For perhaps the largest automotive shift in history, electric performance vehicles are becoming faster, smarter and ultimately, more enticing than they have ever been. And to that end, Mercedes-AMG has entered into this exciting new phase with the completely electric CLA 45 an automobile which challenges everything one might expect of a performance sedan. While some electric vehicles focus exclusively on quiet motoring or ultimate efficiency, AMG has engineered a machine designed to exhilarate with electrifying speeds without losing any of the emotion which is integral to its performance machines.
From the moment the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 unveiled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed to the car world, it created quite a buzz. Fully of state-of-the-art tech, with 671 hp, the electric sedan highlights how far performance EVs have come along. Every part was developed to deliver the most in terms of performance, precision and driver focus. Electrification and driving fun doesn’t have to be mutually exclusive; rather, the CLA 45 reinvent the AMG concept for the contemporary driver.
However, what is most appealing about this particular car is the fact that Mercedes-AMG hasn’t shied away from fusing these bleeding edge electric advancements with all the well-worn traits of more traditional performance machinery. From fake engine noise to pretend gear shifts and vibrating seats, AMG has attempted to engineer that visceral engagement that comes with driving an internal-combustion vehicle to extremes. Time will tell whether these enhancements mark the beginning of performance cars or just one of the most audacious, and perhaps unusual projects, AMG has ever embarked upon.
1. A Bold New Direction for AMG Performance
Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 EV represents another exciting entry into AMG’s illustrious performance history. Rather than merely electrifying its existing gas-guzzlers, AMG has introduced an electric sport sedan that has its own performance character. It offers compelling performance, expressive styling and the driver-oriented character one would expect of an AMG.
AMG’s High-Performance Electric Evolution:
- All-electric AMG performance sedan
- Driver-focused engineering philosophy
- Powerful next-generation EV technology
- Bold and aggressive design
- Performance meets electrification
Forget about the hushed tranquility and efficiency you may expect of some EVs. The CLA 45 EV offers a captivating and emotional drive. Smart software, precise power delivery and a chassis optimized for performance ensure each journey is exhilarating, without sacrificing the agility the driver expects of an AMG vehicle.
With the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 EV, the German manufacturer proves that electro-mobility doesn’t necessarily mean compromising driving pleasure. Combining forward-looking technology with AMG’s sporty genes, Mercedes-Benz are reshaping our expectations of an electric sports saloon and defining a new standard for the future of the brand.
2. Triple Axial-Flux Motors Deliver Incredible Power
It gets its impressive performance by leveraging three electric motors, helping redefine the future of the compact performance car with a state-of-the-art three-motor electric drivetrain. Rather than electric motors of the traditional type, AMG has gone the way of the highly compact axial-flux motors produced by Yasa, resulting in power density that’s significantly higher, offering a higher degree of flexibility and a response time of 21 milliseconds, all while boasting a higher degree of efficiency too.
Triple-Motor Performance Technology:
- Three advanced axial-flux motors
- Intelligent all-wheel-drive system
- Individual wheel torque control
- Lightweight high-performance drivetrain
- Dedicated rear-wheel drift mode
A single electric motor drives the front axle, while two electric motors independently drive each rear wheel. This architecture allows the car’s intelligent all-wheel-drive system to precisely apportion torque to any given wheel as needed to optimize for grip, stability and cornering agility. Additionally, the efficient axial-flux motors help quicken overall response and drive efficiency.
Mercedes-AMG also equips the CLA 45 EV with a rear-wheel drive drift mode that can be engaged when a driver wants to indulge in a more playful experience behind the wheel. The drive system sends the majority of power to the rear wheels, providing sustained sliding potential, and the confidence-inducing electronic stability control keeps the driver feeling confident.
3. Supercar-Level Performance Figures
The Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 EV has performance stats that should make it one of the fastest-produced cars anywhere, with a high-power three-motor electric drivetrain delivering close to 670 hp that elevates this sedan far above normal small performance cars, placing it on the doorstep of the supercar kingdom. Such blistering figures reveal just how much AMG wants its electric car to also perform with wild, yet everyday, capability.
Electric Performance Beyond Expectations:
- Around 670 horsepower output
- Massive instant electric torque
- 0-62 mph in under three seconds
- Supercar-level acceleration
- Major leap over previous AMG models
With a massive 1,297 lb-ft of electric drivetrain torque on tap, the CLA 45 EV is able to sprint away from a stop the second the driver even touches the accelerator. This is the advantage of an electric drivetrain over a traditional engine which has a small delay as it generates power.
