Talk to me, baby! We drive, and chat with Merc’s latest
While Mercedes-Benz touts its new CLA 200 as an intelligence revolution, another highlight emerged higher in mind following our first ride this week. Merc’s headline is that this is the cleverest car in its class. We can’t argue about that revolutionary AI packed Mercedes-Benz Operating System and all. But wait, we’ll get to that anon.
Let’s rather start with styling. Among Gorden Wagner’s swansong efforts, It’s one of his best. This one finally gets that intended athletic CLS elegance. Without looking too much like an upside-down banana. Its long wheelbase GT proportions work far better. Although that LED strip between the Multibeam headlights may split opinion.
The long bonnet closes on CLA 200’s latest 120 kW 250 Nm 48-volt hybrid helped fifteen-hundred turbo four-pot. They promise 100 km/h in 8 seconds and 5.4 litres per hundred. Which we’ll get to soon enough. But the real highlight to us, is how the 48 volt motor nestled in that 8-speed’ automatic’s bell housing now actually drives the car.
The biggest hybrid step yet
I’ve always wondered why all those hybrid motors have never assisted the car while actually driving. The CLA 200 however smashes that mould. This car’s e-motor finally assists with a sort of sailing mode that also comes in while you’re cruising at part throttle. To us, that’s the biggest single hybrid step since the Prius came home…
Getting back to the big boast. Merc’s blurb suggests CLA 200 introduces a minimalist, tech-driven reinterpretation of modern luxury under its sizeable one-piece panoramic roof. Now, minimalist may be pushing it a bit. If anything the glass expanse free-standing MBUX Superscreen spreading the width of our sampler, was mesmerising.
Well, to a dinosaur like me, anyway. Integrating a 10.25-inch driver display and a high-resolution 14-inch central touchscreen with real-time graphics, ours even had a third screen for the passenger. It’s certainly a tech feast in a sumptuous high tech space.
A Google Gemini charged AI supercomputer
The AI powered MB.OS is a boon to those inclined to talk to cars. The Google Gemini charged AI supercomputer may even be good enough to convince even the most stubborn detractors, to converse with the car. We look forward to seeing how well she convinces us when we test one soon. Even if the kids must show me how!
Starting at R937K including a 5 year 100 000km S&M plan and offering some really intriguing finance offerings this side of thirteen grand a month to those who qualify, the Mercedes-Benz CLA 200 is an eye changer in more ways than one.
