Mercedes-AMG has expanded its model portfolio with the debut of the new CLA 35 Shooting Brake. A sibling to the CLA 35 4Matic sedan revealed at the 2019 New York motor show in April, the car gets the same AMG-fettled version of the 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine used by its sedan sibling.
The transversely mounted motor provides the CLA 35 Shooting Brake with 306hp and 400Nm of torque. Drive is sent through a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox and a four-wheel-drive system that can vary the split from front-drive-only to distributing 50 percent of the power to the rear wheels, depending on prevailing traction levels. AMG claims the same 0-100kph time of 4.9sec as the CLA 35 sedan and a governed top speed of 250kph.
Underpinning the CLA 35 Shooting Brake is a reworked chassis from the CLA 250 version. It features MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension and can be had with optional adaptive dampers. It also adopts a strengthened bodyshell with an extra aluminium member under the engine to increase rigidity.
Mirroring the visual changes of the CLA 35 sedan, the CLA 35 Shooting Brake gets a restyled front bumper with a splitter, larger air ducts, and a revised grille. Further back, there are AMG door mirrors and more prominent sills. At the rear, a lip-style ‘Gurney’ has been added to the spoiler at the top of the tailgate and there’s a new rear bumper with air vents, a multi-channel diffuser, and twin chromed tailpipes.
Inside, the existing CLA instruments can be customised with different modes, including a Supersport mode with AMG-specific data.
There is no news of the new CLA making it to India anytime soon but Mercedes-Benz has been working on bringing the A-class sedan to our market.
Rivan RS 
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
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