Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 goes electric

Jet Sanchez
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AMG goes axial-flux.

AMG goes axial-flux.

  • Mercedes-AMG has revealed the electric CLA 45 4Matic+ in sedan and Shooting Brake forms.
  • Peak output is listed at 500kW, with 0-100km/h claimed in just 2.7 seconds.
  • The 800-volt system can charge at up to 330kW and reach 80 percent in 22 minutes.

Mercedes-AMG has turned its compact CLA 45 performance flagship into a fully electric model, revealing the new CLA 45 4Matic+ as both a sedan and Shooting Brake.

Mercedes lists peak output at 500kW and says the new model can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 2.7 seconds. That puts the electric CLA 45 well beyond the old petrol compact-AMG template and into a different performance bracket altogether.

Three-motor AMG

Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 New Zealand

Mercedes-AMG says the output comes from two axial-flux motors on the rear axle and one axial-flux motor on the front axle.

The brand links that layout to the technology first used in the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe, now applied to the smaller CLA platform.

Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 New Zealand

The car is offered with AMG Ride Control adaptive damping, AMG Dynamic Select drive programmes and an AMG Dynamic Plus package that includes track-focused features such as AMG Track Pace.

Mercedes also describes an AMGForce S+ mode that gives the electric model a combustion-style AMG sound character.

Range and charging

Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 New Zealand

The CLA 45 4Matic+ sedan is listed with combined energy use of 18.7-16.5kWh/100km and zero tailpipe CO2 emissions. The Shooting Brake is listed at 19.6-17.4kWh/100km, also with zero tailpipe CO2 emissions.

Mercedes says range exceeds 670km or 640km on the WLTP cycle, depending on model. The 800-volt electrical architecture supports DC charging at up to 330kW, with a 10-80% charge claimed in 22 minutes. A 10-minute charging stop can add more than 270km of range, according to Mercedes.

NZ availability

Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 New Zealand

Mercedes-Benz has not disclosed New Zealand launch timing, pricing or final local specification. Those details remain unconfirmed.

For now, the story is the shift in character: the CLA 45 badge is still being pitched as a compact AMG performance car, but the hardware underneath has moved from high-boost four-cylinder theatre to tri-motor electric pace.

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