The CLA is camouflaged like the one spotted in September, but now we take a look at what is likely to be the final version of Mercedes' star logo headlights and a sneak peek at the CLA's interior. Mercedes-Benz says much of the technology from the EQXX concept, unveiled in 2022, is integrated into the CLA.
Källenius says this CLA “heralds an era of a whole generation of new vehicles from Mercedes” that utilizes its latest platform: the Mercedes Modular Architecture, or MMA. In an interview on decoder In 2022, he noted that we would see a new EV platform in 2025, and it looks like the automaker is on track to meet its deadline.
Mercedes-Benz first unveiled the CLA concept last year, and many of the features have carried over to this prototype, including the Porsche Taycan-like two-speed transmission and the 800V battery architecture that enables 250kW fast charging.
Interestingly, the automaker also makes a hybrid combustion version of the CLA – still part of the MMA family – that runs on a 48-volt system along with the electric transmission.
The CLA features the “first full version” of the new Mercedes Benz Operating System (MB OS), which the automaker first unveiled at CES earlier this year, says Källenius. In the video demonstration he asks: “Hey Mercedes, how are you?” and it answers: “All the better that you hear your voice.”