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Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes CLA 45 AMG Shooting Brake revealed

Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG Shooting Brake

If you think the Volkswagen Golf R wagon is pretty cool, then we reckon you will love this Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG Shooting Brake.

As you’d expect it’s a simple case of stuffing the 265kW/450Nm A45 AMG drivetrain into a Shooting Brake body and regular readers won’t be surprised to learn we think this is the best looking A45 variant you can buy. Or will be able to buy.

For now we’re just getting a preview of the CLA 45 AMG Shooting Brake ahead of its full reveal at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2015.

More detail awaits after the brake, erm, break.

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Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes CLA 45 AMG Racing Series concept revealed

Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG Racing Series concept

If you thought the Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG was pretty cool, you’re going to love this Racing Series concept. At this stage it’s little more than a litmus test to see how interested the customer racing market responds to the car.

Technical specs for the CLA 45 AMG Racing Series are being kept deliberately flexible for now, but it starts with the same 265kW/450Nm 2.0 litre turbocharged four cylinder engine from the road car, along with the 7-speed DCT gearbox.

It can be prepared with all-wheel drive or brought back to front-wheel drive if category restrictions applied. As an example, the car could race in the VLN series around the Nürburgring.

The body panels of the Racing Series are made from CFRP and the wider track results in aggressively flared wheel arches along with the handling benefits that come with such geometry changes. The interior of the car is fully race prepped, including racing buckets seats and a roll cage.

AMG brand ambassador Bernd Schneider was involved in the development of the concept and we hope to see this model flying around the world’s racetracks very soon. If nothing else, we’d expect Mercedes to enter a couple in next year’s Nürburgring 24 hour race.

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Mercedes-Benz

A closer look at the Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG

Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG

Here’s a couple of videos bringing you closer to the amazing Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG. You’ll hear a lot of statistics on the A45 AMG in these clips, but it’s still hard to go past the headline figures of 265kW and 450Nm. All that grunt comes from an otherwise modest 2.0 litre four pot remember!

In actual fact, looking at the pics above the engine appears rather bland. But as you’ll hear at the end of the first clip, when a CLA 45 AMG drives off, the engine’s bark certainly matches its bite!

The second clip takes a closer look at the A45 AMG Edition 1. And the third video was filmed from where many of us would like to be, behind the wheel!

[Thanks to John for the tip]

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Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz CLA – Australian pricing & specs

Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG

Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific has today announced pricing and basic specs for its CLA range, the saloon version of the A Class. We’ll be seeing three models in Australia and here is the manufacturer’s list pricing:

  • CLA 200 – $49,900
  • CLA 250 Sport – $63,400
  • CLA 45 AMG – $86,900

In the case of the CLA 45 AMG, the model of most interest to AUSmotive readers, that represents a $12,000 premium over its hot hatch sibling. While CLA 250 Sport and CLA 200 buyers are asked to fork out an extra $13,500 and $9,000 respectively compared with corresponding models from the the A Class range.

The CLA 200 is powered by a 115kW/250Nm 1.6 litre turbo four-cylinder, the CLA 250 Sport has a 155kW/350Nm 2.0 litre turbo four. When AMG gets their skilled engine-makers on the case they produce 265kW/450Nm from the 2.0 litre turbo found within the CLA 45 AMG.

The CLA 200 comes with the following standard equipment:

  • 18” Wheels
  • Thermotronic climate control
  • Becker® MAP PILOT Navigation
  • Reversing camera
  • Collision Prevention Assist
  • Blind Spot Assist
  • Pre-Safe
  • Attention Assist
  • Active Bonnet

In addition, the CLA 250 Sport features:

  • Heated electric leather sports seats with memory function and AMG styling

While the CLA 45 AMG also includes:

  • AMG Driver’s Package
  • AMG Night Package
  • AMG Performance Steering Wheel
  • Comand Navigation
  • Harmon Kardon Logic 7 surround sound system
  • Distronic Plus (Adaptive cruise control)
  • Lane Keeping Assist

We ask, is the addition of a boot and a supposed boost in style really worth the price premium Mercedes-Benz demands?

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Mercedes-Benz

VIDEO: Stars on 45

Mercedes Benz CLA 45 AMG v A 45 AMG

In this video from Auto Express he who shall not be named compares the Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG against the A45 AMG. A slightly surprising choice of comparison when YouTube readers demand as many A45 v M135i comparisons as they can get their keyboards on.

Less surprising, of course, is the reviewer’s conclusion. Who would have thought that picking a winner between two cars from the same maker, with the same drivetrain and largely the same interior would come down to a toss of the coin. You could have knocked me down with a feather!