FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW: Benz CLA goes racing
Mercedes-AMG reveals a feisty racecar based on the upcoming CLA compact sedanA taste of what’s to come from the CLA 45 AMG Black Series and a customer motorsport program are believed to be behind Mercedes-AMG’s reveal of the CLA 45 AMG Racing Series concept car.
Revealed ahead of its global premiere at next week’s Frankfurt motor show, the most aggressive iteration yet seen of the new Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, which goes on sale in Australia next month priced from under $50,000, is based on the upcoming CLA 45 AMG sedan.
Like the A 45 AMG hot hatch, the CLA 45 AMG is powered by a 265kW/450Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine that rockets the A-Class-based four-door to 100km/h in just 4.6 seconds, although no performance figures have been released for the Racing Series concept.
That’s because the production version of the car will be eligible for a number of four-cylinder race series and may therefore be limited to different engine outputs and transmission systems, and perhaps both front- and all-wheel drive configurations.
“The tremendous success of the SLS AMG GT3, which is now being raced by customer teams across five different continents, makes us highly confident,” said AMG boss Ola Källenius.
Compared to the standard CLA 45 AMG, the Racing Series features wider wheel tracks, fully adjustable suspension and ‘high-performance’ brakes with anti-skid system.
Heavily flared wheel-arches, deeper side skirts and a downforce-generating front bumper with splitter and rear bumper with diffuser are made from carbon-fibre reinforced plastic, while the carbon rear wing employs functional brake cooling vents.
Inside, there’s a full rollcage, Recaro racing seats with head and neck support (HANS) system and an intergrated fire extinguisher.
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