The Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 Shooting Brake arrives to become the fastest and the most practical

Little by little the new era of AMG models is reaching Mercedes, and which is set to revolutionise the automotive sector. To carry out this task, the star brand decided to introduce the AMG 35 variant, a badge with which its entry-level models adopt a series of sporty features that also serve as a prelude to the long-awaited AMG 45. In this way and as planned, the CLA in its Shooting Brake bodywork has just received this badge, thus giving rise to a vehicle that is fast yet practical thanks to its coupé-estate nature.

As is customary with Mercedes-AMG creations, we find both aesthetic and mechanical changes. In this way, the German company has managed to offer a series of entry-level models for its performance division which, without resorting to engines as radical as those of its bigger siblings, are capable of treating their customers to characteristics worthy of the AMG name.

A spicier look

Without a doubt, Mercedes’s AMG models are always associated with a much more sporty aesthetic package, and the CLA Shooting Brake was no exception. At first glance, we find a more imposing front end, where larger air intakes and a new splitter bring out the sportier side of the German estate.

The side is accented by 18-inch alloy wheels, although 19-inch ones can be chosen as an option. But it is really at the rear where we find the most novelties, since a subtle yet encouraging spoiler conveys that more sporty spirit, a task also fulfilled by the diffuser and the twin real exhaust outlets.

The cabin has also been imbued with the AMG spirit, where sport-cut seats and a steering wheel are installed. The same goes for the materials used, since leather and Alcantara will be the main enchantments of the interior of the Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 Shooting Brake.

306 CV of pure efficiency

But an AMG model is distinguished not only by its styling but also by its mechanical side. It is true that the 35 AMG models offer the lowest power output within the family, but it is more than enough to draw a few smiles from their owners.

To power the CLA Shooting Brake, the engineers at the German house have turned to a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine capable of producing 306 CV and 400 Nm of torque. These figures catapult the Mercedes estate to 100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds, a time complemented by an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.

To manage the power delivered by the most radical CLA to date -with due respect to the previous generation- Mercedes has fitted a seven-speed SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7G dual-clutch automatic gearbox. Last but not least, we must mention the 4Matic traction and the adaptive suspension, two components that will substantially improve the driving experience at the controls of the newly arrived Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 Shooting Brake.