The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class family has an in-road refresh that gives the model a revised look. The vehicle is now undergoing cold weather testing, and our spies have caught sight of the sedan and firing brakes under development.
This is the standard Mercedes-Benz variant, not the hotter AMG model. This is evident due to the horizontal bar running through the grille. The AMG variant has vertical blades, and the brand usually hides them on development vehicles with an egg crate-like appearance.
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Compared to the existing CLA-Class, the refresh also includes headlights with new internal graphics. For example, running lamps now consist of a diagonal bar instead of the current L-shape models.
The engineers covered the front fascia with camouflage. We’re expecting some style revisions, but the specific changes aren’t clear yet.
Another design revision is at the rear, but much smaller than the front. Narrow camouflage stripes cover the taillights. The lamp includes three red elements, including the curved section in the middle.
There are no good images in the updated CLA-Class. However, there is no visible camouflage in this vehicle. This shows that Mercedes is not planning to make any significant revisions to the cabin as the engineers are not trying to hide anything.
Mercedes will reportedly be adding a 48-volt mild hybrid system to the CLA powertrain lineup. This should increase efficiency and emissions. It’s unclear whether the AMG variant will also benefit from this tweak.
Look for the updated CLA-Class to debut in 2023, likely in the first half of this year. In general, Mercedes has been reeling from rolling out both the standard model and the AMG variant, so we may have to wait a bit longer before seeing that.
In the long term, Mercedes intends to trim its entry-level offering so the brand can focus its investments on the C-Class and larger vehicles. This strategy may include killing Class A and B after 2025. However, the CLA saloon and shot brake will survive. The GLA and GLB also held out.
