This represents a new dimension of beauty and aggression as the three-pointed star brand unveils the latest hot-blooded New Mercedes-AMG CLA 45, making its mark in the fully electric era. Those who remember the predecessor GT 63 4-Door Coupe creating a stir with its synthetic V8 engine sound that tricked the senses will not be surprised that this fierce little sibling carries forward the roaring sound of combustion-era dinosaurs to transform the silent world of electric power.
This concept gave the engineers at Affalterbach headaches because it’s not just about inserting fake V8 sounds to spoil the effect. For the hot-blooded CLA 45, AMG engineers specifically recorded the sound of the original AMG A45 S’s fierce 4-cylinder inline turbocharged engine, then re-tuned it into the synthetic sound system. The 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine’s shrill high-revving tone, though less smooth than the straight-six in the CLE53, adds a raw edge that makes the electric A45 more exciting to drive and listen to.
To replicate the full feel of a combustion engine car, this CLA 45 is also equipped with a fake gear lock system—software trickery previously successful in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N—that delivers artificial shifts, jerks, and the sensation of a dual-clutch automatic transmission when accelerating. Additionally, seat shakers create vibrations so the driver feels as if a roaring engine is revving beneath the hood. It’s quite an extreme setup.
Enthusiasts eager for something unique will be impressed: beneath the coupe-shaped rear lies the powertrain borrowed from its predecessor, featuring three high-performance axial flux electric motors—one on the front axle and two delivering torque on the rear axle—producing a combined output of 671 horsepower in a compact car. It’s truly extraordinary.
Nearly 700 horsepower packed into an A-Class-sized body makes it one of the world’s most powerful compact electric cars. Beyond the overwhelming AMG horsepower, the trio of electric motors generates an astonishing 1,758 Newton-meters of torque. AMG engineers promise a soul-stirring 0-100 km/h acceleration in just 3.0 seconds. This supercar-level acceleration is identical whether you choose the 4-door sedan (Saloon) or the estate-style Shooting Brake. For comparison, the previous AMG CLA with the original combustion engine produced 415 horsepower and took 4.0 seconds to hit 100 km/h.
The front dual electric motors act as booster motors, meaning the New CLA 45 switches to all-wheel drive only when needed for maximum torque. The suspension uses traditional coil springs and shock absorbers, enhanced with intelligent adaptive dampers. Drivers can choose from modes ranging from Comfort and Sport to the raw 'AMG FORCE S+' mode. The addition of the '(+)' to the mode name hints at something more intense, suggesting enthusiasts will appreciate AMG’s efforts to create the world’s most thrilling small electric car.
Beyond the suspension, the AMG CLA Electric hides an active aerodynamic system, including an automatically adjustable rear spoiler on both body styles. It offers six standard driving modes, but if you opt for the AMG DYNAMIC PLUS sound package, a seventh 'Race' mode unlocks for track use, promising tire-scorching performance.
With a usable battery capacity of 94 kWh, the high-performance AMG version of the New CLA achieves a maximum range of up to 669 kilometers in the 4-door sedan form, while the estate-style Shooting Brake reaches slightly less at 640 kilometers. Foreign media have quipped that these figures might not be achievable if you frequently enjoy the 0-100 km/h sprint in 3 seconds. Fortunately, a heat pump system comes standard to manage energy efficiently, and DC fast charging supports up to 330 kW, replenishing from 10% to 80% in just 22 minutes when using a powerful charger.
The factory original exterior design of the CLA 45 takes an indie turn by removing the long LED lightbar found on the standard model. Road presence demands that Benz offer an optional fully illuminated grille. The car also features AMG’s signature styling: flared wheel arches, a front splitter, rear diffuser under the bumper, and optional lightweight forged wheels.
The interior focuses fully on sporty emotion, decorated with racing-style performance seats that offer firm support around the torso. The 'Performance Seats' look as impressive as expected, accompanied by a display layout similar to the standard model. Although Mercedes-Benz remains silent on official pricing, given the jump in horsepower and torque, don’t expect this to cost less or equal to the previous AMG CLA 45 with a combustion engine.