The new Mercedes-AMG CLA45 S is set to launch in South Africa soon and we’ve managed to unearth pricing for the sleekly styled four-door model.
So, how much are you looking at here? Well, the CLA45 S 4Matic+ will be priced from R1 094 128, or R1 102 856 once CO₂ emissions tax has been added. That makes it nearly R250 000 more expensive than the CLA35 … and even pricier than the Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupé (which currently costs R1 044 571).
Standard features for the SA-spec CLA45 S include adaptive LED headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, sports seats, the MBUX infotainment system (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, although going for the 10,25-inch display will cost you an extra R10 000), cruise control, 19-inch five-twin-spoke alloys, tyre-pressure monitoring and red-painted brake callipers.
Of course, various packages will also be offered, such as the AMG aerodynamics package (R21 800), AMG exterior silver chrome package (R9 600), parking package with 360-degree camera (R21 000) and AMG performance high-end seat package (R77 000).
Standalone options, meanwhile, include various wheel styles (costing up to R30 500 a set), a panoramic sliding sunroof (R15 200), a fully digital instrument display (R6 500), a Harman Kardon surround sound system (R10 200), a reversing camera (R5 000), AMG ride control suspension (R22 400) and “AMG real performance sound” (effectively, engine and intake noise played through the speakers … for R6 100).
As a reminder, the CLA45 S (like the A45 S hot hatch, which is expected to hit SA early in 2020) employs a turbocharged 2,0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine delivering 310 kW and 500 N.m to all four wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission complete with launch control.
The brand’s Affalterbach-based performance arm says the CLA45 S will complete the sprint from zero to 100 km/h in 4,0 seconds, with top speed electronically limited to 270 km/h. In July 2019, Mercedes-Benz SA told us (in something of a U-turn) that only the full-fat CLA45 S would be offered locally, with no plans to bring in the base 285 kW CLA45.
