Production next Mercedes-Benz CLA teased ahead of 2025 reveal

Identified last year as one of the key models it will be renewing for another generation, Mercedes-Benz provided a first view of the production second generation CLA this week as part of its sponsoring of the Festival d’Hyères fashion and photography show in France.

Surprisingly not shown at the Paris Motor Show, the CLA will be selectively detailed over the coming months as part of an extensive teaser campaign ahead of its official unveiling next year.

New EV and combustion platform

Shown as the retro-styled CLA Concept at the Munich IAA 12 months ago, will debut as the first model to ride on the new electrified Mercedes Modular Architecture (MMA) platform.

While originally planned to offer only electric propulsion, Stuttgart’s reversal of its EV-only policy by 2030 will see the CLA feature both electric and combustion powerplants, the latter likely with mild-hybrid and/or plug-in hybrid assistance.

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As evident by the concept, the platform’s 800-volt electrified hardware will allow for a possible range of 400 km after less than 15 minutes’ charge, while supporting bidirectional or vehicle-2-load (V2L) charging.

Reportedly, the claimed range will be as much as 700 km with the added possibility of a more affordable AMG version below the AMG EQE 53 also on the drawing board.

Hint of next A-Class?

On-sale since 2019 but updated in January last year, the CLA, as per the images, will remain a sloping roof sedan and potentially, the replacement for the A-Class Sedan, although at present, this is nothing but speculation and could well prove otherwise.

Unlikely to spawn another Shooting Brake version though, the pair of images didn’t provide a glimpse of the interior, however judging by the concept, it will receive a full-width digital dashboard with no less than three individual displays.

Set to provide the preview of what Benz’s next generation of small models will look like, the CLA could well lead to the introduction of a fifth generation A-Class as the current fourth will reach the end of its lifecycle in 2026 after what will be eight years.

While little continues to be known at present, expect clearer details to emerge over the coming months, including the expected date of reveal.

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