The ability of the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 EV to move has always seemed to have been something of a jump over what the fossil fuel-burning AMG CLA 45 has been. Now, with acceleration times just shy of 3 seconds to hit 62 mph, the AMG CLA 45 EV shows just how much new tech can get more performance from a sports sedan than before, establishing its own form of ultra-fast EV sports sedan.
4. High-Speed Capability Beyond Quick Acceleration
Not Just a Bolt-On Electric Acceleration Device. The AMG CLA 45 EV isn’t just about the immediate shove. Though we do expect the electric vehicle to respond well off the line, the whole AMG formula was set out to create a sedan that you could still get into to maintain velocity without sacrificing the feeling of the vehicle holding itself together through the corners.
Built for Speed and Stability:
- 155 mph standard top speed
- 167 mph with AMG Dynamic Plus
- High-speed performance focus
- Stable highway driving dynamics
- Balanced performance capability
The normal CLA 45 EV has its speed electronically topped out at approximately 155 mph quite a bit more speed than necessary in normal use. However, if you’re looking for even more speed, then optional CLA 45 EV AMG Dynamic Plus Package makes the maximum speed approximately 167 mph high enough to compare with many other purebred performance machines.
The Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 EV proves that it’s more than just fleeting sprints with its powerful electric motors, intelligent control logic and exceptional high-speed handling to deliver thrills at all speeds. This strategy is how AMG is able to give the CLA 45 EV the driving experience of an authentic performance car and not just an electrified speed demon.
5. Recreating the Emotion of a Combustion Engine
The Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 EV proves that it’s more than just fleeting sprints with its powerful electric motors, intelligent control logic and exceptional high-speed handling to deliver thrills at all speeds. This strategy is how AMG is able to give the CLA 45 EV the driving experience of an authentic performance car and not just an electrified speed demon.
Bringing AMG Emotion Into the EV Era:
- Digital AMG engine sound system
- Over 1,600 recorded sound samples
- Adaptive audio based on driving conditions
- Simulated gear shift sensations
- Performance-focused driving modes
For a more real sound experience engineers apparently recorded thousands of audio snippets of older AMG engines and used that information to engineer a sound database that can adjust the output in response to throttle, speed, acceleration and the drive mode engaged to produce something more dynamic than static, synthesized sound.
AMG Force S+ mode pushes this even further with simulated gear shifts and even a vibrating seat for added physical sensations that mimick some of the sensations experienced in combustion cars of performance nature. While not typical for EV vehicles it shows AMG is trying to match its electrical power to the driving feelings many have come to know from cars over time.
6. Advanced Battery Technology and Long-Distance Capability
The Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 EV integrates supercar levels of performance with surprisingly practical use thanks to its electric construction. Previous electric super-cars were sometimes almost purely about straight line speed but this AMG set out to be fast in more situations, over longer distances and to take the art of high-voltage fast charging to another level via a complicated 800V electrical architecture.
High-Performance EV Range Technology:
- Advanced 800-volt architecture
- 94-kWh battery pack
- More than 416-mile WLTP range
- Fast charging capability
- Performance with everyday usability
Powering these three motors is a whopping 94 kWh battery pack, enabling the CLA 45 EV to boast an impressive WLTP range in excess of 416 miles, according to the firm. Even the more sensible Shooting Brake model shouldn’t fall too far short, promising an estimated 398 miles. Clearly, the brand has its eye on making a performance machine you can actually drive most days without stopping for a charge every few hundred miles.
In addition, the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 EV benefits from the features and efficiencies of its 800-volt electrical architecture that result in higher charge rates and enhanced efficiency than prior electric vehicle structures. While range will undoubtedly vary by driving conditions (road surface and weather) as well as individual driving behaviors, it’s still a remarkable effort in marrying supercar-levels of acceleration with everyday usability in an electric sedan package.
7. Extremely Fast Charging for Everyday Convenience
The Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 EV isn’t just about going fast. AMG is committed to ensuring a performance-oriented lifestyle with ease, by offering an electric drive that satisfies everyday practical considerations. Incorporating cutting-edge rapid charging capability, the CLA 45 shrinks waiting time for the highest performing electric sedan so road trips become accessible again.
