[AutoGuide.com]

Mercedes searches down market for sales
by Mike Schlee

For years Mercedes-Benz has been selling smaller, cheaper vehicles like the A- and B-Class all over the world, but the cheapest Benz in America has always been the C-Class. And even then it was a mid-spec model when looking at the C-Class family lineup on a global scale. Now things are changing. Mercedes is bringing out a new entry-level four-door-coupe set to do battle against vehicles like the Audi A3 sedan and Acura ILX.

The CLA is based on the current A-Class and B-Class platform and for now, North American models will come exclusively with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine making two very different power outputs. The CLA 250 will boast 208 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque while the frantic CLA 45 AMG will pump out an insane 355 hp.

Read the 2014 Mercedes CLA 250 Coupe Review at [URL=""http://www.autoguide.com]AutoGuide.com[/url]

 

[brianch]

is it really called the cla 250 coupe?

 

[sleepyhead]

Mercedes calls it a coupe. So the reviewers are going to. They don't want to upset them and lose access to Mercedes. Heck, for a short while the CLA was only under coupe on the MBUSA site. How it's under both sedan and coupe. Heck, the CLS is considered a coupe.

SUVs lost their luster when gas prices went up and soccer moms bought 3 per household, so now people call their SUVs crossovers. A sedan just isn't as sexy as coupe.