There’s another internet sighting of Mercedes-Benz’s worst kept secret of the year, the new CLA compact “four-door coupe”, again of the regular model in AMG trim guise.
In addition to the leaked image, Mercedes-Benz itself released a teaser photo of the CLA during filming for its first TV spot that that will debut during the fourth quarter of the year’s biggest night in U.S. television advertising, the Super Bowl XLVII on February 3.
While it was previously believed the CLA would make its world premiere at the Detroit auto show, that’s not exactly the case. To explain, Mercedes will show the car to journalists during a pre-show event in Detroit, but not at the show itself. Instead, the CLA will make its official world debut in front of the public at the Geneva Auto Show in March 2013.
The CLA is based on the underpinnings and mechanical hardware of the A-Class compact hatchback slotting under the C-Class saloon in terms of pricing and features, but oddly enough, it will be slightly longer and wider than Merc’s compact executive sedan.
Powertrain options will depend on the market and will be shared with the A-Class hatch. These will include a 2.0-liter gasoline unit delivering 208hp (211PS) for the CLA 250 BlueEFFICIENCY, and a heavily tuned version of the same engine delivering 350-horsepower and 332 lb-ft (450Nm) for the all-wheel drive CLA 45 AMG. Europe will also get a selection of diesel units.
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