After its world premiere last January, the second-generation Mercedes-BenzCLA arrives in the Philippines via a grand launch held recently put together by official importer and distributor Auto Nation Group.
The hip and sporty four-door coupe comes at the heels of the new A-Class and GLE and looks sleeker and sportier than its already youthful predecessor.
The diamond grille, sleek LED headlights with daytime running lights, low-slung roof, and sporty rear end with the license plate set in the bumper give the car a look that is akin to a sports car.
This being a front-wheel drive Mercedes, the cabin gains more space with added leg and headroom, as well as a rear seat that can be split-folded 40/20/40 for more flexibility.
The big news in the luxurious interior is the new Mercedes-Benz User Experience interface. This piece of kit allows users to control various vehicle and infotainment functions in various ways—the most notable of which is through voice command.
By simply saying Hey Mercedes, you can control the climte control or stereo, or even look up places of interest, among other cool things.
Powering the new CLA 180 is a 1.3-liter turbo four-cylinder that produces 136hp and 200Nm of torque. It is mated to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission driving the front wheels.
Drivers can even use the Drive Select feature to choose between different modes to suit their driving style, weather, and other factors.
With safety being a major selling point these days, the CLA is not left behind as it packs goodies like Active Brake Assist, Active Park Assist, Reaview Camera, Electronic Stability Program, and Acceleration Skid Control, just to name a few.
The new Mercedes-Benz CLA is now available at P3,190,000.
Photos: Paolo Lesaca
