Mercedes CLA snapped undisguised

The Mercedes CLA – a baby CLS based on the new A Class – has been snapped undisguised in Iceland ahead of a 2013 reveal.

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The fact that Mercedes are building a four-door, swoopy coupe based on the new A Class is no secret. In fact, Mercedes rolled out the Concept Style Coupe at the Beijing Motor Show earlier this year as a very clear pointer of what to expect.

But with an official reveal of the new CLA getting closer – although probably at the Detroit Motor Show in the New Year rather than Paris 2012 this month – Mercedes are having to get undisguised CLAs out in public to get some PR stuff ready.

That means the cars are likely to be spotted, and an eagle-eyed reader of Germany’s Der Spiegel managed to catch Mercedes playing with the new CLA in Iceland – despite the mist – so we have the first undisguised photo of the production CLA to see what Mercedes has changed from the Concept Style Coupe. And the answer is – not a lot.

It seems likely the cars photographed are actually AMG versions – perhaps the CLA 450 AMG (or whatever moniker Mercedes decide) – but most of the styling cues are still intact, from the statement grill to the pronounced and curvy swage lines down the flanks.

The CLA is an important car for Mercedes; with the world downsizing in to smaller cars with smaller engines – and plans to sell the CLA in the US – Mercedes need to be sure the CLA is as appealing as its bigger brethren, despite the downsizing and smaller engines.

But the Mercedes CLA certainly looks promising.

Mercedes Concept Syle Coupe Photos >>