Mercedes-AMG CLA Coupe

Joining the rest of Mercs’ local AMG fleet, the new second-gen Mercedes-AMG CLA Coupe (C118), upgraded and launched in Malaysia.

Fully-imported (CBU - Germany), the four-door performance-coupe comes in one form (CLA 45 S 4MATIC+ Coupe) and two trims (Standard, Street Style Edition).

Outfitted to both are the AMG Night Package and AMG Aerodynamics Package. The latter trim adds on the AMG Night Package II.

Priced (OTR, w/o insurance) at MYR 527,888 and MYR 557,888 respectively, each purchase includes a four-year/unlimited mileage warranty.

Eight exterior colours (Standard). Digital White, Polar White, Cosmos Black, Iridium Silver, Rose Gold, Mountain Grey, Hyper Blue, and Spectral Blue.

Two exterior colours (Street Style Edition). Manufaktur Mountain Grey Magno (default), and Manufaktur Patagonia Red Metallic (MYR 3,000).

The new AMG CLA Coupe gets a sportily ergonomic three-tier dashboard, with a very refined, clean and highly-premium finish.

Accentuated by a 64-colour ambient lighting, the black leather layout features AMG aluminium trims in black/silver and dark/orange (Street Style Edition).

Filling up the space are the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) multimedia system and protruding, turbine-designed air-conditioning vents.

Elsewhere (centre console), deleted is the central touchpad. Swapped for a storage cubby, and the Dynamic Access drive mode button.

One half of a twin unit, installed is a 10.25-Inch Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) multimedia system (NTG 7) with a Heads-Up Display (HUD).

Features are three new AMG display styles (Classic, Sporty, Discreet), multiple interfaces (AMG drive modes, vehicle settings), and three modes (Navigation, Assistance, Service).

Interior of the five-seater is upholstered in AMG Artico man-made leather/MICROCUT-microfibre in black (orange stitching, ‘CLA 45 S’ front headrests logo - Street Style Edition).

Courtesy of the AMG Performance Seat Package Advanced, fitted up front are AMG Performance Seats with a Multi-contour Seat Package (electronic adjustments), climate control and memory function. The rear gets a 60:40 split-fold bench.

Heightening the cabin is a panoramic sunroof (free-adjust), AMG illuminated door sills with exchangeable cover (red lighting - Street Style Edition), AMG floor mats (‘Street Style Edition’ script - Street Style Edition), and MANUFAKTUR seat belts (red).

Considering it to be a performance-coupe (compact build), the front and rear occupants get ample mobility. Adequately comfortable with generous head, leg and shoulder rooms.

Mounted is an AMG Performance steering wheel, in a three-rounded twin-spoke with a flat-bottom design, wrapped in Nappa leather/MICROCUT-microfibre.

Features are rounded AMG controls (multi-function, AMG Dynamic Select, vehicle settings), paddle shifters, and column adjustments (tilt, telescopic). 

Drive is aided by an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system.

Practical storage spaces. E.g., a centre console storage box and compartmentalised spaces (covered), medium sized glove box, and seat back and side door pockets.

There are four cup holders (front, rear), and two bottle holders (front).

Equipped with the USB Package Plus, it features multiple USB-C ports placed around the cockpit. Also, present are two 12-V power sockets, and a wireless charger.

The boot comes with the Easy-Pack Tailgate feature (hands-free, remote control/key fob), providing a contactless function that opens up to 460-Litres of load space.

Load Compartment Package included (side bags). 

Weighing in at 1,600 KG, the new AMG CLA Coupe stands at 4,701 MM long, 1,999 MM wide, 1,413 MM tall, and with a wheelbase spanning 2,729 MM.

Sinisterly sporty, its dynamically-sculpted and prowling-esque silhouette sees subtle updates to its characteristic front-end.

Featured is a new bonnet with the Merc’s ‘Powerdomes’, a new AMG badge, a new vertically-slatted AMG radiator grille, and a three-piece lower-intake.

Accentuating the layout are the AMG Night Package (high-gloss black trims) and AMG Aerodynamics Package (aerodynamic trims). 

The Street Style Edition sees a black-chrome, vertically-slatted AMG radiator grille and a high-gloss black AMG badge, all courtesy of the AMG Night Package II.

Elsewhere, it gets the Mountain Grey Magno MANUFAKTUR hue with Street Style Edition decals (black/matte anthracite colour grading - fluorescent orange highlights).

Coming with new updates, its familiar coupe rear-end further exudes the athletic appeal with minimalistic and smooth contours. 

Donning the layout is an AMG boot-lid spoiler, an AMG diffuser featuring four vertical fins and twin-flow exhausts, and an AMG fuel cap (Street Style Edition).

Matching the front and completing the look are the AMG Night Package, AMG Aerodynamics Package, and AMG Night Package II (Street Style Edition).

Angled and sharply-framed, installed are Multibeam LED units with auto On/Off, Adaptive High-Beam Assist Plus, new LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), and dynamic turn indicators. 

New and cohesively sporty, the wraparound tail lamps are angularly-refined. Designed in an eye-drop-esque housing, installed are full LED units with dynamic turn indicators.

The black-capped (fluorescent orange highlight - Street Style Edition) side mirrors are electronically-powered (fold, adjust), with turn- and blind spot-indicators, and an auto-dimming function.

Fitted is a setup of the AMG high-performance brake system, featuring ventilated, cross-drilled discs with red-coloured brake callipers.

Drive is aided by an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold (ABH) system.

Gripping the tarmac is a set of 19-Inch matte black with high-sheen turned rim flange, AMG five-twin-spoke light-alloy rims (AMG cross-spoke forged rims - Street Style Edition), wrapped in 255/35 R19 Continental SportContact 6 tyres.

The new AMG CLA Coupe features the following sets of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Under Driving Assistance Package, grouped are, Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC, Active Blind Spot Assist, Active Lane-Keeping Assist, Active Brake Assist, Exit Warning Assist, and PRE-SAFE system. Under Parking Package, grouped are Active Parking Assist, and 360-degree camera. 

Others include Adaptive High-Beam Assist (AHA), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Traction Control System (TCS), and Hill Start Assist (HSA).

Passive safety under GUARD 360-degree Vehicle Protection Plus, grouped are Anti-theft Alarm system (ATA), interior monitoring system, and tow-away protection (warning - visual, audible). 

Others include seven airbags (driver, passenger, front side, front/rear curtains), airbag disable function (front passenger), seat belts (reminders, pre-tensioners, anchors), ISOFIX, parking sensors (six - front, rear), door ajar warning, Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold (ABH), TIREFIT and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Five drive modes accessible via the AMG DYNAMIC SELECT program. Comfort, Sport, Sport+, Slippery and Individual.

Another half of the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) multimedia system (NTG 7), installed is a 10.25-Inch touchscreen display. 

Features are new AMG display styles (AMG drive modes, vehicle settings), MBUX AR-Navigation, MBUX Interior Assistant, MBUX Navigation Premium, Mercedes-me Services, and live traffic. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatible (wireless).

Also included is the AMG Driver’s Package, featuring AMG Real Performance Sound, and AMG Track Pace.

The suites of ADAS will make travels less fatigue and less of a burden for the driver, as well as much safer at all speeds.

Accompanying the infotainment is a Burmester surround sound system.

The new AMG CLA Coupe harbours the familiar M139, AMG 2.0-Litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, producing 421 HP/310 KW at 6,750 RPM and 500 NM of torque at 5,000 to 5,250 RPM.

Highlight: this Mercedes-AMG engine is manufactured according to the ‘one man, one engine’ principle, and thus features a personally signed plaque on the engine.

Installed is an AMG SpeedShift 8G-DCT (eight-speed, dual-clutch) automatic transmission, with Race Start program.

Power is sent to all four wheels via the active-fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system, which features the AMG Torque Control.

Acceleration from 0 to 100 KM/H is done in 4.1 seconds, and top speed is 270 KM/H (AMG Driver’s Package). 

Fuel tank capacity is at 51-Litres, and fuel consumption is between 9.2L to 8.8L/100 KM (WLTP).

The new AMG CLA Coupe gets KEYLESS-GO Comfort Package (keyless/hands-free access, engine Start/Stop button), Easy-Pack Tailgate (hands-free, remote control/key fob), THERMOTRONIC dual-zone automatic climate control (with rear air-vents), AMG Performance Seat Package Advanced (AMG Performance Seats - Multi-contour Seat Package (electronic adjustments), climate control, memory function), AMG Performance steering wheel (multi-function, AMG controls, paddle shifters, EPS, column adjustments), MBUX multimedia system, Light and Sight Package (64-colour ambient lights, illuminated door sills, Mercedes surround lighting projection), auto-dimming rear-view mirrors (exterior, interior), interior map lights, 360-degree camera, interior monitoring system, MBUX Multimedia System (MBUX AR-Navigation, MBUX Interior Assistant), AMG drive modes/settings, USB Package Plus, wireless charger, Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold (ABH), auto headlamps and wipers, Load Compartment Package, and auto-pinch windows (up/down).

Rear air-conditioning vents provided, located at the rear part of the centre console. 

Setup installed, the AMG Ride Control suspension with adaptive dampers (Comfort, Sport, Sport+), AMG Dynamic Select drive programs, and AMG Dynamics control system.

The ride comfortability feels precise and firm at the same time, with overall drive tuned to provide complete stability and grip to the driver (MacPherson strut - front, multi-link - rear).

Ultimately, it has superior roadholding, and great handling stability and agility at high speeds without compromising any comfort (AMG Speed-sensitive Steering).

Good sound insulation with the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects accounted for. The build is acoustically designed to enhance the in-car ambience.

Overall, the cabin is able to suppress unwanted noises well and make them barely noticeable, even when cruising through bumpy asphalts or at all speeds.

The new Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S 4MATIC+ Coupe just radiates aggressive elegance, a well-deserved upgrade for the 2023 model year.

It offers both performance and comfort, while encapsulating passengers in a racing-inspired and luxuriously-appointed cabin.

Overall, inside and out the build quality is top class, and with all the bells and whistles it comes with, the new AMG CLA Coupe is definitely a Merc to consider.