Merc's baby CLS is coming

Get ready to welcome another four-door coupé to the Mercedes family. Following on from the recently updated CLS, company insiders have now confirmed the production of a junior version.

The newcomer is set to take design inspiration from the CLS and the F800 Concept – seen at last year’s Geneva Motor Show – and will be the smallest coupé in the line-up. It will be underpinned by the firm’s new front-wheel-drive MFA platform, which will also be used for the next-generation A and B-Class.

Expect to see bold character lines down the sides, as well as Mercedes’ new family face, which includes the distinctive upright grille. The model is central to plans to attract younger buyers to the brand, and it will slot in below the recently revealed C-Class Coupé as a more practical replacement for the outgoing CLC.

There’s no word on the engine line-up yet, but buyers can expect to get a choice of 1.4 and 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol units supplied by Renault. The French maker will also supply a 1.6-litre diesel. Topping the range will be Mercedes’ own 2.0 petrol and 2.2-litre diesel, producing around 200bhp and 170bhp respectively. 

Power will be delivered to the front wheels through a six-speed manual or seven-speed double-clutch automatic gearbox. The MFA platform has been developed with alternative propulsion methods in mind, so a hybrid is also expected to feature. 

The new car is likely to arrive some time in 2014, and will be one of four models based on the MFA architecture. As well as the next-generation A and B-Class, this will form the basis of a new small SUV.

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