RE: Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG previewed
Friday 22nd February 2013
Here’s our first look at the upcoming Mercedes CLA45 AMG – and, in a refreshing change from the norm, it’s a teaser that’s given us a very clear idea of the way the new car will look.
Drivetrain will be shared with A45 AMGAs good as the game sounds, though, we’re rather more interested in the car. If the teaser is anything to go by, Mercedes has done a pretty good job of beefing up the CLA’s slightly bowler hat-esque looks with chunky tailpipes and a slatted rear bumper, much like those fitted to the A45 AMG. The reason for that is clear: it’ll be much the same car under the skin. As we said when the CLA first broke cover, for all the marketing spiel about the CLA being a compact CLS, in reality it’s more like a booted A-Class. But depending on how the A45 AMG drives – we’ll let you know as soon as we get behind the wheel, of course – that might not be such a bad thing. The signs are good, though: the CLA45 will get the same 360hp 2.0-litre turbo and Merc’s Haldex-based 4Matic four-wheel-drive system. There’s no word on transmissions yet, but bank on the same seven-speed dual-clutch Speedshift item already confirmed for the A45. Performance, too, will be pretty similar to the A45’s 4.6-second 0-62 time and electronically-policed 155mph top speed. In theory, then, the stats suggest this could be one of the performance saloons of 2013. Watch this space for pictures of the real thing just as soon as they land in our inbox!
Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG previewed
Leaner, meaner CLA revealed - but only in a new driving game
There’s a caveat, of course, as you’d expect with such things – this isn’t the real car. It’s actually a screenshot from a new computer game called Driveclub, which is due out soon on Sony’s new Playstation 4. Imagine Gran Turismo 5, but more detailed, more realistic, and with a social element that allows you to set challenges for other players, and to take up their challenges too, and you’ve pretty much got the size of it.
Drivetrain will be shared with A45 AMG
Discussion
rtz62 said:
Or is it a niche too far, a niche where there is no need for one?
Not my cup of rosie I'm afraid...
Umm..a small sports saloon?Not my cup of rosie I'm afraid...
based on the CLA dimensions its the same size as a C-class, 3 series etc.
The C-class is just now a lardy old thing, a bit like the new 5-series size 3er!
Alex Robbins said:
the CLA45 will get Merc’s Haldex-based 4Matic four-wheel-drive system.
The Mercedes Front Wheel Drive Architecture(MFA) 4MATIC 4WD system is Haldex-based? Do you know that for sure?According to Merc's launch material on the mechanically identical A45 AMG, the MFA 4MATIC system is their own development, without even mention of licensing of the Haldex system.
I like the idea of CLA. I like the look of it, I like the general "small fast luxury saloon" of it... but... isn't that what the C class is for?
So we now have an A class, which is smaller than a C class, which is smaller than an E class which is smaller than an S class... how f**king huge must the S class have gotten if there's room for all those smaller ones under it?
Couldn't we just scale them all back down a bit?
So we now have an A class, which is smaller than a C class, which is smaller than an E class which is smaller than an S class... how f**king huge must the S class have gotten if there's room for all those smaller ones under it?
Couldn't we just scale them all back down a bit?
Re. 'Haldex-based four wheel drive system', this is what Mercedes themselves say about the A45/CLA45 AMG's 4MATIC all-wheel drive system:
'A two-part propeller shaft transfers the power from the AMG 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine to the rear axle. In the interests of favourable weight distribution, an electrohydraulically controlled multi-disc clutch is integrated with the rear axle differential. The multi-disc clutch immediately detects slip at the front axle. A hydraulic pump instantaneously presses the discs together and channels the engine torque to the rear wheels as necessary. All this takes place virtually without the driver noticing. To enable particularly fast response, the pump is always active and does not require to be started up each time it is needed, such as is customary with other systems. Power distribution is fully variable: in normal driving, the A 45 AMG uses front-wheel drive in the interests of optimum efficiency. When the driving dynamics so require, the variable AMG 4MATIC all-wheel drive splits the torque between front and rear axle up to a ratio of 50 : 50 percent. The variables influencing the power distribution ratio are vehicle speed, lateral and longitudinal acceleration, steering angle, speed difference between the individual wheels, selected gear and accelerator position.'
