Mercedes-AMG has taken the wraps off the new CLA 45 sedan and Shooting Brake. Both come equipped with a tri-motor electric powertrain and have to internal combustion engine option. The first customer deliveries are only planned for 2027, so let’s take a look at the details in the meantime.
The new CLA AMG generation rides on the company’s MMA platform that puts one e-motor at the front axle and two at the rear. The combined output comes to 680 PS (671 hp / 500 kW), but engaging Drift mode decouples the front motor for some RWD fun.
The sedan hits 100 km/h (62 mph) in three seconds flat now, with the wagon lagging just 0.2 seconds behind. The respective electric ranges amount to 669 and 640 kilometers (415 and 397 miles). Charging from 10 to 80 percent takes 22 minutes given a 330-kW power source.
In terms of features, AMG promises us a fake engine soundtrack recorded from the company’s M139 turbo-four, a virtual eight-speed transmission, and a special mode called Sport+. Once activated, Sport+ imitates the pops and crackles of a performance exhaust system, making the sound heard both inside the car and outside. In addition to this, built-in seat vibrators begin vibrating to imitate the feel of a genuine internal combustion engine. Whether this feature helps Mercedes sway over the conservatives and the purists remains to be seen.