Mercedes-AMG has opened orders for the all-new CLA 45 4MATIC+, bringing a new level of electric performance to the compact performance-car segment. With 680 horsepower, three axial-flux electric motors, an 800-volt electrical architecture and a claimed 0-100 km/h time of just 2.7 seconds, the new CLA 45 4MATIC+ is designed to combine supercar-like acceleration with the everyday usability of a premium compact sedan.
The latest AMG model also recently established a segment record on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, underlining Mercedes-AMG’s focus on combining outright electric power with sophisticated chassis and aerodynamic technology.
At the heart of the new Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+ is a three-motor electric powertrain producing a system output of 500 kW, equivalent to 680 hp. Mercedes-AMG quotes maximum system torque of 1,759 Nm, while the independent electric motors give the all-wheel-drive system a level of torque-control flexibility that would be difficult to achieve with a conventional mechanical drivetrain.
The CLA 45 4MATIC+ is available to order through Mercedes-Benz sales partners and online.
Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+ combines 680 hp with three electric motors
The headline figures immediately establish the CLA 45 4MATIC+ as one of the most powerful compact performance EVs on the market.
Its powertrain uses three completely independent axial-flux electric motors. Unlike conventional radial-flux motors, axial-flux technology can deliver exceptionally high power density while maintaining a compact and lightweight design.
The three-motor arrangement is particularly important because it allows Mercedes-AMG to control the distribution of electric torque with considerable precision.
Torque can be varied between the front and rear axles, while the two rear motors can independently distribute torque between the left and right rear wheels. This creates what AMG calls a fully variable Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel-drive system.
The result is not simply more traction. The system is designed to actively influence the car’s handling characteristics depending on driving conditions, throttle input and the selected drive mode.
0-100 km/h in 2.7 seconds
With 500 kW and all-wheel drive, the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+ is capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in a claimed 2.7 seconds.
That figure puts the compact AMG in territory traditionally occupied by much larger and significantly more expensive performance cars.
The instant torque delivery of electric motors is only part of the equation. The three-motor architecture allows the CLA 45 to continuously optimize torque distribution, helping maximize traction during hard acceleration and allowing the car to remain composed when the driver pushes beyond straight-line performance.
For AMG, however, acceleration is only one part of the equation. The CLA 45 4MATIC+ has been engineered around the goal of delivering genuine driver involvement rather than simply impressive acceleration numbers.
800-volt architecture targets both performance and charging speed
The new CLA 45 4MATIC+ also benefits from an 800-volt electrical architecture.
High-voltage electrical systems can support faster charging and help reduce the electrical losses associated with transferring large amounts of energy. In the CLA 45, the architecture works together with the high-power-density axial-flux motors to create an EV designed for both performance and long-distance usability.
Mercedes-AMG quotes a charging time of approximately 22 minutes for a 10-to-80-percent battery charge when using a suitable DC fast-charging station.
That is particularly significant for a performance vehicle that could otherwise demand frequent charging stops during long-distance driving.
More than 670 kilometers of range
Despite its performance focus, the new Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+ is not intended to be a short-range track special.
Mercedes-AMG quotes a range of more than 670 kilometers for the saloon, according to the applicable test procedure.
That combination of range and performance could make the CLA 45 an unusually versatile proposition. Drivers can exploit its 680-hp powertrain when conditions allow, while the aerodynamic systems and high-voltage architecture are designed to improve efficiency during normal driving.
The key challenge for AMG was therefore not simply extracting maximum power from the battery. It was creating an electric performance car capable of switching between efficiency and outright performance without compromising either objective.
Fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive
One of the most technically interesting elements of the CLA 45 4MATIC+ is its all-wheel-drive system.
Traditional all-wheel-drive systems often rely on a mechanical connection between axles or electronically controlled clutches to vary torque distribution. The AMG system takes a different approach by using three independent electric motors.
Torque can be distributed continuously between the front and rear axles. At the rear, the two motors can also vary torque individually between the wheels.
This torque-vectoring capability can help the CLA 45 rotate into corners, improve traction when exiting a bend and maintain stability when the driver approaches the car’s limits.