Rapid Charging Performance:
- Up to 330 kW DC fast charging
- 10-80% charge in about 22 minutes
- More than 168 miles added quickly
- Reduced charging downtime
- Practical long-distance EV capability
CLA 45 EV 4matic plug in has an onboard battery pack capable of receiving DC current at a peak speed of 330kW. This means you will be able to top up 10 per cent to 80 per cent of the battery in about 22 minutes , enabling much longer road trips than would otherwise be possible.
Even just a 10-minute quick-charge will boost the vehicle’s real-world range by a healthy 168 miles or so. Fast-charging, all-round long range and performance from the all-electric drivetrain shows what’s on offer now in EVs, taking on range anxiety concerns, while at the same time providing AMG-style performance.
8. Aggressive AMG Styling With Practical Design Elements
Future-forward electric style meets classic AMG aggression on the new Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 EV. It doesn’t look like your typical eco-conscious, low-slung electric sedan the CLA 45 injects drama with aggressive styling cues, aero enhancements and a broader track to clearly signal its potent performance intent.
Performance-Inspired Exterior Design:
- Wider AMG body proportions
- Muscular wheel arches
- 19 and 20-inch wheel options
- Active aerodynamic features
- Sporty performance appearance
CLA 45 EV-Exterior Design The 2020 Mercedes CLA 45 EV maintains the beautiful teardrop shape and classic lines of the regular CLA but features various performance modifications. The exterior includes a broader stance, toned body sides, and muscular wheel wells to offer more dynamic on-road styling. It’s also offered with massive wheels to make it look athletic when parked.
Further enhancing efficiency and stability is AMG’s adoption of sophisticated aerodynamic tech. Active elements work to control air-flow, with the sedan benefiting from a powered rear spoiler, and a roof-mounted unit for the Shooting Brake model. While some design aspects such as particular elements that appear to be artificially induced intakes may prove divisive, there is little question that the exterior of the CLA 45 EV announces it as the serious performance car it is, not merely another EV.
9. The Shooting Brake Version Adds Performance and Practicality
The new Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 EV Shooting Brake enters the realm of performance electric vehicles with a mix of power and practicality. Long has AMG produced fast station wagons for a variety of tasks, and now the concept continues with this high-speed EV Shooting Brake, which provides an alternative to your standard sports sedan.
A Fast Electric Wagon for Everyday Life:
- Performance with extra cargo space
- AMG wagon heritage continues
- Practical family-friendly design
- High-speed electric capability
- Unique EV performance concept
Shooting Brake model will grant you a greater interior room and extra cargo room with the same muscular design and engineered performance that comes from the AMG package making the Shooting Brake a fantastic car if you can get by without the space offered by an SUV, but require something more than just your basic sports car.
Instead of being the last word in efficiency or the furthest forward glance toward an electrified future, the CLA 45 EV Shooting Brake carves a unique niche within the electric performance hierarchy, bridging the gap between hardcore performance tech and the real-world usability enthusiasts still desire from their fast wagons. For those shoppers, that sweet spot of speed, practicality, and EV cred might just be the most alluring variant of the CLA45 to date.
10. A High-Tech Interior With a True AMG Character
A merger of cutting-edge digital tech and AMG’s sporting spirit. In the cabin of the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 EV, premium surfaces meet the driving-oriented design, futuristic screens and all-round feel of a performance AMG to form the perfect whole. With AMG passion transferred to the electric age, in the interior it feels just right to take off.
Performance-Focused Luxury Cabin:
- AMG sport seats and materials
- Performance steering wheel design
- Driver-focused four-seat layout
- Large digital display system
- Futuristic Mercedes technology
Sporty AMG front seats in high-quality synthetic leather/microfiber, contrasted with striking red stitching for added attitude. A Nappa leather AMG Performance steering wheel creates a closer relationship between the driver and machine for a more involving drive. The CLA 45 EV doesn’t feel like a regular electric sedan because these things have been done. There’s also a novel four-seat layout that eschews the rear middle seat for a storage bin, cutting into passenger versatility for what AMG sees as a more driver-focused experience.
Technology is a prominent feature in the interior, with standard digital instrumentation, and optional displays for infotainment and the passenger to complete what seems to be a highly connected environment. The Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 EV successfully combines luxury, technology, and performance-focused design inside the cabin. By blending premium craftsmanship with advanced digital features, AMG creates an interior that feels modern and futuristic while still preserving the emotional character expected from a Mercedes performance vehicle.
