The 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLA Will Be Revealed At CES In January

The 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLA Will Be Revealed At CES In January

UPDATE 1/3/19: Mercedes has released another teaser of the CLA, this time a short video that shows off motion-activated dome lighting on the interior. We have updated the story and added the video below. Lights on with a simple hand move. The Interior Assistant in the new CLA. Mercedes-Benz has announced that the second generation of its compact CLA-class four-door coupe will make its debut at the CES show in Las Vegas in early January. Well, dear reader, we are here to answer that question. While the A-class is available only in A220 guise, with a 188-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four, we bet the CLA will be offered as a CLA250. In Europe, the A250 makes 221 horsepower from the same four-cylinder engine, and a more powerful engine would further distinguish the CLA from its A-class sibling. Front-wheel drive will be standard, with 4Matic all-wheel drive as an option. And two AMG versions of the CLA鈥攁 CLA35, which will be close in specs to the A35, and a CLA45 with about 400 horsepower鈥攚ill follow shortly behind the standard car. Mercedes says it decided to show the CLA at CES because it will feature an "evolved" version of the company's new MBUX infotainment system, which made its debut with the A-class a year ago. The company says that despite the system's newness, MBUX will receive a number of updates that will be introduced at the show. The new MBUX Interior Assistant uses gesture controls to operate different interior features, including the interior lighting as shown in the video above.

For the first time, the A-Class is able to drive semi-autonomously in certain situations. To do this, it keeps a close eye on the traffic situation: improved camera and radar systems allow it to see up to 500 metres ahead. The A-Class also uses map and navigation data for assistance functions. For example, Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC as part of the Driving Assistance Package is able to provide route-based support to the driver in numerous situations, and to predictively and conveniently adjust the speed, e.g. when approaching bends, junctions or roundabouts. Also on board are e.g. Active Emergency Stop Assist and intuitively understandable Active Lane Change Assist. The new A-Class comes with expanded Active Brake Assist as standard. Depending on the situation, it can effectively help to mitigate the consequences of rear-end collisions with slower-moving, stopping or stationary vehicles ahead, and even with crossing pedestrians and cyclists, or prevent them altogether.

Active Lane Keeping Assist (likewise standard) is able to warn the driver by means of pulsed vibrations in the steering wheel when the vehicle is unintentionally drifting out of its lane at speeds between 60 and 200 km/h. If the vehicle passes over a solid line, it can pull the vehicle back into lane by applying the brakes on one side. In the case of a dotted line, such intervention takes place only when there is a danger of collision with a vehicle in the adjacent lane (including danger from oncoming traffic). PRE-SAFE® PLUS can recognise an imminent rear-end collision. If the danger of a collision persists, the system can also firmly apply the brakes of the stationary vehicle, thus minimising the risk of injuries by reducing the forward jolt caused by an impact from the rear. The new A-Class is also the first Mercedes-Benz model to have been developed at the new Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety (TFS).

The design of the vehicle structures incorporates findings from research into real accidents. Every single body shell component was developed according to the loads and stresses encountered, with respect to geometry, material thickness, joining technology and material quality (increased proportion of high-strength and ultra-high-strength sheet steel). The centrepiece of the body's safety concept is the highly rigid passenger compartment. Its great rigidity when subjected to accident-induced stress e.g. in frontal, lateral or rear-end collisions and rollovers is above all due to the greater use of high-strength, ultra-high-strength and press-hardened sheet steel. Driver and front passenger each have a three-point seat belt with belt force limiter and belt tensioner. In conjunction with the PRE-SAFE® system (optional equipment), the front seats are equipped with reversible belt reel tensioners. Both of the outer rear seats are fitted with a seat belt with reel tensioner and belt force limiter. The new A-Class is equipped with driver and front passenger airbags, a driver's knee airbag and window airbags as standard. Unlike in many competing models, the window airbag also covers the A-pillar for more complete passenger protection.