Not long after Mercedes-Benz->ke187 introduced the world to the swoopy and affordable CLA,->ke3130 we began hearing whispers of a more practical Shooting Brake version that would soon make its way to dealers. The First CLA began rolling off assembly lines in January of 2013, and now just two years later, Mercedes has officially announced that the Shooting Brake variant of the new CLA is in production at the same Kecskemét plant.
With a full 27,000 units of the standard CLA sold in the U.S. last year, double from 2013, and record sales around the globe, Mercedes is poised for huge growth worldwide and they are hoping that the increased practicality of the Shooting Brake will help push those numbers. Sadly for those of us here in the States we still have no confirmation of the long-roof version will actually make it to our shores.
If you live in Europe, Asia or one Mercedes’ other large markets you can start ordering your CLA Shooting Brake in one of six models ranging from the CLA 180 up to the AMG tuned CLA 45 AMG version. Retail price in Germany is €29,809.50 for the base 180 and go up to €57,268.75 for the AMG model.
Click past the jump to read more about the Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake.
Why it matters
Mercedes delivered more than 1.6 million cars last year. That is an increase of 13 percent and the fourth year of record sales in a row. To keep this momentum, Mercedes needs to keep all of its models fresh while simultaneously pushing into new markets.
The CLA introduced a step into the world of affordable and stylish compact sedans that has been booming in the last few years. While sedans sell well in parts of the world like the United States, most of Europe still really loves their five-doors, so Mercedes needs to introduce an affordable machine in this more practical shape.
The CLA Shooting Brake looks to accomplish that mission. With two years of sales under its belt, the CLA could also be looking a little stagnant to fashion-forward buyers, and the new five-door design will add a breath of fresh air without Mercedes needing to bother with a visual refresh. That will likely come in another two years.
Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake
The Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake is a more practical five-door version of the CLA “four door coupe” that Mercedes introduced in 2013. It is available in a wide collection of models of varying prices and power levels. Four gasoline models and two diesel models spread the gamut from cheap and stylish commuter with the CLA 180 to the fast and amazing CLA 45 AMG. Sadly there are no current plans for U.S. sales.