As is so often Mercedes-Benz’s want when they launch an all-new car; the Stuttgart-based manufacturer is offering an ‘Edition 1’ specification to set the ball rolling for the new CLA-Class four-door coupé. We didn’t care much for the idea of these first edition offerings; until recently, when we actually sampled a Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Edition 1 (we’ll bring you that road test shortly).
Essentially, we drove an SL500 that had all the interior accouterments and exterior bling you’ll find on the top-dog SL63 or SL65 AMG, but for much less outlay. Not a bad idea, and especially not a bad idea when you’re trying to get your sales of an all-new and somewhat unpredictable model off to a roaring start.
For the CLA-Class, Mercedes-Benz is creating the same exclusive version of the car with unique visual features and special equipment which will only be available for the next 12-months. The Edition 1 model comes exclusively in mountain grey, cosmos black, night black, cirrus white or designo polar silver magno, and it carries AMG front and rear aprons; black painted multi-spoke AMG light-alloy wheels; the diamond grille and lowered suspension is also fitted as standard on the Edition 1.
On the inside, the highlight of the Edition 1 model is the ‘Neon Art’ interior, which includes black leather seats with black micro-fibre and yellow stitching, ‘Artico’ leather with yellow stitching in the instrument panel, and aluminium trim on the pedals and door panels.
Like on our SL-Class Edition 1, the Mercedes CLA-Class Edition 1 can be had across any of the four available engines: CLA 180; CLA 200; CLA 250 and CLA 220 CDI. Ranging from 90 kW to 155 kW for the CLA 250, the most powerful before the CLA45 AMG model arrives, and European pricing ranges from €35 402 (R380 000) to €43 940 (R488 000) for the CDI model. With some luck, we look forward to sampling our very own CLA-Class Edition 1 when it arrives in South Africa.
