The new Mercedes CLA has been officially unveiled in Detroit, marking the start of yet another new niche. This compact four-door coupe is built on the same platform as the 2013 Mercedes A-Class, and will get the same engines as well.

In America the CLA will launch with a turbocharged engine generating 208 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque as the CLA250. It comes with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Sport suspension – featuring McPherson strut at the front and a Multilink system at the back – is standard, and 4Matic all-wheel-drive system is offered as an optional extra.

This little fella is also packed with advanced features such as a radar-based including advanced COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST, Brake Assist for adaptive braking, ATTENTION ASSIST drowsiness detection, Distronic, Advance Parking Assist, and… These are the stuff you used get only with an S-Class.

The best thing about the CLA, however, is its design. It has already caused lots of controversy, but there is no denying that a compact four-door coupe design with sport characteristics is hugely appealing. The car features a large diamond-look grille, unusually big headlights, sports bumpers, an sculpted side profile with sexy lines, and a rear-end that is a toned-down version of the CLS’ bottom. It is also a clever design, with a Cd figure of 0.23.

A large panorama sunroof is available as a standalone option. It consists of a fixed polycarbonate cover at the front, a glass moving panel and side trim elements to match the glass look. The visual effect is of a glass surface that extends all the way from the front to the rear windshield.

The interior draws lots of inspirations from other Mercedes models, chiefly the A-Class, obviously. You get a sporty three-spoke steering wheel, retro-style vents, and a center console with a tablet-like screen that enable smartphone integration via Mercedes mbrace2. It is a high-quality cabin for a high quality car.

Later on there will be an AMG version of the CLA with more power and standard AMG 4Matic.