Latest news with #MercedesCLA
South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- South Wales Argus
Newport drug dealer jailed for 9 years after police chase
Lee Thomas was pursued from Malpas Road in Newport before his Mercedes CLA ended up on its side on a country lane in Cwmbran. The 32-year-old was being chased after police were tipped off the disqualified driver was travelling in a vehicle which had cloned plates. Nuhu Gobir, prosecuting, told Cardiff Crown Court that Thomas fled after the crash on May 22 but was soon found and arrested. The defendant was found with multiple wraps of heroin and crack cocaine as well as £465 cash. He was also being sentenced for trafficking offences committed in 2022. These related to the arrest of another drug dealer on Milland Road in Neath. He was arrested carrying dozens of wraps of heroin and crack cocaine. Thomas was linked to him by messages detectives found on a mobile phone and his DNA was found on the packages of class A drug. Judge Jeremy Jenkins described the CPS' handling of this case as 'lamentable' after it took two years to charge him. Thomas, of Tees Close, Bettws, Newport admitted being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, possession with intent to supply class A drugs, dangerous driving and driving while disqualified. These were his third and fourth convictions for trafficking class A drugs. He was locked up in 40 months in 2017 and 35 months in 2020. The defendant has 16 previous convictions for 32 offences. His barrister Ross McQuillan-Johnson asked that his client be given the appropriate credit for his guilty pleas. He also asked that the lengthy delay in bringing the Neath matter to court be taken into account. Mr McQuillan-Johnson added that the majority of the defendant's crimes stemmed from his 'heavy reliance on drugs'. Judge Jenkins told Thomas: 'You have an appalling record of previous convictions. 'You are no stranger to a prison cell.' The defendant was jailed for five years and seven years for the Newport offences and a consecutive prison term of three years and seven years for the Neath matters. That made a total custodial sentence of nine years and two months. He was banned from driving for three years following his release and will have to sit an extended retest. Thomas is also set to face a proceeds of crime hearing.
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Mercedes' new CLA 250+ Sport is its most efficient and intelligent car ever but is spoiled by ‘chavvy' feature
IF no one else has the balls to say it, I will. Mercedes is in danger of becoming the Burberry of the car world. Advertisement 5 With this CLA, Mercedes is in danger of becoming the Burberry of the car world Credit: Supplied 5 There are 142 three-pointed stars in that front grille Credit: Supplied 5 The Mercedes CLA offers luxurious design, advanced technology and innovative features Credit: Supplied A leeetle bit chavvy. Just look at all the three-pointed stars on the new CLA. It's absolutely coated in them. There are 142 in that front grille, another 158 in the fancy glass sunroof, plus many more on the wheels, lights and dashboard. Advertisement READ MORE ROAD TESTS I gave up counting at 330. THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTY!!! They should stick a MERCEDES sun strip on it. Y'know, just in case someone thinks it's a BMW. Strip away all that Burberryness and you're left with a truly excellent motor car. The most efficient Mercedes ever. Advertisement Most read in Motors The most intelligent Mercedes ever. Yet it's also the cheapest electric Mercedes ever. Mercedes reveals its new luxury EV with 'superscreen' passengers can play video games or watch Netflix on while on move It's got a 484-mile battery by the WLTP test. We nudged 400 in the real world. A clever two-speed auto gearbox for added efficiency. Advertisement All sorts of aero tricks, including underbody wheel spoilers, to help it slice through the air. Rapid 800v charging to suck up 200 miles of juice in just ten minutes. So it's a proper long-range cruiser that's easy to live with. There's a video camera above that 14in central screen for Teams meetings. Advertisement You can watch YouTube and Disney+. Play Fortnite and Angry Birds. All of the above when parked up, obviously. There's a third passenger screen coming later that will cover up some of those bleedin' stars. Advertisement The 'Hey Mercedes' personal assistant wants to be your friend. We asked her to 'play Raye'. She did. We asked her to 'name that statue of the naked ladies to our left'. Advertisement She did. We asked her: 'Should I buy a Mercedes CLA over a BMW?' She's been taught well. She replied: 'Choosing between a Mercedes CLA over a BMW ultimately depends on your preferences and needs. The Mercedes CLA offers luxurious design, advanced technology and innovative features. Advertisement 'If you seek more details about the Mercedes CLA feel free to ask.' Hang on. I'm having a proper conversation with a car. Like Michael Knight and KITT. Just not chasing baddies. 