Mercedes CLA 2026: a look at what the German brand will offer

The news from Mercedes for 2026 is already underway, and we can see some of the proposals that await us for that year. The Mercedes CLA has been unveiled, though only in a limited way thanks to some images published by the brand. In them we can see the car dressed in camouflage that lets us guess part of its shape but hides the details of its bodywork.

What we know is that the model is based on a prototype presented 12 months ago and will go on sale with a combustion engine and in an electric version. These images come from the presentation of the model at the Festival d’Hyère in France. It is a festival of fashion, photography and accessories, so the chosen camouflage has an air of glamour and an attractive design. The grey and red covering makes it a good way to present the model, although details are being kept back for later.

A design that recalls the prototype

The overall look of the car offers an approximation of what was shown in the prototype from a year ago. The grille appears to be identical to that one, but other details have disappeared or been transformed to make it different and more functional. Among the things that have been changed, the headlights seem to be one.

Broadly speaking, these keep the design proposed for the concept car, but they have lost the three-pointed star daytime running lights that were integrated into them. The LED light bar has also disappeared from the version that will go on sale in early 2026. At least, it is not shown in these promotional images.

At the rear, the proposed designs have been respected, with circular LED lights. A small spoiler has been fitted to the boot lip, giving the whole a sportier look. The doors have a design with many creases and a very attractive design line. The shoulder line is very pronounced and starts at the corner of the front headlights and extends to the rear lights.

Several engines available

The new Mercedes CLA is built on the new MMA platform from Mercedes-Benz. This will allow it to use four-cylinder engines, all with different types of hybridisation. The electric version will use an 800-volt architecture, allowing fast charging of up to 250 kW.

Following the trend of new electric vehicles arriving on the market, the Mercedes CLA will have Vehicle-to-Grid and Vehicle-to-Home capability, so bidirectional charging is guaranteed on this model. In addition, it has been announced that AMG is developing a high-performance version based on the electric model that could offer up to 500 CV.

In a few months we will be able to see the Mercedes CLA without camouflage and with all the details revealed, so that by the time sales begin in 2026, there will already be a good number of customers interested in it.