In other words, the electric powertrain becomes an integral part of the chassis rather than simply a source of propulsion.
AMG RIDE CONTROL suspension gets serious upgrades
The chassis of the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+ has also received extensive development.
The car uses a steel-sprung AMG RIDE CONTROL suspension system with adaptive three-way adjustable damping. AMG says the wheel-guiding components, springs and dampers have been fundamentally revised.
The objective is to increase maximum lateral acceleration while maintaining predictable and approachable handling at the limit.
That distinction matters. A performance car that generates impressive numbers but becomes difficult to read near its limits can be frustrating for experienced drivers. AMG’s approach with the CLA 45 is instead aimed at creating a car that communicates what its tires and chassis are doing as the pace increases.
The adaptive damping system also allows the suspension characteristics to be adjusted according to the selected driving mode and road conditions, giving the CLA 45 a wider operating range than a purely track-focused setup.
Active rear spoiler adds another layer of aerodynamic control
Aerodynamics play a major role in the CLA 45 4MATIC+’s performance strategy.
The saloon features a segment-first active rear spoiler, while the Shooting Brake receives an active roof spoiler. Both systems are designed to adjust the car’s aerodynamic balance depending on the selected driving program or driver input.
At lower aerodynamic loads, the spoiler can adopt a position intended to reduce drag and maximize efficiency. When greater stability is required, it can change angle to generate additional downforce.
This is an increasingly important feature on high-performance EVs. Electric cars have to balance two competing demands: minimizing aerodynamic resistance to maximize range and generating aerodynamic stability at high speeds.
The active spoiler allows the CLA 45 to address both requirements rather than permanently optimizing the car for one or the other.
Active grille shutters improve aerodynamic efficiency
The CLA 45’s aerodynamic package also includes advanced active front grille shutters.
At high speeds, the shutters remain closed to reduce aerodynamic drag. They open when the vehicle requires additional cooling airflow.
It is a relatively simple concept, but one that becomes increasingly valuable as manufacturers attempt to maximize EV efficiency without compromising thermal management.
For the CLA 45, aerodynamic efficiency is therefore not merely a styling exercise. The active systems are integrated into the vehicle’s broader performance strategy, helping the car transition between maximum range and maximum high-speed stability.
Nürburgring development shows AMG’s priorities
The new CLA 45 4MATIC+ recently demonstrated its performance credentials by setting a segment record on the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
The legendary 20.8-kilometer circuit is one of the toughest development environments in the automotive world, combining high-speed sections, elevation changes, heavy braking zones and challenging corners.
A Nürburgring record does not automatically make a car the best everyday performance vehicle, but it does provide an indication of how seriously AMG has approached the CLA 45’s chassis, powertrain and aerodynamic development.
The three-motor powertrain, torque vectoring, adaptive damping and active aerodynamics are clearly designed to work as one integrated system.
Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+ brings supercar acceleration to the compact class
The all-new Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+ represents a significant evolution of AMG’s approach to electric performance.
Its 680-hp output and 2.7-second 0-100 km/h acceleration time are the numbers that will attract the most attention, but the more important story lies beneath them.
Three axial-flux motors provide independent control of the front and rear axles and individual rear wheels. An 800-volt architecture supports rapid charging. Adaptive three-way damping gives the chassis a broader range of capabilities, while active aerodynamic elements allow the car to prioritize either efficiency or stability.
With more than 670 kilometers of claimed range for the saloon and a 10-to-80-percent DC fast-charging time of around 22 minutes, the CLA 45 is also attempting to eliminate one of the traditional compromises associated with high-performance electric cars.
Mercedes-AMG has therefore taken a different route with the new CLA 45 4MATIC+: rather than building an EV that is simply extremely fast in a straight line, it has developed a compact performance car in which the electric powertrain, chassis and aerodynamics are all designed to work together.
If the Nürburgring performance is any indication, the new CLA 45 4MATIC+ could become one of the most technically sophisticated electric AMG models yet—and a serious benchmark for the next generation of compact performance EVs.
Source: Mercedes-Benz