Thanks to BlueDIRECT and highly precise piezo-injection, the new engines already meet the Euro 6 emissions standard for petrol engines coming into force from 2015. Even the much more stringent diesel particulate limit in the Euro 6 standard is already bettered with no additional exhaust aftertreatment. This was a major motivation for introducing BlueDIRECT into this segment as well. This means that the completely newly developed generation of four-cylinder petrol engines is ideally prepared for the future.

The basis for all three petrol engine variants in the new CLA-Class is the all-aluminium M 270 engine with two chain-driven overhead camshafts and four-valve technology. This power unit is extremely versatile, and will also be gradually introduced into larger model series. In this way it also contributes to a sustained reduction in production costs. The four-cylinder can be installed transversely (M 270) or longitudinally (M 274), and combined with front, rear or 4MATIC all-wheel drive, and also with a manual, automatic torque converter or dual clutch transmission. The ECO start/stop function is always featured as standard.

The M 270 engine is available in three output levels in the new CLA-Class. As the CLA 180 with a displacement of 1595 cc it develops 90 kW (122 hp) and a maximum torque of 200 newton metres over a wide engine speed range from 1250 to 4000 rpm. With the basic engine and the 6-speed manual transmission the new CLA-Class accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 9.3 seconds and has a top speed of up to 210 km/h. The fuel consumption and CO2 emission figures of 5.4 l/100 km, NEDC, combined, and 126 g/km, respectively, are so low that they possibly set a new record.

Thanks to extensive aerodynamic optimisation measures (see the corresponding section), the CLA 180 BlueEFFICIENCY Edition, whose premiere is to be in June, betters even these figures: with 5.0 litres/100 km and 118 g CO2/km, it is among the most frugal cars in its class.

The CLA 200 with the same displacement of 1595 cc develops 115 kW (156 hp) and a maximum torque of 250 Nm, which is likewise available from 1250 to 4000 rpm. It sprints from zero to 100 km/h in 8.6 seconds and has a top speed of 230, but is happy with an average 5.5 l/100 km of fuel, meaning CO2 emissions of 127 g/km.

The CLA 250 is powered by the top engine variant with a displacement of 1991 cc. The engine develops 155 kW (211 hp) and a maximum torque of 350 Nm from 1200 to 4000 rpm. Performance is at sports car level, with acceleration from zero to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds and a top speed of 240 km/h. Nonetheless it has the best fuel consumption in this class at 6.1 l/100 km, and CO2 emissions of 142 g/km.

All engine variants are designed for customer-friendly operation with E10 premium petrol (95 RON).

* BlueEFFICIENCY Edition, ** only available with dual clutch transmission