5 The CLA comes with all sorts of aero tricks, including underbody wheel spoilers, to help it slice through the air. Credit: Supplied 5 Oh look - another 158 three-pointed stars in the fancy glass sunroof Credit: Supplied Advertisement If you're rubbish at parking, no stress. Press a button and watch it shimmy in and out of tight spaces on its own. It's the first Mercedes to have a front trunk, 100 litres of extra storage space under the bonnet. Out on the open road, CLA is everything you'd expect a Merc to be. Advertisement Quiet. Sophisticated. Effortless. And so hovercraft-smooth you'd think it has air suspension. It doesn't. Steel. That's engineering at its best for you. Acceleration is nicely calibrated. Not silly fast. But enough. AMG will add a bit of spice later. Advertisement Actually, that brings me nicely to other versions. There's a smaller 335-mile battery on the way, an estate, 4WDs, and a new 1.5-litre petrol hybrid for those not ready to switch to electric yet. Bonus. The petrol doesn't have all the illuminated stars on the front grille because it needs more cooling. So it's less Burberry. Advertisement Tone down all the bling and I'd give it five stars. KEY FACTS: MERCEDES CLA 250+ SPORT Price: £45,615 Battery: 85kWh Power: 272hp 0-62mph: 6.7 secs Top speed: 130mph Range: 484 miles Charging: 22 mins Out: September
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Mercedes' new CLA 250+ Sport is its most efficient and intelligent car ever but is spoiled by ‘chavvy' feature
You can watch YouTube and Disney+. Play Fortnite and Angry Birds GONE TOO STAR? GONE TOO STAR? Mercedes' new CLA 250+ Sport is its most efficient and intelligent car ever but is spoiled by 'chavvy' feature Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IF no one else has the balls to say it, I will. Mercedes is in danger of becoming the Burberry of the car world. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 With this CLA, Mercedes is in danger of becoming the Burberry of the car world Credit: Supplied 5 There are 142 three-pointed stars in that front grille Credit: Supplied 5 The Mercedes CLA offers luxurious design, advanced technology and innovative features Credit: Supplied A leeetle bit chavvy. Just look at all the three-pointed stars on the new CLA. It's absolutely coated in them. There are 142 in that front grille, another 158 in the fancy glass sunroof, plus many more on the wheels, lights and dashboard. I gave up counting at 330. THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTY!!! They should stick a MERCEDES sun strip on it. Y'know, just in case someone thinks it's a BMW. Strip away all that Burberryness and you're left with a truly excellent motor car. The most efficient Mercedes ever. The most intelligent Mercedes ever. Yet it's also the cheapest electric Mercedes ever. Mercedes reveals its new luxury EV with 'superscreen' passengers can play video games or watch Netflix on while on move It's got a 484-mile battery by the WLTP test. We nudged 400 in the real world. A clever two-speed auto gearbox for added efficiency. All sorts of aero tricks, including underbody wheel spoilers, to help it slice through the air. Rapid 800v charging to suck up 200 miles of juice in just ten minutes. So it's a proper long-range cruiser that's easy to live with. There's a video camera above that 14in central screen for Teams meetings. You can watch YouTube and Disney+. Play Fortnite and Angry Birds. All of the above when parked up, obviously. There's a third passenger screen coming later that will cover up some of those bleedin' stars. The 'Hey Mercedes' personal assistant wants to be your friend. We asked her to 'play Raye'. She did. We asked her to 'name that statue of the naked ladies to our left'. She did. We asked her: 'Should I buy a Mercedes CLA over a BMW?' She's been taught well. She replied: 'Choosing between a Mercedes CLA over a BMW ultimately depends on your preferences and needs. The Mercedes CLA offers luxurious design, advanced technology and innovative features. 'If you seek more details about the Mercedes CLA feel free to ask.' Hang on. I'm having a proper conversation with a car. Like Michael Knight and KITT. Just not chasing baddies. 5 The CLA comes with all sorts of aero tricks, including underbody wheel spoilers, to help it slice through the air. Credit: Supplied 5 Oh look - another 158 three-pointed stars in the fancy glass sunroof Credit: Supplied If you're rubbish at parking, no stress. Press a button and watch it shimmy in and out of tight spaces on its own. It's the first Mercedes to have a front trunk, 100 litres of extra storage space under the bonnet. Out on the open road, CLA is everything you'd expect a Merc to be. Quiet. Sophisticated. Effortless. And so hovercraft-smooth you'd think it has air suspension. It doesn't. Steel. That's engineering at its best for you. Acceleration is nicely calibrated. Not silly fast. But enough. AMG will add a bit of spice later. Actually, that brings me nicely to other versions. There's a smaller 335-mile battery on the way, an estate, 4WDs, and a new 1.5-litre petrol hybrid for those not ready to switch to electric yet. Bonus. The petrol doesn't have all the illuminated stars on the front grille because it needs more cooling. So it's less Burberry. Tone down all the bling and I'd give it five stars. KEY FACTS: MERCEDES CLA 250+ SPORT Price: £45,615 Battery: 85kWh Power: 272hp 0-62mph: 6.7 secs Top speed: 130mph Range: 484 miles Charging: 22 mins Out: September
