Mercedes-Benz has just lifted the wraps off its Johannesburg Motor Show vehicles. Among the many vehicles on its stand, there are some highlights that are all bound for the local market within the next few weeks and months.
GLA
The production version of this A-Class-based compact SUV was officially revealed at the recent Frankfurt Motor Show. It’s built on the company’s front/all-wheel-drive MFA platform and measures in at 4 417 mm long, 1 805 mm wide and 1 494 mm high. These dimensions make it 125 mm longer than the A-Class upon which it is based.
There are various engines on offer internationally. These include a 115 kW 1,6-litre turbocharged petrol engine in the GLA200 and a 100 kW 1,8 turbodiesel in the GLA20o CDI. Both these versions come with in front-wheel-drive configuration. These engines come mated with a six-speed manual transmission. An automatic ‘box is available as an optional.
The local launch of the GLA will take place in April 2014.
CLA
The CLA is essentially an A-Class with a boot and the local launch is imminent.
The model unveiled at the show is the CLA45 AMG. This model features the same engine as its five-door A45 AMG stable mate. It is the most powerful four-cylinder petrol engine in the world – a 2,0-litre turbopetrol developing 265 kW and 450 N.m of torque. This engine is coupled with a seven-speed, dual-clutch, automatic transmission channeling drive to all four wheels.
The overall treatment meted out upon the CLA45 AMG is fairly subtle; comprising more purposeful side skirts, quad exhaust outlets set within a rear diffuser, a revised front apron with carbon-fibre trimming on its leading edge and the apexes of the flanking air dams, an enlarged rear spoiler and a set of black alloy wheels in a multi-spoke design.
S-Class
The all-new S-Class is here. The Stuttgart luxury carmaker has lofty expectations of its new model, claiming that it is one of the most luxurious and technologically advanced cars ever made.
The S-Class will arrive within the next few weeks. The local range kicks off with the S350 BlueTEC, which features a 3,0-litre V6 turbodiesel engine developing 190 kW and 620 N.m of torque. Mercedes-Benz claims a 0-100 km/h time of 6,8 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h.
This unit will be joined by the S500 (4,7-litre V8 petrol with 335 kW and 700 N.m) capable of 0-100 km/h in 4,8 seconds, before topping out at 250 km/h. Early next year, the S600L developing around 395 kW and AMG models, possibly including the 6,0-litre V12 biturbo S65 AMG developing around 456 kW, will join the line-up.
The S-Class has long been a benchmark for innovative safety systems and the new car is no exception. Much of the S-Class’ safety technology centres on the use of cameras for close-range pedestrian/obstacle detection as opposed to radar sensors.
You can read a more in-depth story of the S-Class here.
