虽然奔驰刚刚发布了新一代A级车，但奔驰的另一款紧凑型轿车CLA也于近日在纽伯格林赛道现身并被谍照记者再次拍到。该车将于2019年晚些时候作为2020款车型上市，这意味着该车上市时间比A级轿车晚了大约一年。虽然这辆原型车进行了重度伪装，但仍能看出该车更像是一辆缩小版的CLS。可以看到新车采用了奔驰的“Panamericana”格栅。与A级轿车相比，这辆CLA的车顶更低，C柱向后变得更尖细，突出了优雅风格，侧面轮廓更像一辆轿跑车。不过CLA仍是一辆轿车而非轿跑车。该车采用了升级版的MFA平台，目前称为MFA2平台，升级后的平台重量降低，可搭载更多种类的动力系统。入门级车型将搭载直列四缸引擎，而高端AMG版本CLA35和CLA45则搭载高性能直列四缸引擎，功率将超过400马力。该车内部采用奔驰最新的MBUX人机交互系统，它包括数字仪表群和信息娱乐系统，类似E级和S级车采用的系统。而其信息娱乐系统集成了触控显示屏，同时可以利用语音控制车辆大部分功能。新一代CLA美版车将在墨西哥投产，而其他版本则在中国和匈牙利生产。
2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA spy shots
Despite Mercedes-Benz having just unveiled a new A-Class compact sedan, the automaker's other compact sedan, the CLA, won't be disappearing after the current model's run its course.
A redesigned CLA has been spotted once again, this time testing at the Nürburgring. The car is due on sale in late 2019 as a 2020 model, meaning it will trail the A-Class sedan by about a year. Though the prototype is heavily disguised, we can already tell the new CLA will resemble a scaled-down version of the latest CLS. You'll notice Mercedes' sportier “Panamericana” grille poking out of all the camouflage gear on the tester's nose.
Compared to the A-Class sedan, the roof line is lower on the CLA. The C-pillar also tapers back more gracefully, creating a coupe-like profile. But the CLA is very much a sedan, so don't start calling it a coupe.
Underpinning the car is an updated version of the MFA (Modular Front-drive Architecture) platform used by Mercedes for its current compacts. Referred to as MFA2, the updated platform brings weight savings plus the capacity for alternative drivetrains. Standard powertrains should be turbocharged inline-4s. There should also be high-performance inline-4s for CLA35 and CLA45 models from AMG. The latter could have more than 400 hp.
The MFA2-based cars will also benefit from a much more advanced interface. Dubbed MBUX, short for Mercedes-Benz User Experience, the new interface features digital screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment system, much like on the pricier E-Class and S-Class models. However, there's also touch capability for the infotainment screen and you'll also be able to use natural speech to control many vehicle functions.
Production of the new CLA for the United States is tipped to take place at a plant in Mexico, while for other countries production could take place in China or Hungary.