The redesigned Mercedes CLA has been a familiar sight for the past 22 months, but the model is finally entering the homestretch. It’s now celebrating by stripping down and showing some skin.

While the front and rear ends are heavily camouflaged, the latest prototype has an exposed body. It’s immediately familiar, but incorporates some cues from the EQE and EQS.

More: Mercedes Details New CLA’s Two EV And Three Hybrid Powertrains

The changes are readily apparent as we can see streamlined bodywork as well as flush-mounted door handles. The greenhouse has also been completely revamped and it’s an awkward mess as the third quarter glass extends into the rear door. As a result, there’s mismatched lines and an unappealing mix of shapes.

At the ends, there are star-infused lighting units which have become a hallmark of the modern Mercedes. They’re joined by an evolutionary single bar grille and new bumpers.

The redesigned CLA will debut next year and ride on the new Mercedes Modular Architecture. The company has revealed quite a bit in recent months and has previously confirmed an electric variant with a rear-mounted motor producing 268 hp (200 kW / 272 PS).

Customers can also opt for a 4Matic variant, which adds a 107 hp (80 kW / 109 PS) motor up front. It only has a ‘boost’ capability as the motor engages when extra power or traction is needed.

We’ll learn more about the electric powertrain closer to launch, but Mercedes has already confirmed the CLA has an 800-volt electrical architecture as well as a DC fast charging capability of up to 320 kW. The company also has plans to offer an optional 85 kWh silicon oxide battery.

If you’re not sold on the electric revolution, you can look forward to a new family of four-cylinder petrol engines. Americans will get a hybridized powertrain that consists of a 1.5-liter engine, a small battery, and an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission with an integrated electric motor. The engine produces 188 hp (140 kW / 190 PS), while the motor contributes an additional 27 hp (20 kW / 27 PS). Front-wheel drive comes standard, but all-wheel drive will be optional.

Baldauf

Mercedes has begun to reveal more secrets about its crucial new CLA compact sedan that goes on sale next year, including the five different electric and hybrid powertrain options buyers will choose from. The CLA is the first of a family of new small Mercedes cars that’ll eventually consist of a sedan, wagon and two SUVs, all built around the same MMA platform capable of taking both EV and combustion tech.

Related: Mercedes CEO Drives 2026 Electric CLA, Reveals AI Assistant And 2-Speed Transmission

And it sounds like the fully-electric versions will live up the promises made by the 2023 CLA Concept. Like the show car, the production CLA will feature 800-volt charging and expects to be rated at 466 WLTP miles (750 km) of electric range in its most efficient spec. Capable of swallowing a 320 kW DC charge, the CLA will be able to add 36 kWh of energy in 10 minutes, and can be ordered with 58 kWh LFP or larger and more energy-dense 85 kWh silicon oxide anode batteries.

Entry-level rear-wheel drive versions get a single 268 hp (200 kW / 272 PS) motor on the rear axle that drives through a two-speed transmission, and all-wheel drive models add a 107 hp (80 kW / 109 PS) electric motor on the font axle that is disengaged when not needed for maximum efficiency.

Even more powerful AMG-branded CLAs will appear in time, but Mercedes isn’t talking about them just yet. But it is happy to talk about the hybrid-engined versions of the CLA that will minimise the company’s exposure to a slowdown in the EV market.

The 1.5-liter Miller-cycle combustion engine under the hood is available in 134 hp (136 PS), 161 hp (163 PS) and 188 hp (190 PS) tunes, each boosted by a 27 hp (20 kW / 27 PS) electric motor tucked inside a wide-ratio eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. As with the EV, both two- and 4Matic all-wheel drive configurations will be available, though in the hybrid’s case the base car is front-, not rear-wheel drive.

Mercedes says its choice to use four rather than three cylinders (like BMW employs) means the CLA hybrid is more refined than rival cars and explains that it can drive on electric power “at urban speeds,” though doesn’t specify how far or how fast it can move without waking the ICE motor.

Life is about to get much tougher for the Tesla Model 3. Mercedes is almost ready to launch a rival, the CLA, and has just dropped a video of the firm’s boss driving the electric sedan to whet our appetites.

Due to go on sale in 2025 as a 2026 model, the CLA is a sporty-looking coupe-sedan and the first of a family of cars and crossovers built around a new electrified MMA platform. Though the car CEO Ola Källenius drives in the video is an EV, the former AMG chief confirms that hybrid versions will also be available.

Related: 2026 Mercedes CLA To Get A 2.0L Turbo Engine Built By China’s Geely

We’ve run spy shot stories on the CLA before, but the ‘official’ spy video and images released with it today give us our best look yet at the production version of the 2023 CLA Concept. And Källenius even pulls off some of the headlamp disguise to reveal the star-shaped DRLs in the front headlights, which look like white versions of the rear LEDs on the E-Class.

