Mercedes-AMG has got its hands on the all-new Mercedes-Benz CLA. The result of this project is the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4Matic+, which, on debut, is available in both saloon and Shooting Brake guises. Both variants feature a fully electric tri-motor powertrain producing 680 hp (500 kW) and 1,759 Nm of torque.
Depending on which row of the official spec sheet you read, that century sprint takes either 2.7 or 3.0 seconds. If you want the real-world truth, the car launches from a dead standstill to 100 km/h in exactly three seconds flat.
The lower 2.7-second figure is simply a one-foot rollout calculation, which serves as a clever cheat code on the drag strip. Nonetheless, both propel the CLA45 to a top speed of 250 km/h—or up to 270 km/h when equipped with the optional AMG Dynamic Plus package.
The 680 hp is the result of using what Mercedes-AMG calls axial flux electric motors, with the CLA 45 packing two units on the rear axle and one on the front. While the rear axle provides most of the muscle to push out the peak 680 hp, the front axle serves as a booster when extra oomph is required. It contributes 360 hp (220 kW) and can completely disconnect from the drivetrain to minimise drag.
To ensure drivers do not miss the drama of petrol power, the car features a synthetic soundscape that mimics a traditional engine. Instead of using generic digital bleeps, engineers recorded an AMG A45S on the track using 13 microphones. When tracking in its high-performance mode, the CLA 45 plays this audio back in real-time while using seat shakers to simulate physical gear changes and brief interruptions in traction.
Keeping temperatures controlled during spirited driving, the three motors are all oil-cooled. The inverters and pump control unit are packaged into a High Performance Electric Drive Unit (HP.EDU) for each axle, which also houses a single-speed planetary gearbox to keep the mechanical footprint compact.
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With three independent motors on board, Mercedes-AMG developed the new AMG Performance 4matic+ all-wheel drive setup. In layman’s terms, this system introduces advanced torque vectoring capabilities controlled continuously by the CLA45’s computers.
Feeding the 680 electric horses is a 94 kWh lithium-ion battery that enables a WLTP-rated range of 670 km for the Saloon and 640 km for the Shooting Brake. Mercedes-AMG notes that these batteries gain a 20% boost in energy density achieved by mixing silicon oxide with graphite anodes, though the company did not state what its comparison baseline actually was.
With its 800-volt architecture, the CLA 45 recharges from 10-80% in 22 minutes via 330 kW DC fast charging. This rapid setup allows 270 km of range to be regained with just a 10-minute charging session.
This charging performance is achieved by a multi-source heat pump built into the air-conditioning system, which optimises the high-voltage battery temperature before plugging in. If navigation with Electric Intelligence is active, the system automatically preheats the battery while driving to ensure it hits peak speeds at the charger, all while keeping the cabin perfectly comfortable.
Other programmes included in the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 include AMG Track Pace, which records over 80 specific data points ten times per second. This data allows the vehicle to display telemetry, acceleration, and racing metrics alongside lap and sector times in real time across the multimedia system, head-up display, and instrument cluster.
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Operating essentially like a digital trackside engineer to provide training and analysis, the software comes pre-loaded with famous global circuits such as the Nürburgring and Spa-Francorchamps.
Taking driver guidance to the next level, the head-up display on the CLA 45 can project ideal braking points and corner apexes directly into your field of view just to shave down your lap times.
On the outside, the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 closely resembles the standard Mercedes-Benz CLA, but it distinguishes itself with AMG-specific front aprons, unique paint finishes, 20-inch forged alloy wheels, and red-painted brake callipers.
There is even an active aerodynamic wing for both body styles, consisting of a rear spoiler on the saloon and a roof-edge spoiler for the Shooting Brake. Owners can also option the AMG Night Package I to wrap the splitters, skirts, and side mirrors in high-gloss black.
Inside, you still find the same segmented 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14-inch central display, and another optional 14-inch screen in front of the passenger. However, as a car from Affalterbach, the interior is configured as a pure four-seater.
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It comes with plenty of sporty trim, which includes Nappa-look and Microcut upholstery, brushed stainless steel pedals, AMG Performance seats, an AMG steering wheel, and dedicated AMG-centric menus. These systems offer seven drive modes to choose from, including Comfort, Sport, AMGFORCE S+, Race, Slippery, Eco, and Individual.
Mercedes-Benz has not revealed any indicative pricing, as this is only the official global debut of the new Mercedes-AMG CLA 45, but with the standard Mercedes-Benz CLA estimated to be priced from RM296,000 in Malaysia, it is safe to assume that the eventual debut of the CLA 45 here will cost significantly more than that.
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