New Mercedes-Benz CLA compact saloon revealed: Updated! [w/video]

If you were waiting to catch a glimpse of the cheapest Merc sedan at the Detroit Motor Show, wait no more because the leaked images of the sedan are out. A total of five images of the new Mercedes entry-level sedan including three of the exterior and two of the interior made their way online.

And it looks stunning. The car pictured here is a regular model fitted with Mercedes' AMG exterior and interior styling packages and not the CLA 45 AMG, which will feature a similar aero kit but will do away with the "diamond" front grille. Being that it will be the first member of Mercedes-Benz's extended family of A-Class-based compact models to be offered, the CLA is anticipated to make its world premiere at next month's Detroit Motor Show. Its sporty proportions and powerfully dynamic design language featuring the interaction of concave and convex surfaces give this four-door coupe its distinctive look. The CLA carries the avant-garde design of the Concept Style Coupe into series production almost 1:1.

The exterior's progressive, sporty appearance also carries through to the vehicle interior. Anthracite surface finish is available as the standard trim. Additional trim options include burl walnut wood, black ash wood and aluminum. The instrument panel incorporates five air vents. The outer rings of the vents are done in a high-quality galvanized finish, while a galvanized insert controls the direction of airflow. The free-standing display is set in black piano-lacquer trim and edged with a flush-fitting silver frame.

The CLA250 and CLA250 4MATIC both feature Mercedes-Benz's 2.0-liter four- cylinder petrol engine with 209 PS and 350 Nm of torque. It comes with the ECO stop/start function as standard for added gas mileage and is mated to the 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission for an outstanding combination of sporty performance and comfort.

MB has developed a 4MATIC all-wheel drive for the CLA. Like the other 4MATIC versions, it boasts high tractive power reserves and outstanding agility accompanied by optimum driving safety and energy efficiency. The new 4MATIC will complement the four all-wheel-drive versions which have been available to date. The 4MATIC all-wheel drive is a completely new development tailored to the requirements of the new models with front-wheel drive.

The CLA's running gear features McPherson strut suspension at the front and independent multilink suspension at the rear. Three control arms and one trailing arm at each of the rear wheels enable longitudinal and transverse forces to be handled separately. Specific to the CLA is the flexible decoupling of the rear axle sub-frame for improved ride characteristics. The wheel mounts and spring guides are made from aluminum in order to reduce unsprung masses. Standard equipment includes the Mercedes-Benz Sport Suspension for sporty yet comfortable handling.

An extensive array of standard and optional driver assistance systems in the CLA is available to the driver. Standard features include ATTENTION ASSIST drowsiness detection and radar-based Collision Prevention Assist with adaptive Brake Assist, which offers collision protection in the CLA from speeds of just 6 km/h.

The CLA is sure to make its way on Indian shores following the A-Class. However expect a lot tamer trim levels to keep costs down.