Few cars are capable of grabbing our attention before they reach here and one of them has to be the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class that you see here.
From pictures, it seems that Mercedes has taken a leaf out of the CLS' book, shrunk the dimensions and tapered both ends. Then, we were told that it will share the same underpinnings as the A-Class and B-Class, while sitting below the C-Class in the family's hierarchy. How interesting.
Up close and Personal
We wouldn't be wrong to say that the CLA's styling is bold. In fact, as a compact four-door coupe, it is a new body type that has no direct competitors yet.
Rest assured that the CLA is more than a pretty face. The sleek bodywork has a drag coefficient of only 0.23 - the lowest of any mass produced cars.
From pictures, it seems that Mercedes has taken a leaf out of the CLS' book, shrunk the dimensions and tapered both ends. Then, we were told that it will share the same underpinnings as the A-Class and B-Class, while sitting below the C-Class in the family's hierarchy. How interesting.
Up close and Personal
We wouldn't be wrong to say that the CLA's styling is bold. In fact, as a compact four-door coupe, it is a new body type that has no direct competitors yet.
Rest assured that the CLA is more than a pretty face. The sleek bodywork has a drag coefficient of only 0.23 - the lowest of any mass produced cars.
The example you see here dons a new colour - Northern Lights Violet - no doubt another fanciful name (assumedly by the marketing people). The paintwork can be easily mistaken for black in poor lighting, but carries a hint of purple, which glows under the sun - adding to the classiness of the car itself.
In urban trim, the CLA does without the diamond radiator and testosterone-filled AMG body kit. Replacing them is a more subtle-looking honeycomb radiator grille, and less pronounced front and rear bumper lips, all of which help to give the CLA a more elegant look.
The cabin, on the other hand, takes on a less sporting stance - with red stitching along the door cards and front console replaced by white ones.
Aluminium foot pedals and the panoramic sunroof, though, are now struck off the equipment list - so are the sports seats.
Still, the interior of the CLA remains largely attractive - a hallmark of the three-pointed star marque. There is a good mix of contrasting materials, which feel premium and good to the touch. We particularly like the new one-piece front seats - also found in the A-Class - which feel as good as they look.
The Drive
The CLA's 1.6-litre force-fed engine churns out a healthy 156bhp and 250Nm of torque, which will propel the compact coupe to 100km/h in a quick 8.5 seconds.
The cabin, on the other hand, takes on a less sporting stance - with red stitching along the door cards and front console replaced by white ones.
Aluminium foot pedals and the panoramic sunroof, though, are now struck off the equipment list - so are the sports seats.
Still, the interior of the CLA remains largely attractive - a hallmark of the three-pointed star marque. There is a good mix of contrasting materials, which feel premium and good to the touch. We particularly like the new one-piece front seats - also found in the A-Class - which feel as good as they look.
The Drive
The CLA's 1.6-litre force-fed engine churns out a healthy 156bhp and 250Nm of torque, which will propel the compact coupe to 100km/h in a quick 8.5 seconds.
However, we reckon the CLA was never meant to be driven hard. Instead, its charm lies in the smooth and refined character of the drivetrain. While 'Sport' mode dishes out a more enthusiastic acceleration (by holding on to the current gear for longer periods), the CLA will sound a tad strained when pushed hard.
The CLA's handling, like the more recent Mercs, is a gem to behold, thanks to the clear and concise steering. Coupled with its edgy dimensions, the car feels nimble through tight corners, which makes it great to drive in urban landscapes.
The downside, however, is that the CLA's setup leans towards the sporty side, which may raise a few brows from the passengers when plodding over undulating roads.
Conclusion
Many may reckon that the CLA's appeal lies solely on its novelty, but we think it has the right traits (good looks with the badge to match, and a good blend of practicality) to see it score the sales charts.
And seriously, we'd love to see more of these eye candies roaming our streets.
The CLA's handling, like the more recent Mercs, is a gem to behold, thanks to the clear and concise steering. Coupled with its edgy dimensions, the car feels nimble through tight corners, which makes it great to drive in urban landscapes.
The downside, however, is that the CLA's setup leans towards the sporty side, which may raise a few brows from the passengers when plodding over undulating roads.
Conclusion
Many may reckon that the CLA's appeal lies solely on its novelty, but we think it has the right traits (good looks with the badge to match, and a good blend of practicality) to see it score the sales charts.
And seriously, we'd love to see more of these eye candies roaming our streets.
