2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG Preview: New York International Auto Show

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG adds a performance edge to the German company’s brand new compact sedan.  The Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG maintains the four-door ‘coupe’ profile of the standard CLA-Class, which is in turn an homage to the larger Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class.  Of course, it also features the requisite number of sporty trim enhancements to give it a more aggressive personality, as well as a significantly upgraded drivetrain that will make it a threat across the entire high performance compact luxury segment.

What’s New for the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG:

• Completely new drivetrain
• Revised exterior appearance package
• Standard all-wheel drive
• Performance-oriented electronic stability control system

New 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG: Styling and Design

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG makes sure not to mess with the attractive proportions of the much lauded CLA-Class, but it does graft on a host of aerodynamic features such as unique sill panels, a winglets on the front fascia, and a rear diffuser.  The car rides on special AMG wheels, and AMG badging is also all over the vehicle’s exterior so that no one will make the mistake of thinking this is merely a run-of-the-mill entry-level luxury car.  The CLA45 AMG’s interior is similarly decked out, offering ‘man-made’ leather wrapping sport seats, shift paddles on the steering wheel, AMG sill panels, a lap timer, and a special instrument cluster.  Optional gear includes AMG Performance seats and an AMG Performance steering wheel, a carbon fiber package for the exterior, and blacked-out trim.

New 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG: What’s Under the Hood

Mercedes-Benz is boasting that the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG comes with the highest output four-cylinder engine on the market.  The vehicle’s 2.0-liter mill is matched with a twin-scroll turbocharger that forces 355 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque out through a DCT seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission.  All-wheel drive, which is front-biased during normal driving, helps the vehicle attain the grip required to sprint to 60-mph in just 4.5 seconds, and a launch control system is also present and accounted for.  As with all AMG models, the CLA45 AMG’s engine is hand-built by a single engineer.  The vehicle also comes with three-stage traction and stability control, as well as a stiff sport suspension, AMG speed sensitive steering, and huge AMG brakes front and rear.

New 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG: What Autobytel Thinks

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG is an interesting departure from the standard Mercedes-Benz performance playbook, as the vehicle’s front-wheel drive architecture places it outside of AMG’s traditional wheelhouse.  The addition of an all-wheel drive system helps to give the attractive sedan credibility when it comes to dealing with the monstrous power of its turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and the car will undoubtedly present a serious – and pricy – challenge to small sporty cars from its Teutonic competitors.