The bold and beautiful Benz
24 Mar 2013|13,202 views
There is a certain similarity about cars. Compliance to the tendering process of creating cars promotes tendering products and a tendering drive. The sole point of difference is probably the quoted price. Little wonder the concepts of value, originality, innovation, technology and even design are discounted and, often, dismissed.
Go back almost a decade and newly launched cars then had attractive and bold designs. But the problem was that they lived in the 'now'. They were so good looking that people who liked the cars eventually became owners and it no longer 'attracted' more potential buyers. As a result, the lifespan of these cars lasted much lesser than it should.
Things haven't changed much since then. The automotive industry is still in perpetual motion, trying to create cars that offer an abundance of technology, capable engine, good design and comfort that they end up achieving nothing.
But the recently launched Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class has somehow changed that notion. In the prevailing competition in the executive sedan segment and with a price sensitive market, Mercedes-Benz is adopting the attitude of striking a perfect balance in the CLA. And evidently, the German carmaker has succeeded.
Available in both petrol and diesel powerplants, the all new CLA is the third model to be based on the MFA platform that underpins the third generation A-Class and second generation B-Class. Thus, it's a front-wheel driven four-door coupe that shares its mechanical package and even its interior appointments with the two hatches.
It seems that Mercedes is meeting form with function with the aerodynamic properties of its sleek new entry-level sedan. It claims an overall drag coefficient of 0.22 for the CLA180 BlueEfficiency Edition model, representing a record for a production car.
More importantly, the extremely powerful and stunning design language underscores the sporty side of the German brand. And with a wide list of optional features available for the CLA - such as the AMG Sports package and Edition 1 - the car is bound to match the different tastes of different buyers.
According to an interview with Jurgen Leiter, Product Management for Compact Cars, "We aim to reach out to buyers who never had Mercedes-Benz on their radar with the new CLA-Class."
The two petrol engines, amongst others available at the launch, are the CLA250 and the CLA200 - both mated to the 7G-DCT automatic transmission. The CLA250 develops a maximum output of 211bhp and 350Nm of torque, enabling the sporty four-door coupe to reach the century mark in a speedy 6.7 seconds. The CLA200, on the other hand, will produce 156bhp and 250Nm of torque from the word go and will complete the 0 to 100km/h dash in a respectable 8.5 seconds.
Other engines such as the yet to be revealed all-wheel drive CLA 45 AMG that packs a 2.0-litre turbocharged powerplant will also be offered. But before that, CLAs bound for Singapore will be available with an optional AMG Sports and Edition 1 package and a standard Sports suspension. The car will be arriving here in the fourth quarter.
There is a certain similarity about cars. Compliance to the tendering process of creating cars promotes tendering products and a tendering drive. The sole point of difference is probably the quoted price. Little wonder the concepts of value, originality, innovation, technology and even design are discounted and, often, dismissed.
Go back almost a decade and newly launched cars then had attractive and bold designs. But the problem was that they lived in the 'now'. They were so good looking that people who liked the cars eventually became owners and it no longer 'attracted' more potential buyers. As a result, the lifespan of these cars lasted much lesser than it should.
Things haven't changed much since then. The automotive industry is still in perpetual motion, trying to create cars that offer an abundance of technology, capable engine, good design and comfort that they end up achieving nothing.
But the recently launched Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class has somehow changed that notion. In the prevailing competition in the executive sedan segment and with a price sensitive market, Mercedes-Benz is adopting the attitude of striking a perfect balance in the CLA. And evidently, the German carmaker has succeeded.
Available in both petrol and diesel powerplants, the all new CLA is the third model to be based on the MFA platform that underpins the third generation A-Class and second generation B-Class. Thus, it's a front-wheel driven four-door coupe that shares its mechanical package and even its interior appointments with the two hatches.
It seems that Mercedes is meeting form with function with the aerodynamic properties of its sleek new entry-level sedan. It claims an overall drag coefficient of 0.22 for the CLA180 BlueEfficiency Edition model, representing a record for a production car.
More importantly, the extremely powerful and stunning design language underscores the sporty side of the German brand. And with a wide list of optional features available for the CLA - such as the AMG Sports package and Edition 1 - the car is bound to match the different tastes of different buyers.
According to an interview with Jurgen Leiter, Product Management for Compact Cars, "We aim to reach out to buyers who never had Mercedes-Benz on their radar with the new CLA-Class."
The two petrol engines, amongst others available at the launch, are the CLA250 and the CLA200 - both mated to the 7G-DCT automatic transmission. The CLA250 develops a maximum output of 211bhp and 350Nm of torque, enabling the sporty four-door coupe to reach the century mark in a speedy 6.7 seconds. The CLA200, on the other hand, will produce 156bhp and 250Nm of torque from the word go and will complete the 0 to 100km/h dash in a respectable 8.5 seconds.
Other engines such as the yet to be revealed all-wheel drive CLA 45 AMG that packs a 2.0-litre turbocharged powerplant will also be offered. But before that, CLAs bound for Singapore will be available with an optional AMG Sports and Edition 1 package and a standard Sports suspension. The car will be arriving here in the fourth quarter.
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