Though the video feels like it was made for an audience of seven-year-olds and is frustratingly light on details, we can glean some meaningful info on the CLA. The doors, for instance, feature frameless glass to give a coupe feel, and the huge panoramic roof – just like a Model 3’s – bathes the darkly upholstered cabin in light.

We don’t get to see the dashboard, but Källenius shows us the automaker’s new AI voice assistant tech. It comes with the MB.OS software that makes its debut on the CLA and helps you control the car’s functions to save you from getting distracted with touchscreen menus.

“Every digital feature you can possibly think of, you’ll probably find it in this car,” says Källenius proudly.

He also reveals that the electric CLA’s two-speed transmission is the secret to some incredible efficiency figures, though stops short of telling us the motor and battery stats or giving us a range figure. But based on what Mercedes told us about the CLA concept we can expect 800-volt electrics and 250 kW charging speeds that will enable the sedan to gain 248 miles (400 km) of range within just 15 minutes of a plug being attached.

The concept was powered by a lightweight 235 hp (175 kW / 238 PS) electric motor and delivered an overall driving range exceeding 466 miles (750 km), though no doubt Mercedes will offer multiple power levels. We also recently learned that the hybrid version of the CLA will get a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four built by China’s Geely.

The third-generation Mercedes-Benz CLA is just around the corner, and it’s set to debut with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine sourced from Horse Powertrain Limited—the internal combustion engine (ICE) joint venture between Renault and Geely.

Reportedly, Mercedes lent its engineering expertise to develop this ICE unit, which is expected to churn out a respectable 250 horsepower and 265 lb-ft (360 Nm) of torque. Production will take place in China, but the catalytic converter won’t be installed until the engine arrives in Germany, ensuring it complies with Europe’s strict emissions standards. The transcontinental production process may seem a bit convoluted, but it reflects the increasingly globalized nature of automotive engineering.

Read: 2026 Mercedes CLA Previewed With Concept Car Looks

While you may think it sounds a little odd for the new-generation CLA to use an engine from Geely and Renault, it’s worth noting that Geely chief executive Li Shufu owns a 10% stake in Mercedes-Benz. Geely also operates a joint venture with the German carmaker to build Smart EVs. And for those thinking this is a new development, it’s worth remembering that both the first and second-generation CLA 180d models relied on diesel engines developed in collaboration with Renault and Nissan. This crossover DNA is practically baked into the CLA’s lineage.

According to CarNewsChina, some reports hint that this four-cylinder could come paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that integrates a starter motor directly into the transmission, making for a smoother, more efficient driving experience.

The imported engine isn’t the only Chinese tech making its way into the new CLA. The compact-sized sedan will also feature an advanced driver assistance system developed by Chinese startup Momenta. While the name of the brand may not ring a bell, Mercedes-Benz has been a backer of Momenta since 2017. It’s also received investment from GM, SAIC, and Yunfeng Capital, owned by billionaire businessman Jack Ma. Momenta’s system does not rely on high-definition maps and instead supports assisted driving in urban environments.

There’s plenty more to look forward to with the new CLA. In addition to featuring efficient four-cylinder engines, several all-electric versions will be produced around an 800-volt electrical architecture. A high-performance, AMG-branded version of the EV is also in the pipeline.

Opening illustration by Josh Byrnes/Carscoops

Mercedes-Benz has stripped away some of the camouflage and provided us with our best look at the 2026 CLA to date. The car takes design inspiration from a concept unveiled 12 months ago and will be offered in ICE and EV guises.

The German marque made the odd decision to unveil this thinly disguised CLA at the 39th Festival d’Hyères in France, a festival for fashion, photography, and accessories. This explains the intriguing grey and red wrap applied to the exterior of the car and while Mercedes didn’t announce any details about the car, we already know quite a lot about the upcoming model.

Read: This Is Everything We Know About The 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA

Visually, adopts a similar overall shape to its predecessors, retaining a sleek profile and a compact footprint. At the front, we can see the outline of a thoroughly overhauled grille with a shape inspired by the CLA Concept of last year. The overall shape of the headlights is also similar to the concept, but curiously, there’s no sign of the Three-Pointed Star daytime running lights incorporated within them. It doesn’t look like the full-width LED light bar has made it to production, either, unless it’s simply well hidden by the wrap.

As with the first and second-generation CLA models, the doors have plenty of bold creases and design lines, including a prominent shoulder line running from the corner of the headlights through to the corner of the taillights. Speaking of the taillights, they are quite clearly inspired by the lights of the concept and include circular LED signatures. A small lip spoiler has also been fitted to the trunk.

Underpinning the new model is Mercedes-Benz’s flexible MMA platform. All combustion-powered models are expected to be four-cylinder offerings with hybrid assistance, while the EV should use an 800-volt electrical architecture that provides charging speeds of up to 250 kW. The electric model will also support bidirectional charging capabilities and support Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) functions. A high-performance AMG version of the EV is in the works and could have upwards of 500 hp.

Mercedes is expected to unveil the new CLA in full in the coming months before launching it as a 2026 model in the United States and other markets.