Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 Returns As 680hp Electric Performer
The new-generation AMG CLA 45 abandons its turbo-petrol engine in favour of a fully electric setup producing up to 680hp.
Buyers can choose between a traditional sedan body style and a practical Shooting Brake variant.
Mercedes-AMG has pulled the wraps off the new CLA 45 4MATIC+, and the transformation is significant. Where the outgoing model relied on a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, this generation is offered purely as an electric vehicle.
Built on the same underpinnings as the standard Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric that debuted the previous year, the AMG variant is available in both sedan and Shooting Brake body styles, giving buyers a choice between conventional styling and added practicality.
At the heart of the new AMG CLA sits a 94kWh LFP battery pack that feeds three electric motors, one positioned on the front axle and two mounted at the rear. These units draw on axial-flux technology, a system that was first introduced on Mercedes' flagship AMG GT four-door model. Compared with conventional radial-flux motors, this layout allows for a smaller, lighter package while still generating strong power density.
Combined output touches 680hp at peak, with a continuous rating of 612hp, alongside 1,759Nm of torque. This torque figure is more than three times what the previous petrol-powered AMG CLA could muster.
During relaxed driving, the front motor can disengage entirely, effectively turning the car into a rear-wheel-drive machine for improved efficiency. The two rear motors are also capable of working independently, enabling torque vectoring and a dedicated drift function for enthusiasts.
Despite tipping the scales at close to 2.3 tonnes, the sedan can sprint from a standstill to 100kph in a claimed three seconds, while the Shooting Brake is marginally slower at 3.2 seconds.
Top speed is capped at 250kph as standard, though this rises to 270kph with an optional performance package. Seven distinct drive modes are on offer, paired with an adaptive sports suspension setup.
To retain some of the theatre associated with the AMG badge, the new CLA features a driving mode that artificially recreates the sound of the brand's well-known 2.0-litre turbo engine, complete with simulated gear shifts and seat-based haptic feedback.
On the range front, the sedan returns a WLTP figure of 670km, while the Shooting Brake manages 640km. Fast charging tops out at 330kW, enabling a 10 to 80 percent top-up in just 22 minutes.
Visually, the CLA 45 gains a sportier body kit, including a distinctive grille with ten slats, reworked bumpers with larger air intakes, wider fenders, and a prominent rear diffuser. It sits on 19-inch wheels as standard, with 20-inch alloys offered as an option, alongside upgraded brakes for stronger stopping power.
Inside, the cabin gets bucket seats, an AMG-specific steering wheel with dedicated mode selectors, and a triple-screen dashboard layout. Unlike the standard CLA, the AMG version swaps the rear bench for two individual seats, resulting in a four-seat configuration.
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