Mercedes-Benz is busy working on a refresh for its small car family and we’ve seen plenty of A-Class, B-Class, GLA and GLB test prototypes with camouflage in various development states. Now it’s time to take a look at the CLA family with a new spy shot of the swoopy sedan and a more practical Shooting Brake alternative.
The two test cars you see pictured in the attached gallery below were recently taken while being evaluated in Germany. The amount of camouflage on both vehicles is minimal showing only a slight visual change. It’s also interesting to note that both CLAs come with an AMG design package.
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At the front, there seem to be changes to the headlight graphics as well as a redesigned bumper. The radiator grille is also hidden away so that it doesn’t allow us to see the design, although we don’t expect major changes in that regard. Just like the current model, the CLA and CLA Shooting Brake will have different grilles depending on the trim level.
The situation is similar at the rear – minimal camouflage and covers the taillights and the area between the lighting clusters. While the LED graphics of the taillights appear identical to the current model, there could be some changes to keep the overall design at the rear fresh. No changes to the bumper or bottom diffuser can be seen in these photos.
No major changes are planned under the hood either. We expect Mercedes to continue to offer the CLA family with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The CLA 35 and CLA 45 AMG models will likely also be carried without significant mechanical changes. On the tech front, the CLA family can be upgraded with an updated version of the automaker’s infotainment system.
Given how lightly camouflaged this prototype is, we expect to see the updated CLA lineup – along with the brand’s other small car models – towards the end of the year. Those that are planned to be sold in the United States will likely arrive in America as the 2023 model.
