CLA (C117) [Official] 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG

[Human]

I would say they are not direct rivals, not only in the segment but price also.
But let's take this up again when the M2 arrives and only in Gran Coupe format.

In time for the CLA 45 AMG LCI or actually the brand new CLA-Class?

 

[SCOTT27]

In time for the CLA 45 AMG LCI or actually the brand new CLA-Class?

Or in Mercedes-speak for facelifts MOPF.

 

[Merc1]

http://www.slmarket.com/mercedes-be...road-america-in-elkhart-lake-wi/#!prettyPhoto


M

 

[Kilcrohane]

wow, 19" wheel-size almost transforms CLA's looks:

http://www.autobild.de/artikel/mercedes-cla-45-amg-fahrbericht-4241151.html

 

[Sayyaaf]

The autobild article, whatever I understood from translation, is not really promising. The car is fast, yet in straighline only. The AWD system provides grip but it is not fun at corners. They mentioned that even if you switch off ESC it will still want to push the car forward or understeer and difficult to push the tail out which is kinda expected with this AWD setup.

 

[Cashmere]

Damn, the red CLA above looks hot.

 

[Kilcrohane]

Damn, the red CLA above looks hot.

yep. $45-50k, 911-equalling performance, 19/20" wheels, right colour = massive sales hit in the US.

 

[Deckhook]

It's ride is meant to be bone crushing by all accounts, this might not bother a pimply kid but anyone with half a brain will know living with such a ride will be unbearable long term.

 

[Kilcrohane]

It's ride is meant to be bone crushing by all accounts

- whose accounts? Autocar's, EVO's, Car magazine's, Auto Bild? Yer having a laugh.

So that'll be spectacularly biased Brit hacks and the notoriously pro VAG Auto Bild. Hmm.

I think I'll trust my own eyes, re. the 911-equalling performance as shown in the A/Express vid. - the A45 and CLA 45 are mechanically identical of course - and the by the looks of it genuine enthusiasm shown by Mat Watson for 'The Beast' and his assessment that the ride is actually more compliant than the standard car's.

No, they're gonna be a huge hit, the CLA45/A45 AMG twins, especially in the US for the CLA.

 

[Deckhook]

They indeed will be popular because of the performance on offer and I agree you are best to sample yourself before believing everything that's wrote by others. But I'm willing to bet these UK journalists have got it right for UK roads at least, maybe US roads are generally better.

 

[Giannis]

I have not driven any A or CLA, but a friend who ordered one a few weeks ago test drove both (250Sport trim) and said that despite the ride being hard, it is satisfying hard. It's the hardness level one would get by upgrading his suspension to the typical Bilstein/Eibach combination in most german cars.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

wow, 19" wheel-size almost transforms CLA's looks:

It really does. Red seems to work well with this car IMO.

 

[Deckhook]

I have not driven any A or CLA, but a friend who ordered one a few weeks ago test drove both (250Sport trim) and said that despite the ride being hard, it is satisfying hard. It's the hardness level one would get by upgrading his suspension to the typical Bilstein/Eibach combination in most german cars.

I've now driven the A180cdi Sport we got for one of our managers and frankly it's ride (like you say) is perfectly acceptable, firm yes but not jarringly so though his has only 17" so upgrading to 18" could very well push it beyond what I personally class as acceptable. As for these two AMG monsters, everything else about them I love as any petrolhead would but I'm of the opinion that if it had only been Autoexpress or Autocar complaining about the ride on the A45/CLA45 then I'd have said maybe it's just not for them but for EVO to complain about it too and to quote their words from their A45 review, They won’t be the only organs that might get bruised by the A45, however, because the ride is seriously stiff, jiggling and jolting at low speeds so badly that even a Renaultsport Megane Cup owner would baulk at the discomfort. Incredibly, there’s an AMG Performance suspension option that we presume is even stiffer. Needless to say, don’t take it, then maybe we should take note and listen.

No one could honestly call EVO softies and it's unbelievable there's even a stiffer option.

 

[Merc1]

Looks good to me.

Courtesy of: olszowa12 @ MBWorld.org


M

 

[Soup]

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[Merc1]

It looks bettr with the regular wheels instead of the black ones.

M

 

[Kilcrohane]

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/18/2014-mercedes-benz-cla45-amg-review-first-drive/

the 2015MY ~$45k GLA 45 AMG is gonna be huge in the US.

 

[Soup]

 

[Kilcrohane]

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/163_2014_mercedes_benz_cla45_amg_first_drive/

'The CLA45 may not seem like an ideal track-day weapon, but it was one of the most enjoyable cars I've had on the track in a long time. On the road, the mixture of luxury and performance make it a world-class sport sedan.'​

​

'The AMG genes really come out on the track. The little sedan's limits are easily approachable, even with the stability control completely defeated. If you aren't that confident about your own skills, AMG supplies a Sport mode that allows the car to slide around a bit before it pulls things back in with the brakes. Steering feel is some of the best I've experienced in a front/all-wheel-drive car, assistance is beautifully tuned, and turn-in is quick and linear. On-center resistance feels sure and positive—there is resistance immediately off center, and then it builds in the first few degrees. As you turn in a bit more, the resistance falls off some and the car starts to feel like it really wants to turn. At neutral throttle or with slight trail braking, the car rotates into corners around the center of the car. Turning in with the too much brake gives a decent amount of understeer. At the apex, the car keeps rotating until you pick up the throttle. If you are right at the limit, all four wheels drift out to the curb or, in off-camber or downhill turns, a little drift brings a stupid grin to your face.'​

- very positive review. It's quite clear now that the A45 and CLA 45 AMGs are excellent, both in terms of outright performance and value for money, and that the supposed faults picked on by the now embarrassingly biased Brit hacks - backbreaking ride, sub-standard 'box, duff motor sound, overpriced and so on - mysteriously don't appear in non Brit reviews, in Oz and the US - its main market.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

- very positive review. It's quite clear now that the A45 and CLA 45 AMGs are excellent, both in terms of outright performance and value for money, and that the supposed faults picked on by the now embarrassingly biased Brit hacks - backbreaking ride, sub-standard 'box, duff motor sound, overpriced and so on - mysteriously don't appear in non Brit reviews, in Oz and the US - its main market.

Do the US and Oz reviewers test drive the cars on UK roads?

No. This test was done in Germany but the tests where the ride on the A-Class was criticised were conducted on the badly paved UK roads.


And look at Autocar shamelessly criticising the CLA A45 AMG in that post above yours....

"it's hard not to be impressed by the numbers it generates".

" a cabin that is well-made, attractive and comfortable"

"you can understand why the CLA impressed those that drove it at the launch last week".


Complete hatchet job, yes.