The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class lineup is undergoing an overhaul. Over the last few months, our spy photographers have been capturing the car testing, and the latest images show off the CLA Shooting Brake. Camouflage patches hide the subtle styling changes coming to the car, which are concentrated on the front and rear fascias.
The shooting brake will receive a new face with a few styling changes, such as a reshaped bumper and a revamped grille. The camouflage at the rear hides only the taillights, which, like the headlights, will receive new internal graphics. If the A-Class update is any indication, the CLA’s overhaul will focus on exterior updates, which are hidden by camouflage.
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No photos of the car’s interior, but a quick glance at the cabin doesn’t show Mercedes trying to hide it. That likely means the company hasn’t changed anything much, with the dual-screen layout remaining. One change Mercedes could make to the interior is the center console, which the company revamped with the A-Class. The car will also receive the automaker’s latest MBUX software.
Bigger changes are coming under the hood. Mercedes will electrify the CLA engine lineup with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, pairing the various powertrains with seven- or eight-speed gearboxes. The power boost should translate to more power and increased performance for the CLA. We expect the hotter AMG CLA variant to return with a mid-cycle redesign, with the CLA 35 getting a hybrid setup and the CLA 45 likely making the same 416 horsepower (310 kilowatts) as the revamped A-Class.
The second-generation CLA Shooting Brake debuted in 2019, which isn’t exactly old. However, Mercedes has kept it updated, bringing its design more in line with the rest of the company’s evolving lineup. The end of the year is fast approaching, so Mercedes is racing against time if it plans to debut its revamped CLA lineup this year. If 2022 is drawing to a close, we won’t have to wait too long until 2023 for the reveal.
