2025 Mercedes CLA Steps Out In ICE & EV Powertrains

Mercedes has given us another glimpse of its forthcoming CLA testing before it hits production. These new pictures which feature two prototypes, follow the appearance of heavily camouflaged car previously shown to the public at the 39th Festival d’Hyères.
 

‘With the CLA, we are ushering in a new era at Mercedes Benz. We will substantially elevate every aspect of what our customers can expect from a Mercedes in this segment,’ said Mercedes boss Ola Källenius. ‘The modular platform allows for maximum flexibility: we can offer the CLA in both a state-of-the-art electric drivetrain version and a hybrid electrified combustion engine version. And our operating system, MB.OS, will make it into the most intelligent car we’ve ever built.’
 
What’s it look like?
The new compact saloon’s shape differs very little from the outgoing one, and will be heavily inspired by the Concept CLA shown at the 2023 Munich motor show. Spot the circular head and taillights and an even more decontented shape for the production model inspired by that concept.
 
The new batch of pictures shows two cars; one with a grille and one without. CAR understands that the new CLA will be available with a mix of powertrains – everything from mild-hybrid petrol engines, plug-in hybrids and a battery-electric version – as Mercedes softens its approach to EVs.
 

‘We are now preparing for the biggest product offensive, number of launches of new vehicles, in the history of our company, kicking it off with the first one on the MMA architecture, the CLA,’ said Merc boss Ola Källenius. ‘I was driving it around the test track today, a fantastic car by the way. I’m ever so slightly biased, but it’s unbelievable. It’s a new car ushering in a new era, and ’25-’26-’27-’28’s just going to be one vehicle after the other. The intensity of launches in that period is unprecedented for our company.’
 
Expect a cleaner interior for the production model, again taking inspiration from the Concept CLA. The infotainment screens will be bigger, there’ll likely be more use of light and the small model will likely be one of the first cars to use Merc’s new MB.OS infotainment system that will replace MBUX. Will we see some sort of Hyperscreen or Superscreen setup? We’ll have to wait and see.
 
As we will for any more official details. We’re expecting to see the new CLA make its official launch in 2025.