The Independent
17-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Mercedes-Benz CLA review: Merc goes star crazy with brilliant new EV
In the new CLA, Mercedes has delivered an electric car that has the potential to be one of the best on the market. Once you've got over the frankly absurd number of stars on the car – 142 illuminated ones on the grille, a similar number on the panel in front of the passenger (worth upgrading to a screen just to avoid that), stars on the bonnet, boot, in the front lights, in the rear lights and on the wheels – this is, in my view, one of the best Mercs in a generation. But it has one rather frustrating flaw – for now. Its super-advanced 800v platform means it can charge at the fastest public chargers at speeds of up to 320kW. But only at the fastest, newest public chargers that also use 800v tech. The CLA is not compatible with 400v chargers which, while still quick, make up quite a lot of the UK's public charging network. Mercedes says that its fancy new navigation system will guide you to the right charger, but most users will rather use the navigation system in their phones – which is better. CLAs that arrive next year – hopefully including the gorgeous Shooting Brake – should feature a fix. A couple of SUVs on the same platform is due at some stage, too. It's a great shame as the CLA is a fabulous car to drive. It's quick – as you'd expect – and has a lovely ride and handling balance that's fantastic in the CLA 250+ and even better in the four-wheel drive 35-+ we get next year. The tech inside the lovely, comfortable cabin is great and the quality is okay, if not as perfect as we'd want a Merc to be – there are signs of cost-cutting around. How we test I drove the new Mercedes-Benz CLA on the international launch of the car in Copenhagen. My test route included driving around the city, out on the country roads and on the motorways. And as usual, I gave the tech a thorough test, as well as assessing all practicality features, including taking a ride in the back seats. Independent rating: 8/10 Pros: Lovely to drive, long range, excellent efficiency Cons: Won't work with all chargers – yet, styling a bit chintzy, cost-cutting in places Mercedes-Benz CLA specs Price range £45,615 to £51,770 Battery size 85kWh Maximum claimed range 484 miles Miles per kWh 5.1 Maximum charging rate 320kW Battery, range, charging, performance and drive Initially we're getting the CLA 250+ which comes with a 268bhp electric motor with what is in effect a two-speed gearbox that helps give the Merc saloon a decent turn of speed – 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds. One of the most impressive features of the CLA is how well engineered it feels, both in terms of the motor's performance and the quality of the ride. You'll rarely notice the twin-speed gearbox – I just detected the slightest jolt when slowing through regenerative braking, but power comes in smoothly with no sudden snap of performance. If this is what a luxury EVs should feel like, I like it very much. The same applies to the ride comfort. Body control is excellent, the car doesn't feel too floaty while the ride is communicative, letting you know what the road surface is like, but it never feels uncomfortable. For me, the steering could be a touch heavier, but that's solved in the CLA 350+ that I also had a drive in. That more expensive model will arrive next year with four-wheel drive meaning a motor on both front and rear axles. It gives the steering just a little more weight making it even nice than in the 250+, although the ride and handling balance is just as nice. That's all hugely impressive, as is the battery tech. The CLA sits on an 800v platform, while the latest generation battery has a lower carbon footprint and higher energy density. It means that a relatively small and light 84kWh battery in the CLA will offer a range of up to 484 miles – over 50 miles more than the most efficient Tesla Model 3. That figure drops slightly when you go for bigger wheels or the more powerful and four-wheel drive 350+ model, but it's never short of impressive and the efficiency when I was driving the car of 4.5 miles/kWh was good considering the type of fast roads I was driving on. However, currently the CLA will only charge at fast-chargers with 800-volt tech. That does mean it'll accept a maximum charge rate of 320kW and will add 200 miles of charge in just ten minutes. But with so many UK fast chargers running on 400-volt tech – admittedly not the very fastest – there will be plenty of chargers off-limits to the CLA. Mercedes is promising a fix for this next year – and hopefully the lovely Shooting Brake model will feature that fix, too. Mercedes is also quick to point out that the advanced new Google Maps-based navigation is set up to not only provide optimum advice on charging places and pre-condition the car, it will also sniff out the charge points that the CLA can actually use. That will require owners to use the in-car navigation rather than the phone-based system most people prefer. If I was interested in buying a CLA, I'd hold off until a fix for this battery charging issue is confirmed. Interior, practicality and boot space The CLA is Mercedes' smallest saloon