Spy Shots: 2013 Mercedes CLC

Maybe you still remember that stylish F800 Concept that Mercedes unveiled last year. Its front lines the design of the new A-Klasse that’s currently being tested. Still it seems that the brand just couldn’t keep away from making a four-door coupe that’s smaller than the CLS. Below you can see some spy shots with this new model taken in the Californian desert. The new CLC looks as a shrunken CLS.

After Mercedes just launched its CLS a whole generation ahead of Audi and BMW (the A7 was launched within months of the Mk2 CLS, and the 6-series Gran Coupe is still a year away), the new model once again has no obvious opposition from the three-pointed star’s two big German rivals.

The new CLC uses the same front-wheel and four-wheel drive platform that will be the base of the new A- and B-classes. We can’t say that this car uses a clever ‘sandwich’ set-up of the current cars; it’s more a conventional architecture.

Mercedes CLC will be the third variant spun off brand’s new modular system coming after the B-class (due at the end of 2011) and the A-class (mid-2012).Also there’s a small 4×4 coming too, plus coupe and cabriolet As. The CLC will measure 4560mm in length (today’s CLC is 4448mm long) and some rumors says that there could be a Shooting Brake variant too.

We know that the brand has developed two new engines for the A- and B-classes and CLC. Petrol power comes courtesy of a direct injection and turbocharged 1.6 (dubbed M270) with either 121 or 154bhp, and the 1.8 oiler (known as OM561, and derived from the existing 2.1 diesel) comes with either 107 or 134bhp. Beside this, the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, and the six-speed manual gearbox are also brand-new.

An AMG version is also planned and it seems that the originally Mercedes’ tuning house in Affalterbach wanted to equip the CLC25 (and A25) with a supercharged petrol engine, but after that proved too complicated AMG switched to a twin-turbo set-up. The 2.0-litre four-cylinder is believed to be good for around 335bhp, and will come with a four-wheel drive system to prevent torque steer. Both the transmission options should be offered on this hot AMG model.

Source: Carmagazine