Mercedes streamlines the CLA Taking pictures Brake to create an aerodynamic electrical load lugger

These are the primary official pictures of the 2026 Mercedes CLA Taking pictures Brake. Following the footsteps of the CLA saloon, and unveiled on the saloon’s launch occasion in Copenhagen, the Taking pictures Brake can be Mercedes’s first devoted EV property automobile when it arrives in direction of the top of this 12 months.

We’ve already pushed the CLA – with a report back to observe – and the Taking pictures Brake can be mechanically equivalent. Which means a shedload of intelligent aero and engineering tips to maximise the vary and effectivity. The longer roof on the Taking pictures Brake mannequin ought to enhance the aerodynamics even additional, promising to extend the vary nonetheless additional.

The brand new CLA marks a departure for Mercedes because it rewrites its electrical technique, usurping the standalone collection of electrical EQ automobiles – EQE, EQE SUV, EQS and EQS SUV – in favour of carry EVs again into the principle mannequin line. That’s primarily as a result of the EQ fashions haven’t fared fairly in addition to the corporate hoped – it’s an identical story over at Audi and BMW.

Beginning with the CLA sedan (which the corporate insists on calling the ‘Mercedes-Benz CLA with EQ Know-how’ so as to bridge the hole), there’ll be extra EVs sharing platforms with PHEV fashions sooner or later. The unique CLA arrived in 2013 as a ‘four-door coupé’, with the Taking pictures Brake – a barely truncated however nonetheless svelte property automobile, arriving in 2015. That is the third era of the mannequin, previewed by the remarkably prescient Idea CLA at Frankfurt in 2023.

Other than the elongated aspect profile and tapering rear hatch, there’s not numerous distinction between the 2 automobiles. The Taking pictures Brake is simply 1mm increased than the sedan, primarily to accommodate the almost 2m lengthy one-piece panoramic sunroof which could be switched electronically from clear to opaque. An illuminated model of the Mercedes star sample discovered on the grille and the sprint additionally adorns the sunroof.

At 4.73m lengthy, the ‘compact’ CLA isn’t far off the utmost dimensions of 70s and 80s-era flagship Mercs. Which means more room inside for passengers and cargo than within the earlier mannequin, with 455 litres of rear load area, rising to 1,290 litres with the again seats folded down. A further 101 litres could be stowed within the modest frunk.

The electrical Taking pictures Brake can be out there in two fashions, the CLA 250+ and the CLA 350 4MATIC. Each have an 85kWh battery. Mercedes is claiming as much as 761km of vary within the official cycle, a powerful 472 miles. Discover a suitably high-speed charger and almost 200 miles could be added in simply ten minutes.

Mercedes-Benz CLA Taking pictures Brake, out there quickly, particulars at Mercedes-Benz.co.uk