On track of CLS and Co.: 2013 premiere for CLA and CLA 45 AMG

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The new Mercedes-Benz CLA embodies in a production car the avant-garde design of the Concept Style Coupé which had its world premiere at the Auto China fair this April. The exciting compact mid-range coupé adopts the concept vehicle's non-conformist, provocative and masculine lines. On numerous points of detail the designers have drawn inspiration from the SLS and CLS modern Mercedes classics – examples being the sporty, self-assured front end, the powerdomes on the bonnet or the three-dimensional side design featuring an additional brawny muscle extending over the dropping line from the rear door to the boot lid.

In keeping with its sporty positioning, the CLA is available with high-torque turbo engines rated at up to 155 kW (211 hp), sports suspension and the newly developed 4MATIC. The technical highlights of the new design icon include numerous driving assistance systems, such as advanced COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS. In addition to outputting visual and acoustic warnings when an impending danger of a rear-end collision is identified, the latter system is also able to carry out autonomous partial braking if the driver fails to respond to warnings and a danger of collision persists.

Five equipment and appointment packages which vary greatly in character are available to individualise the striking compact mid-range coupé (length/width/height: 4630/1777/1437 millimetres). In keeping with the digital lifestyle of the CLA's social media-savvy target group, smartphones can additionally be fully integrated into the vehicle's display and operating system.

CLA 45 AMG: the most dynamic way to experience the new 4MATIC

As the high-powered top model of the new compact class, the CLA 45 AMG broadens the portfolio of Mercedes-Benz's high-performance brand to offer a fascinating high-performance vehicle in the compact class, too. The newly developed AMG 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine will set new standards in its engine capacity segment: with maximum torque of well over 400 Newton metres and low fuel consumption, AMG is aiming to lead the competition. In conjunction with the specially adapted 4MATIC version for this engine-power class, the CLA 45 AMG will be one of the most dynamic, powerful and efficient four-cylinder series-production compact cars.

Perfect power transmission is ensured in the CLA 45 AMG thanks to the AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports transmission with dual clutch technology and performance-oriented all-wheel drive. The ideal basis for high cornering speeds and exciting, agile handling also comes courtesy of the AMG sports suspension with independently developed front and rear axles, electromechanical AMG speed-sensitive sports steering, AMG high-performance braking system and 3-stage ESP® with "SPORT Handling" mode. The 3-stage stability programme is also applied to adapt the control strategies of the variable 4MATIC system:

- In "ESP ON" mode a safety-oriented driving programme supports the driver with clear-cut self-steering behaviour, i.e. essentially neutral handling characteristics.

- Briefly pressing the ESP® button activates "ESP SPORT Handling Mode". This dynamically oriented driving mode applies appropriate control strategies for later ESP® intervention and increased drive torque at the rear axle.

- Pressing the ESP® button longer activates "ESP OFF". "ESP OFF" should only be used by experienced drivers on cordoned-off race tracks.

After pressing the brake pedal in "ESP SPORT Handling Mode" or "ESP OFF" mode, all ESP® functions are available once again.

Credits: Daimler AG

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