Mercedes-AMG CLA gets facelift for 2023
Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 comes with mild hybrid assistance and there's a limited-run CLA 45 AMG Street Style Edition
Mercedes has launched facelifted versions of its CLA and CLA Shooting Brake, which includes upgrades to the AMG 35 models plus a new AMG Street Style Edition of the AMG 45 S. Is it a big facelift? Well, when you scan the press release and see headings like ‘New alloy wheels’ and ‘Fresh colours for the seat covers’ you assume not - but let's dive in regardless.
There are three new wheel designs for the 35, and one for the 45 Street Style Edition. Everyone in the forums will love those: they’re all matte or gloss black, albeit with machine-turned sections. The new seat colours include combinations of ARTICO leather and MICROCUT microfibre in bahia brown, sage grey and black, red pepper and black. Optional brown lime wood trims are available as well. Other styling changes include a new AMG Performance steering wheel as standard, and on the outside you can spot the 2023 models by their revised LED headlights and taillights, restyled front bumper and a new AMG grille with vertical slats.
There are some technical changes as well. Behind that new grille the 35 has a modified radiator to improve cooling, and there’s upgraded MBUX infotainment software throughout the range. The 35 models also feature 48-volt mild hybrid assistance with belt-driven starter-generator. Not only should that smooth out the stop-start, but the motor also adds a short-term boost of 14 hp as torque fill. The 2.0-litre unit's overall power output remains 306hp and the 0-62mph time of 4.9 seconds is unchanged as well. Like all mild hybrid systems, the 35 now has the ability to recuperate energy to charge its small battery and also offers a coasting function that disengages the eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox to boost efficiency.
The AMG Street Style Edition is a limited version of both the CLA 45 Coupé and Shooting Brake. It comes in mountain grey magno paintwork with coloured accents in fluorescent orange and chequered-flag detailing. We've already seen the Mercedes-AMG A-Class get the same treatment, and the pictures provided suggest it's much the same effect.
‘The edition rolls on 19-inch AMG light-alloy wheels’ (yes, that’s actually a quote from the press release) and guess what? They’re matte black as well, as are the optional 19-inch forged wheels. Behind those are red-painted brake calipers. Other exterior enhancements include the AMG Aerodynamics package, the AMG Night package (I and II) and the all-important AMG fuel-filler cap.
Inside there’s more MICROCUT microfibre coverings for the AMG sports seats, with highlights in bright orange throughout the cabin. Again, there’s no more power. 421hp matches the standard CLA 45 S, but that’s enough for 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds, which is...enough. No word on UK prices or availability yet, but expect them before long.
They were elegant, desirable, quality cars. Now they look like max power’s wet dream.
In my humble opinion, it all started when they made the 2nd series (hatch) A class.
And those shots like the car should be on sale in JD Sports.
I really like the standard cars but don't know what they're smoking coming up with these..
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