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If there's one piece of forbidden fruit that stirs up plenty of envy here in the U.S., it's the slender CLA Shooting Brake that Mercedes offers in its lineup across the pond. With a new CLA just around the corner, Mercedes is mulling over its opportunity to bring the wagon over to the States alongside the sedan that already resides on our shores.
According to Car and Driver, Mercedes chief technology officer Markus Schäfer spoke to several news outlets about the future of the wagon at a press conference at the recent CES technology show. There, he confirmed that the CLA will be keeping its long-roof option for its next generation. While it's been absent from the U.S. market during its first two generations, chiefly due to America's apathetic opinion on wagons, Mercedes isn't leaving a U.S.-spec CLA Shooting Brake out of the question this time around. "I'm ready to ship it," Schäfer said, though legitimate interest from buyers will be the ultimate deciding factor.
Even if the wagon doesn't end up on U.S. soil, we'll still be getting the redesigned CLA sedan. It will be one of four new models to ride on Mercedes's new MMA architecture, which supports both gas and electric powertrains for the brand's entry-level cars. Currently, the cheaper side of the brand's lineup consists of the CLA and A-Class sedans, along with the GLA and GLB SUVs and their electric EQA and EQB counterparts. The simplified range would allow more breathing room for a CLA wagon in the U.S., which is probably why Mercedes execs are considering the wagon now. "We're going to have much better cost control definitely with only four cars," Schäfer said.
The next-generation CLA is expected to arrive in 2025, so Mercedes still has about a year to decide whether to bring the Shooting Brake to the U.S. market.
Image Credits: Mercedes
Report
Jan 26, 2024
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Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake Could Come To U.S. For Next Generation
Fewer entry-level offerings in the future will allow more room for a wagon here.
If there's one piece of forbidden fruit that stirs up plenty of envy here in the U.S., it's the slender CLA Shooting Brake that Mercedes offers in its lineup across the pond. With a new CLA just around the corner, Mercedes is mulling over its opportunity to bring the wagon over to the States alongside the sedan that already resides on our shores.
According to Car and Driver, Mercedes chief technology officer Markus Schäfer spoke to several news outlets about the future of the wagon at a press conference at the recent CES technology show. There, he confirmed that the CLA will be keeping its long-roof option for its next generation. While it's been absent from the U.S. market during its first two generations, chiefly due to America's apathetic opinion on wagons, Mercedes isn't leaving a U.S.-spec CLA Shooting Brake out of the question this time around. "I'm ready to ship it," Schäfer said, though legitimate interest from buyers will be the ultimate deciding factor.
Even if the wagon doesn't end up on U.S. soil, we'll still be getting the redesigned CLA sedan. It will be one of four new models to ride on Mercedes's new MMA architecture, which supports both gas and electric powertrains for the brand's entry-level cars. Currently, the cheaper side of the brand's lineup consists of the CLA and A-Class sedans, along with the GLA and GLB SUVs and their electric EQA and EQB counterparts. The simplified range would allow more breathing room for a CLA wagon in the U.S., which is probably why Mercedes execs are considering the wagon now. "We're going to have much better cost control definitely with only four cars," Schäfer said.
The next-generation CLA is expected to arrive in 2025, so Mercedes still has about a year to decide whether to bring the Shooting Brake to the U.S. market.
Image Credits: Mercedes