model, yet it still feels surprisingly practical. Room in the back is okay – although I'm close to six-feet tall I didn't feel headroom was a problem, despite the CLA's sporty, sloping roofline, which gets a standard and rather lovely panoramic roof in every model. The boot is a decent size and shape with 405-litres of room, too. More of an issue is the space in the footwell – if the driver or front passenger has their seat low down there might not be enough space underneath to slide your feet. There's no doubting the high-tech nature of the interior with the potential of three screens across the dash, but the big plastic panel doesn't exude quality and there's not the usual careful alignment of the dashboard panel with the doors. The doors also shut with a shimmy rather than a thud – due partly to the lack of pillars to give the car more of a coupé feel. Generally, the quality inside is okay, but there are a few other areas of cost cutting. For example, there are no rear window switches on the driver's door – instead there are just two switches and another to select either front or rear windows. It's a feature that's disappointing on a Volkswagen, and more so on a Mercedes. Being Mercedes' smallest saloon, the car feels relatively narrow, making the steering wheel feel just a tiny bit too big – no doubt due to the CLA having to share the steering wheel with its bigger cousins. The driving position is comfortable, though, and the view out is good despite the car's sporty styling. Technology, stereo and infotainment The CLA debuts Mercedes very own latest operating system the fourth version of its MBUX infotainment. It incorporates AI from Chat GPT, Microsoft and Google, choosing which platform to direct your questions that are asked via the 'Hey Mercedes' system. It works well and seamlessly with numerous apps available too, mimicking a smart phone. However, I can't help but think that most users will just connect their Apple or Android devices and use them instead. The three screens across the dash are smart and clear – you get a ten-inch driver display, a 14-inch infotainment screen and the option of a 14-inch screen in front of the passenger, too. If you don't go for the passenger screen, you have a plastic panel with over a hundred more tiny, illuminated stars staring at you – enough already! The two-level centre console features a decent amount of storage space, while there are a couple of cup holders and a wireless phone charger on the top. The star theme is back when it comes to the headlights, with Multibeam LED technology. The daytime running lights are star shaped, the 142 stars are illuminated on the grille, and the rear lights are, unsurprisingly, star-shaped, too. There are plenty of ambient lighting options inside, too. There's the expected range of driver assistance features under the banner with level two autonomous driving that'll take care of steering, accelerating and braking (with you in charge, obviously) where appropriate. And everything will be kept up to date with over-the-air updates. The level of kit as standard is impressive, plus there's a Burmester 3D surround sound system upgrade with 16 speakers and Dolby Atmos. There are also various Sound Experience options to choose from to give this EV some sound characters, and you can even sit in the car stationary and simulate revs by prodding the accelerator. The starting price for the CLA 250+ Sport Edition is competitive at £45,615, just £625 more than a Long Range Tesla Model 3 yet the Mercedes will go 47 more miles on a full charge. A sportier AMG Line version will cost £49,375, with the current range-topping AMG Line Premium model costing £51,770 – its bigger wheels and sportier styling reduces range, but it can still outpunch the Tesla by 26 miles. The Tesla is quicker, though. That 484-mile range from a relatively small 84kWh battery is hugely impressive, as is the efficiency – 4.5 miles/kWh on my mixed test route, and not hanging around, is very good result indeed. Mercedes CLA rivals Tesla Model 3 BMW i4 Hyundai Ioniq 6 FAQs How long does it take to charge? With charging speeds of up to 320kW, you can add 200 miles to the CLA's battery in just ten minutes. How much does it cost - is it worth it? Mercedes has clearly been looking long and hard at Tesla pricing, as the CLA is priced very slightly above the Model 3. It'll go a fair bit further on a single charge, though. Does Mercedes replace batteries for free? As with all EVs, the CLA's battery is covered for eight years and 100,000 miles. Why trust us Our team of motoring experts have decades of experience driving, reviewing and reporting on the latest EV cars, and our verdicts are reached with every kind of driver in mind. We thoroughly test drive every car we recommend, so you can be sure our verdicts are honest, unbiased and authentic. The verdict: Mercedes-Benz CLA The new CLA feels like Mercedes back to its very best – and it hasn't been there for a while. I love the way the car drives, the range it offers and the on-board tech. I can take or leave the styling – there are just too many stars on there! But the biggest drawback – for the moment – is the charging compatibility of the 800v platform. I'd wait for my CLA until that issue is fixed next year.
