The brands have worked together to create a widebody version of the new Mercedes-Benz CLA, in 1:1 and 1:64 scales.
Mercedes-Benz and Hot Wheels have come together to create a concept car based on the 2026 CLA, which is set to be miniaturised and sold on store shelves.
Finished in a bright blue and pink livery, the Hot Wheels-ready concept wears a large Mercedes-Benz-branded spoiler, orange wheels, flared wheel arches, and oversized flames to “lend a retro-futuristic look reminiscent of 1980s pop culture”.
The German car giant says it is a tribute to childhood imagination, and cars as more than just a mode of transportation.
This is one of five “Class of Creators” series vehicles, alongside CLA vehicles designed with collaborators such as Swedish designer Gustaf Westman, American rapper Ice Spice, streetwear brand KidSuper, and video game League of Legends.
An Ice Spice variant covers the body in “molten chrome”, with “Princess” bedazzled on the side.
Gustaf Westman, famous for playful decor at Ikea, has created a chunky-shaped, monochrome pink car with a zip-up tent on top.
'Streetwear' clothing company KidSuper debuted its CLA at Paris Fashion Week, with a riveted metal-style finish, and balloons floating from the car. The final vehicle in the series is a chrome CLA inspired by the League of Legends video game.
2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA road car
The new Mercedes-Benz CLA is due in Australian showrooms next year on a new platform known as MMA, which is said to have been designed for electric cars and adapted for petrol – rather than upgrading a petrol-first architecture to accommodate large batteries and high-voltage components.
Prices are yet to be confirmed, but mild-hybrid variants with a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission are expected to cost more than the current $72,400 before on-road costs entry RRP in Australia.
Electric models offer DC fast charging at up to 320kW, claimed to add 325km of lab-tested range in 10 minutes.
Standard AC charging is rated at 11kW, and battery capacities of up to 85kWh are available.
The electric CLA is powered by a single 200kW/335Nm rear motor – claimed to enable a 6.7-second 0-100km/h acceleration time, and energy use as low as 12.2kWh/100km – or dual motors developing 260kW combined.
More details of the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA for Australia are due closer to its launch next year.
Ilana is a Melbourne-based journalist who was previously a copywriter in the Big Apple. Having moved to Melbourne for her Master of Journalism, she has written articles about food, farm machinery, fashion, and now the fast and furious. Her dream car has been a Mini Cooper since the fifth grade, eyeing its style and petite size.
