A closed track is most likely, or perhaps a stretch of road that vehicle engineers have covered dozens or even hundreds of times already, which ensures the camouflage-wrapped prototype reacts exactly as expected.

It may be the cheapest car in the automaker’s U.S. lineup at present, but the new 2026 CLA it won’t look or feel that way from what we found.

Underpinning the car is a new modular platform known as the MMA. Mercedes also has the electric-only MB.EA platform, which will debut in an electric C-Class and related electric GLC-Class due for sale in the U.S. in 2026.

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