The baby Mercedes-Benz CLS four-door coupe is finally here, and its name is CLA. This compact coupe-like sedan kicks off the first of three versions of the Mercedes A Class-based family cars arriving here in America over the next few years.

The CLA also marks the return of a front-wheel drive Mercedes-Benz to our shores here in the U.S. market. Wearing a base price of about $30,000 the most striking thing about the CLA is its silhouette. The sleek lines, frameless windows, and large shoulder line give the car a terrific stance.

The interior of the CLA has an SLK feel to it, with five round air vents, extensive use of gray plastic, and an LCD screen on the dashboard for the infotainment system. Features such as Bluetooth, cruise control, a power driver seat, and MB-Tex upholstery are all standard. While a 5.8-inch screen running Mercedes-Benz's mbrace2 is standard, a 7-inch screen with Mercedes' COMAND system will be available.

Power is provided by a turbocharged direct-injection 2.0-liter four cylinder rated at 208 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the front the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Mercedes-Benz's 4Matic all-wheel drive system will be an option, and you can bet an AMG model is in the works.

For more details be sure to read our full preview here. You can read even more news from the 2013 Detroit Auto Show here.