Mercedes-Benz CLA200, CLA200 CDI arrive in India

German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz has imported one unit each of the CLA200 and CLA200 CDI sedans in India. Import-export tracker website zauba.com reveals that the two cars have been imported for homologation, indicating that the launch may not be too far away.

The CLA200 is expected to be powered by 1991 cc, 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine developing 181 bhp and 300 Nm of torque. The CLA200 CDI will get a 2143 cc, 4-cylinder, turbocharged diesel engine which puts out 134 bhp and 300 Nm of torque. These are the same engines that are found in the GLA crossover, which was launched in September. Both engines will be mated to 7-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. Unlike the CLA 45 AMG, which was introduced in July, the standard CLA will will not feature the company's 4MATIC all-wheel drive system. It will be available only in front-wheel drive configuration.

The CLA will be pitted against the Audi A3. At the launch of the CLA 45 AMG, Mercedes-Benz had indicated that it was likely to launch the standard CLA within the next 180 days. If that is anything to go by, the company is expected to launch the car sometime in January 2015.