German carmaker Mercedes Benz today launched the facelift of its most affordable luxury sedan CLA in India at starting a price of Rs 31.40 lakh for the CLA 200 Style diesel. The petrol CLA 200 Sport is priced at Rs 33.68 lakh and the diesel CLA 200 d Sport at Rs 34.68 lakh. (Ex-showroom, Mumbai)

The updates to the CLA are subtle and include mild styling changes to the exterior and an improved interior, while powertrain options remain the same. With the middle-aged facelift, the CLA now features a diamond-effect radiator grille and a reprofiled front bumper with chrome inserts. Besides, the headlights are now full LED. At the rear, the bumpers are revised and now incorporate the exhausts, enhancing the already stylish sedan’s svelte look.

There are mild changes to the interiors which extend to restyled dials and red needles in the instrument cluster, and a few trim and colour changes. Highlights include the larger 8.0-inch infotainment display, up from 7.0-inches in the outgoing model, which Mercedes says is “slimmer”, and improved smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The other features on offer are USB, Aux and Bluetooth connectivity, automatic headlights, cruise control and panoramic sunroof.

Mechanically, the car carries forward the same 136hp 2.1-litre diesel and 184hp 2.0-litre petrol engine from the current model with seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic gearbox. It also gets Mercedes’ Dynamic Select System with a choice of drive modes.

Interestingly, the carmaker has silently updated the current CLA 45 AMG, as the performance sedan has received a bump in power and torque to 381hp and 475Nm respectively, from the earlier figures of 360hp and 450Nm.

In a surprise announcement, Roland Folger, managing director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India said that the company is set to launch one more model before the end of the year. It had announced earlier this year that would be adding 12 new products to its portfolio in 2016, a target it achieved with the launch of the CLA facelift.

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