The Mercedes-Benz CLA four-door Coupé’s unique interior architecture adds charm to the highly intelligent systems, making it the car of choice

As a four-door coupé, the CLA intrigues with its pure, seductive design and sets new standards in the design DNA of ‘sensual purity’. Its unique interior architecture adds charm to the highly intelligent systems, making it the car of choice.

The Mercedes-Benz CLA four-door Coupé is available at Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles, the authorized general distributor of Mercedes-Benz in Qatar, in its showroom on Salwa Road.

The Mercedes-Benz CLA Coupé is not only the most emotional vehicle in its class, it is also highly intelligent: from MBUX Interior Assist, which recognises operational demands from gestures and equips the interior with intelligence, through augmented reality for navigation and understanding indirect voice commands to the ENERGIZING Coach that provides individual fitness recommendations, the CLA offers an array of clever solutions. There are also ingenious details when it comes to the aerodynamics and new functions for the Intelligent Drive driving assistance package. The design underlines the coupé character with its stretched form and design elements such as the bonnet with power-domes or the rear licence plate which has been moved down. As such it does justice to its predecessor’s status as a design icon.

Design: pure emotion

The Mercedes-Benz CLA four-door Coupé impresses with its perfect proportions reflecting the first design sketch: a long, stretched bonnet, a compact greenhouse, a wide track with exposed wheel arches and our typical GT rear end with a strong distinctive ‘Coke-bottle shoulder’. In short — the CLA Coupé has the potential to become a modern design icon.

The combination of the long, stretched entry line above the windows and frameless doors give the CLA Coupé its unmistakeable sporty and elegant character. Forming the front end is the striking front section which is raked forwards like a shark nose with a long, stretched bonnet featuring powerdomes.

Flat headlamps together with the low-slung bonnet and the diamond radiator grille with central star create the vehicle’s sporty face. The two-piece, narrow tail lamps and the number plate housed in the bumper make the rear of the CLA look especially wide.

With the greenhouse moved back, the sporty GT rear achieves a balance between elegance and sportiness. Featuring pared-down lines, the precisely modelled side profile provides an interesting interplay of light and shade. Dispensing with the upper shaped edge of the side wall permits extremely muscular and athletic shoulder shaping, stretching from the front wheel arch through to the sculptured rear. Flush with the outer edge of the body, the wheels with their flared wheel arches and wide track epitomise dynamism and give the vehicle a sporty presence.

In the interior, all elements are arranged according to the overarching design themes of ‘high tech’ and ‘youthful avant-garde’ – be that the steering wheel, the door handle operating module, the centre console or the seats. As in the A‑Class, the unique interior architecture is shaped in particular by the avantgarde design of the dashboard: The designers completely dispensed with a cowl above the cockpit. As a result, the wing-shaped main body of the dashboard extends from one front door to the other with no visual discontinuity. The widescreen display is completely free-standing. The lower section is visually separated from the main body of the instrument cluster by a ‘trench’, and it appears to float in front of the instrument cluster. The ambient lighting enhances this effect. The air vents in a sporty turbine-look are another highlight.

Drive system: start with the most powerful engine

The CLA is equipped with the powerful four-cylinder petrol engine (165 kW/224 hp, 350 Nm) with 7G-DCT dual-clutch transmission (combined fuel consumption 6.0 – 6.2 L /100 km, combined CO2 emissions 137-142 g/km).

Suspension: exceptionally agile and yet comfortable

In terms of driving dynamics, too, the CLA keeps the promise of its design: A wide track and a lower centre of gravity are the two key features which give the CLA the sportiest driving characteristics of all models in the new generation of compacts from Mercedes-Benz. The technical specification includes a decoupled multi-link axle at the rear for reduced noise and vibration, a Direct-Steer system as standard and hydromounts at the front. A stabiliser bar with a larger diameter reduces body roll. As an option, an active adaptive damping system is available, giving the driver the choice between comfort or a more uncompromising sporty tuning. The ESP has been specially adapted to the CLA’s potentially high cornering speeds and handling performance.

One year since the première: MBUX keeps on learning

One year ago, MBUX – the Mercedes-Benz User Experience – created a furore at its world première at CES in Las Vegas. A powerful computer, brilliant screens and graphics, customisable display, full colour Head-up Display, navigation with augmented reality, software that can learn and “Hey Mercedes” – the keyword for voice control that explodes conventional automotive standards. This is how Mercedes-Benz is revolutionising car operation and communication with it. Now the company is igniting the next level. MBUX Interior Assist facilitates natural operation. The voice control feature now recognises topical answers in a growing number of domains. Due to ongoing development of the system, it is also possible to take into consideration country-specific content providers.

MBUX Interior Assist: an even greater experience

By recognising movements MBUX Interior Assist brings added intelligence to the interior. Thanks to innovative technology, MBUX now supports the occupants by making various comfort and MBUX functions even simpler and more intuitive. Interior Assist operates in non-contact mode and functions both in sunlight and in complete darkness.

“Hey Mercedes”: better understanding and even cleverer responses

State-of-the-art of voice control can also be experienced in the CLA. Here too seat recognition has been implemented. The voice assistance only responds to the commands of the person who last said ‘Hey Mercedes’ to activate the system. There is also a growing number of domains for which MBUX can understand complex questions and quickly reply.

ENERGIZING comfort control: wellness while driving

ENERGIZING comfort control links various comfort systems in the vehicle. The intelligent recommendations from the ENERGIZING COACH in the ENERGIZING Package Plus are completely new. In general, the ENERGIZING comfort control systematically uses the functions of the air conditioning system and the seats (heater, ventilation, massage) as well as lighting and musical moods, and enables a specific wellness set-up tailored to the mood and need of the customer.

GO: Mercedes-Benz CLA four-door Coupé is now available at Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles Showroomat Salwa Road