A couple of weeks ago, we spotted a gas-powered variant of the upcoming Mercedes-Benz CLA undergoing testing. Now we have its electric brother in the crosshairs, and we can tell that Mercedes-Benz no longer cares much about camouflage. This points to an imminent unveiling, probably by the end of the first quarter.

We've seen prototypes of the upcoming Mercedes-Benz CLA for almost two years already and were also treated to a nearly full disclosure with the CLA Concept unveiled during the 2023 IAA in Munich. This makes it harder for Mercedes-Benz to justify the secrecy surrounding its upcoming compact sedan. Indeed, the German carmaker appears to have come to the same conclusion, as we've seen the 2026 CLA dropping more camo in December.

The first to do so was the combustion-engine variant, which our photographers snapped in mid-December as a white prototype. As expected, the ICE CLA will still have a grille, whereas the all-electric variant will sport a sealed front fascia. To be fair, I like the red EV variant better, and not just for its colorful appearance. The all-electric CLA is a major bet for Mercedes-Benz and will introduce some cutting-edge technologies badly needed to accelerate EV adoption.

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