SPY PICS: New Mercedes-Benz CLA twins spied

Our spy photographers have snapped a pair of facelifted Mercedes-Benz CLA prototypes undergoing real-world testing in Europe ahead of an anticipated unveiling late this year.

Snapped here in both four-door coupe and Shooting Brake form, the new 2023 Mercedes-Benz CLA sporty premium compact car is set to feature a redesigned front and rear fascia, new grille mesh texture and revised headlights and tail-lights.

The cars’ appearance on public roads follows in the tyre tracks of the rest of the compact portfolio – comprising the Mercedes-Benz A-Class hatch and sedan, Mercedes-Benz GLA and the bigger GLB – which have been spotted testing around Europe over the past eight months or so.

These particular examples have been fitted with the AMG design package but are still devoid of their finishing trim.

No major mechanical changes are expected at this stage with the CLA update, including revisions to the four-cylinder petrol powertrain line-up offered in Australia.

Upgrades for the Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 and the flagship AMG 45 models are a certainty too, although the latest Shooting Brake versions are not likely to be offered in Australia after being dropped with the changeover to the second generation in 2019.

The updated exterior should be matched on the inside by interior design tweaks, dash layout revisions and fresh infotainment tech.

Sources out of the Mercedes-Benz camp have alluded to a fourth-quarter reveal and subsequent European launch, pointing to a likely Australian debut in the second half of next year.

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