The new Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class is unfathomably gorgeous. It looks incredible, it's priced to sell, and in CLA45 AMG form it has 360 horsepower from just a 2.0-liter turbo four. Now it's getting suited up for racing duty. Sexy, sexy racing duty.
Mercedes says their CLA 45 AMG Racing Series concept car will debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next week, and it's a preview of a car that could be deployed to a number of international racing series if the demand is high enough. They say it's meant to emulate the success of the SLS AMG GT3, which is currently raced on five continents.
Mercedes says this CLA can be adapted to fit the specs for just about any racing series. Enhancements include a racing suspension, some carbon fiber body panels and an aero kit, a full roll cage with a Recaro seat set up for a HANS device, a fire extinguisher, and a racing wheel with paddle shifters. It probably has other powertrain enhancements as well.
It will be very interesting to see if racing teams opt to scoop this up. The CLA45 AMG sounds like an incredible car, and I'd love to see what it could do out on the track.
More info in the news release.