Mercedes-Benz Unleashes 2014 CLA-Class Promotional Shots Early

Mercedes-Benz fanatics are in for a treat, as the company has apparently released new shots of its upcoming 2014 CLA-class sedan. We're pretty sure these shots – which were originally posted on AutoMonthly – are official shots from Mercedes, and at least they look the part, showing off the exterior and interior of the car with a professional flare you won't often find outside the realm of promotional images.

The look of the CLA might be a little jarring for longtime Mercedes owners, as the company is taking some leaps of faith with the louder design. The new car has a lot in common with the A-class series, and its risky design can be attributed to Mercedes' desire to net some younger customers for itself. Gernot Bracht explained the shake up in design to Car and Driver, saying that the 2014 CLA is "Definitely not a typical Mercedes-Benz."

"The CLA is clearly informed by Asian tastes, and it symbolizes yet another departure from the traditionally purist German approach to design," Bracht said. "But this is becoming a trend, and in a way the CLA reminds me of Opel's approach with the new Adam." Will this new design rub those longtime fans of Mercedes-Benz the wrong way? Perhaps it's too early to tell, but we could definitely see this kind of car getting younger drivers interested.

We'll have to wait until next month to find out more about the 2014 CLA, but for now, we have these shots to gawk at. Expect the the 2014 CLA to get a lot of attention as Mercedes-Benz reveals more about it, given that the car signals something of a departure for the famous car company. What do you think of the 2014 CLA's design?