomous-car technology has made great advances over the years to the point where it’s now allowed to offer paid robotaxi rides in select locations in the U.S.

But the development of the technology is ongoing, and the robotaxi rides continue to gather valuable data for Waymo engineers to pore over as they further refine the driverless system to make it as reliable and efficient as possible. Which is why glitches will sometimes occur.

Read more
Apple CarPlay Ultra looks stunning in Aston Martin supercar debut
Apple CarPlay Ultra

Apple CarPlay Ultra is the next generation of the Cupertino, California-based firm's smartphone projection system for your car, and it's available in new vehicles in the US and Canada.

When we say "new cars", your options are very much limited to one brand... Aston Martin. So you'll need deep pockets if you want to experience CarPlay Ultra for yourself.

Read more