Auto Express
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Mercedes' latest EV has a monstrous range
This is the new Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake: a sleek compact estate that'll join the recently launched CLA saloon at the entry-point of Merc's range in early 2026. As with the four-door model, the Shooting Brake will be launched with a hyper-efficient EV powertrain, with hybrids, plug-in hybrids and hot AMG models joining the line-up within 12 months. Advertisement - Article continues below UK pricing has yet to be confirmed, but we suspect it'll cost around £1,500 more than the saloon, which kicks off at just over £45,000 for the entry-level Sport Edition, topping out at £51,000 for the fully-kitted AMG Line Premium Edition. Key differences between the saloon and Shooting Brake refer largely to the new body, which opens up the luggage space to 455 litres, rising to 1,290 litres with the second row folded flat. This is a 30-litre reduction over the previous-generation CLA Shooting Brake, or 60 litres with the seats down. That said, it can be supplemented on electric models with a further 101 litres of storage space under the bonnet. An added bonus is improved headroom in the second row on account of the higher roofline. Elements like roof rails with a 75kg weight rating and an optional towbar with 1,800kg of towing capacity combine to create a far more versatile package, too. Begs the question: who needs an SUV? Dig a little further into the details and you'll notice the CLA Shooting Brake also features a couple of quiet updates to the cabin that we'll also see on the saloon. This starts with a new steering wheel with roller-wheel controls that replace the old car's touch-capacitive buttons on the upper spokes. The Shooting Brake's glass roof also features an electrochromic function to act as a virtual sunshade, plus an array of illuminated stars connected to the interior ambient lighting. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below These frills don't reduce the impact of the CLA's impressive capabilities, though, all of which are underpinned by a new MMA platform and its innate efficiency. The first model hitting the road will be the long-range CLA 250+ that combines a single, rear-mounted electric motor with 268bhp and an 85kWh battery pack. Mercedes quotes a maximum range of 471 miles, only eight miles down on the slipperier saloon and leagues ahead of potential rivals. The CLA Shooting Brake has very few direct competitors, however. The Tesla Model Y is an SUV alternative, but one that doesn't feature such impressive range figures, topping out at 383 miles for the single-motor long range model. A Polestar 2 is less practical, and Volvo's mechanically related EC40 with the extended range battery will only just crack 350 miles on a charge. In the next few months, Mercedes will introduce a dual-motor CLA 350 variant fitted with the same 85kWh battery pack. This produces 348bhp and drops the 0-62mph time from 6.8 to just five seconds, yet retains the ability to do more than 450 miles on the official WLTP cycle. A CLA 250 with a smaller battery pack will also be available down the line. The MMA platform integrates an 800V architecture, supporting up to 320kW charging that'll see the battery gain around 200 miles in as little as 10 minutes. The CLA saloon has been criticised for not accepting 400V charging infrastructure at launch, which essentially limits its ability to work with a majority of public fast-chargers here in the UK. This issue might be resolved by the time the Shooting Brake arrives on British forecourts. The CLA Shooting Brake range will eventually expand to include more powertrain options, including a CLA 350 dual-motor variant with 348bhp, plus an entry-level CLA 250 with a smaller battery option. High performance AMG models will be on the cards, too, plus a range of hybrid-assisted ICE models to ensure those not ready to make the switch to EV still have options. Beyond the compelling range of powertrains and battery tech, the new CLA Shooting Brake also features Merc's next-generation infotainment setup, with a 14-inch touchscreen controlling the main of the car's functions, with a smaller 10.25-inch mounted in front of the driver on a single, gloss-black surface. A second 14-inch display for the passenger will be available later, with all models backed up by a cutting-edge new architecture that's been designed to simplify the car's electronic underpinnings, as well as better integrated over-the-air updates, AI assistant integration and remote services. Did you know you can buy a new Mercedes CLA , or search for great used Mercedes CLA models with our Find A Car Service? 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