Mercedes-Benz Concept CLA Class sets the stage for the future

The much-anticipated Mercedes-Benz Concept CLA Class is peeking out from behind the curtains and it’s ready to steal the spotlight at the IAA Mobility 2023 in Munich, Germany. The Concept CLA Class is to be the trailblazer for the new Mercedes Modular Architecture (MMA), a platform that promises to transform future Mercedes models.

The automaker claims that the concept vehicle will boast an impressive range of 466 miles with a consumption of around 12 kWh per 62 miles. If those numbers make you lift an eyebrow, remember that real-world figures can often be a reality check to such promising stats.

The Concept CLA is not just another EV with some shiny bells and whistles. Mercedes-Benz seems to be taking a page out of the Vision EQXX playbook, incorporating the "lessons learned" from that concept into the new Concept CLA Class. As big news as the new platform, is the fact that the company is moving away from the EQ branding strategy. For those who aren't devout followers of the brand, EQ has been Mercedes' electric-only lineup. Now, Mercedes aims to electrify its entire portfolio, which suggests the EQ tag may soon be as dated as the 2020 calendar. This change aligns with their 2024 game plan, marking it as a significant pivot for the automaker.

The future casts its lights ahead. Get ready for the new Concept CLA Class on 3rd September.

#MercedesBenz #ConceptCLAClass #IAA23 pic.twitter.com/sq9CcEcZPV

— Mercedes-Benz (@MercedesBenz) September 1, 2023

CEO Ola Källenius is painting quite the utopian picture: "The Concept CLA Class is the forerunner for an entirely new portfolio of electric-first vehicles that will serve as the gateway into the world of Mercedes-Benz." In English? They're betting big on electric and they're doing it in style.

While we've only been served a shadowy teaser of the car’s front clip, it's evident that Mercedes is trying to differentiate the Concept CLA from its EQ siblings. The grille is bigger, and the headlights appear to be playing hard to get, avoiding any connection with the grille itself. It's as if Mercedes took an art class and decided to go all abstract.

Yet, don't hold your breath for a new electric CLA model to come zooming around the corner anytime soon. Despite the Concept CLA being positioned as a forerunner to next-generation models, we're still years away from an actual release date. Remember, the current CLA-Class was just refreshed for 2024. But who knows, maybe in a world where our attention span is shorter than a TikTok video, the Concept CLA is just the excitement we need to keep our eyes on the road ahead.

Mercedes-Benz Concept CLA Class is a tantalizing glimpse into the future without laying all its cards on the table. Will it revolutionize our expectations for electric vehicles? Or will it be just another pretty face in the crowd? The countdown to September 3 has begun, and we'll soon have our answers.

Source