'A two-part propeller shaft transfers the power from the AMG 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine to the rear axle. In the interests of favourable weight distribution, an electrohydraulically controlled multi-disc clutch is integrated with the rear axle differential. The multi-disc clutch immediately detects slip at the front axle. A hydraulic pump instantaneously presses the discs together and channels the engine torque to the rear wheels as necessary. All this takes place virtually without the driver noticing. To enable particularly fast response, the pump is always active and does not require to be started up each time it is needed, such as is customary with other systems. Power distribution is fully variable: in normal driving, the A 45 AMG uses front-wheel drive in the interests of optimum efficiency. When the driving dynamics so require, the variable AMG 4MATIC all-wheel drive splits the torque between front and rear axle up to a ratio of 50 : 50 percent. The variables influencing the power distribution ratio are vehicle speed, lateral and longitudinal acceleration, steering angle, speed difference between the individual wheels, selected gear and accelerator position.'
benzpassion said:
Re. 'Haldex-based four wheel drive system', this is what Mercedes themselves say about the A45/CLA45 AMG's 4MATIC all-wheel drive system:
'A two-part propeller shaft transfers the power from the AMG 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine to the rear axle. In the interests of favourable weight distribution, an electrohydraulically controlled multi-disc clutch is integrated with the rear axle differential. The multi-disc clutch immediately detects slip at the front axle. A hydraulic pump instantaneously presses the discs together and channels the engine torque to the rear wheels as necessary. All this takes place virtually without the driver noticing. To enable particularly fast response, the pump is always active and does not require to be started up each time it is needed, such as is customary with other systems. Power distribution is fully variable: in normal driving, the A 45 AMG uses front-wheel drive in the interests of optimum efficiency. When the driving dynamics so require, the variable AMG 4MATIC all-wheel drive splits the torque between front and rear axle up to a ratio of 50 : 50 percent. The variables influencing the power distribution ratio are vehicle speed, lateral and longitudinal acceleration, steering angle, speed difference between the individual wheels, selected gear and accelerator position.'
So its a haldex system but they claim its faster at redirecting power than the Audi system?'A two-part propeller shaft transfers the power from the AMG 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine to the rear axle. In the interests of favourable weight distribution, an electrohydraulically controlled multi-disc clutch is integrated with the rear axle differential. The multi-disc clutch immediately detects slip at the front axle. A hydraulic pump instantaneously presses the discs together and channels the engine torque to the rear wheels as necessary. All this takes place virtually without the driver noticing. To enable particularly fast response, the pump is always active and does not require to be started up each time it is needed, such as is customary with other systems. Power distribution is fully variable: in normal driving, the A 45 AMG uses front-wheel drive in the interests of optimum efficiency. When the driving dynamics so require, the variable AMG 4MATIC all-wheel drive splits the torque between front and rear axle up to a ratio of 50 : 50 percent. The variables influencing the power distribution ratio are vehicle speed, lateral and longitudinal acceleration, steering angle, speed difference between the individual wheels, selected gear and accelerator position.'
benzpassion said:
The Mercedes Front Wheel Drive Architecture(MFA) 4MATIC 4WD system is Haldex-based? Do you know that for sure?
According to Merc's launch material on the mechanically identical A45 AMG, the MFA 4MATIC system is their own development, without even mention of licensing of the Haldex system.
from what I've read before, the normal CLA has the haldex based system, but the AMG version has something a bit more specialAccording to Merc's launch material on the mechanically identical A45 AMG, the MFA 4MATIC system is their own development, without even mention of licensing of the Haldex system.
theJT said:
how f**king huge must the S class have gotten if there's room for all those smaller ones under it?
Around 5.7 metres long, in Pullman, Maybach-replacing variant guise, possibly longer.We'll see the first standard(SWB and LWB) variants in May, when it gets its first showing.
Edited by benzpassion on Friday 22 February 12:40
Really, looks bloody huge!Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff