The Mercedes Concept Style Coupé (CSC) made it’s debut on Monday at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show. Rumor has it that new model is a preview of the upcoming CLA 250 compact sedan, which was confirmed for production at the show by Mercedes CEO Dieter Zetsche.
Zetsche described the new CLA, inspired by the success of the CLS and due on sale next year, as the "rebel." “It is the avant-garde sibling that strives to be bold and different, to establish a strong non-conformist identity and to even show a bit of attitude," revealed Zetsche. “The Concept Style Coupé is expressive and powerful in its design. We are staking our claim very clearly here. This is the model against which sporty vehicles in the executive segment will have to measure themselves in future.”
Being billed as a junior CLS, the CLA will sit below the C-Class on price and features in the future line-up. Based on the CSC’s dimensions the new entry-level sedan will be about 2 inches longer, almost 5 inches wider and close to 2 inches lower than current the C-class. The CSC is 182.5 inches long, 74.4 inches wide and 55 inches tall. Based on Mercedes’ new MFA platform (Mercedes Frontwheel Architecture) FWD, it has a 106.25 inch wheelbase — 2 inches shorter than the C-class but the same as the A-class.
Once in production the CLA is rumored to offer the same turbocharged 2.0-litre, 211hp, four- cylinder engine as displayed in the CSC with choices of standard front-wheel drive or optional four-wheel drive. Transmission variations will include a standard six-speed manual or the same seven-speed dual-clutch unit as the CSC as an option.
While Mercedes is quick to point out that the CSC is a “one-off” show car, sources with access to the final look of the CLA confirm that it’s styling is pretty close to the expected production car. Among some mild changes expected, the CLA will adopt less flamboyant bumpers, altered headlamp graphics (the CSC’s headlamps glow red in standby mode), more conventional exterior mirrors, pull-out door handles and smaller tires than the 21-inch versions displayed on the CSC.
The inside cabin of the CSC has an upgraded interior borrowed from the latest A-class which forgoes a center console-mounted gearlever in favor of a column-mounted shifter with a mix of suede, leather, carbon fiber, and metallic accents. Fluorescent yellow accents are used for seat piping, contrast stitching, and the jet-engine-inspired air vents. The backlit vents change color depending on the selected temperature -- red for warm, blue for cool, and yellow at mid-range to match the other bright interior accents. The suede headliner surrounds a large, panoramic sunroof.
While the production version of the CLA will have a five-seat layout, the CSC concept car features a four-seat arrangement with the individual rear seats divided by a center console and could be an option on the final production models. The center stack is also similar to the A-Class with the audio controls placed in the middle, while the climate controls and the COMAND control knob sit below. Younger buyers should have no issue navigating the next-generation COMAND infotainment system, which Benz says will focus on cloud computing. That means apps and system updates will run "over the air" (OTA) via a mobile phone connection. Benz's future COMAND system is expected to mimic smartphones, and should definitely resonate with younger customers.
