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On this episode of ignition, Frank Markus heads to Saint Tropez to test out the CLA, which is Mercedes-Benz's brand new entry into the youth market. The idea sounds fraught with danger: another sub-$30,000 Benz, this time with a 2.0l 208hp transverse engine, 258 lb-ft of torque, and a front-wheel drivetrain. Will this new entry level kinder-Benz find the same fate as C230 sport coupe from several years ago, or is this a completely new philosophy on an entry level luxury car?
http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/benz/innovation/future/model-2014_CLA
An uncompromising four-door coupe with stunning beauty, innovative brains and turbocharged brawn, the all-new 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA promises to elevate pulses at a jaw-dropping value. From the moment you lay eyes on it, you're already under its spell. The commanding front sport grille, with studded black mesh behind a brilliant Three-Pointed Star and single chrome lamella. The long hood, sweeping roofline and clipped rear deck that comprise a coupe's calling card. And the chiseled physique of an automotive athlete waiting to be unleashed on the road. Everything, down to the frameless doors and a slight "kick" in the five spokes of its 17-inch two-tone wheels, tell you that you're looking at a vehicle designed to seduce you at every turn.
The aggressive lines of the all-new 2014 CLA aren't merely for show, however -- they also help create aerodynamics worthy of a supercar. Likewise, alluring form and superior function come together in the sculpted headlamps, available in Bi-Xenon with integrated LED Daytime Running Lights, and standard LED taillamps. An even greater degree of visual ferocity can be achieved with the available Sport Package, with chiseled sport bodystyling that includes a larger front apron with massive air inlets, as well as flared side skirts and a sleek rear diffuser. The Sport Package also includes the diamond-pattern version of the front sport grille -- boasting brilliant, silver-tipped studs instead of black -- not to mention 18-inch twin 5-spoke alloy wheels and sport front brakes with perforated rotors.
The finely crafted interior of the CLA picks up where the exterior leaves off, enticing all comers with conspicuous items like sculpted front sport seats and a free-floating 5.8-inch flatscreen display, to smaller details like aircraft-inspired vents with electroplated bezels and textured Anthracite trim. Sport gauges and a leather-wrapped, three-spoke multifunction sport steering wheel with shift paddles make for a cockpit with a competitive streak, while the available Panorama sunroof lends the cabin an open, easygoing feel.
Under the hood lurks an advanced, turbocharged inline-4 engine, poised to deliver spirited performance with calculated efficiency. Its 208 horsepower and red-blooded 258 lb-ft of torque are channeled through a sophisticated 7-speed automatic transmission with dual-clutch technology for exceptionally smooth gear shifts and near-instantaneous power delivery. Responsive handling comes courtesy of a sport-tuned suspension engineered to a close, comfortable relationship between asphalt and driver.
The all-new CLA's potent design and performance are matched by its technology suite, starting with mbrace2 -- the next-generation of connected, in-vehicle services from Mercedes-Benz. Offering Safety & Security services, personal assistance including Concierge, remote access from a compatible smartphone, and even Internet access, mbrace2 is the most comprehensive cloud-based telematics system on the planet. Also standard is full Bluetooth® connectivity for music streaming and hands-free calling from a compatible mobile device. The soundtrack of the open road can be enhanced with options such as a 12-speaker harman/kardon surround-sound system, iPod/MP3 Media Interface, and SiriusXM Satellite Radio with Traffic and Weather. In turn, the optional COMAND system offers navigation with 3-D maps and enhanced voice control for times when co-piloting may be required.
Like every car bearing the Three-Pointed Star, the all-new 2014 CLA has been engineered with an uncompromising approach to safety that includes not only sophisticated measures to help protect occupants during collisions, but also innovative technology that can help drivers avoid accidents altogether. Beyond a sophisticated seven air-bag restraint system, the CLA comes standard with ATTENTION ASSIST driver-drowsiness monitor, as well as COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST, a radar-based system that can warn drivers and even ready the brakes to deliver maximum stopping power if it senses a potential collision.
For added peace of mind, the CLA offers an optional Driver Assistance Package that includes Blind Spot Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and DISTRONIC adaptive cruise control -- technology that can not only warn drivers of an impending collision, but also initiate partial braking if they fail to respond. Available as individual options are Blind Spot Assist and PARKTRONIC with Active Parking Assist.
Marking the launch of this automotive milestone, a limited-production Launch Edition of the all-new 2014 CLA will be offered for those who seek some added exclusivity. On the outside, brilliant Mountain Grey metallic paintwork and black, 18-inch multispoke alloy wheels convey an undercurrent of rebellion. Beneath the skin, an exclusive black interior with contrast neon stitching, a Panorama sunroof and an infotainment suite including an iPod/MP3 Media Interface, navigation and a harman/kardon surround-sound system create a cockpit tailor-made for the discerning driver.
Above all, the all-new 2014 CLA is more than a stunning four-door coupe crafted in the uncompromising Mercedes-Benz tradition. And it's even more than an extraordinary automobile with a price that's equally remarkable. It's simply further proof that at Mercedes-Benz, doing something new isn´t really new at all.
Look for the all-new 2014 CLA in U.S. dealerships this fall.
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