Mercedes-Benz has expanded its electric vehicle lineup with the introduction of the all-electric CLA. The company claims that this model should redefine the experience of using electric cars. The Mercedes-Benz CLA will be the beginning of a completely new family of cars that will include both electric and hybrid models, but the electric version will be the flagship of this line.
Technical characteristics of the Mercedes-Benz CLA
At the start of sales, Mercedes-Benz will offer two CLA models:
- The CLA 250+ is a rear-wheel drive version with a 200 kW (272 hp) engine that accelerates to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds.
- The CLA 350 4MATIC is an all-wheel drive version with engines with a combined output of 260 kW (353 hp) that makes the same sprint in 4.9 seconds.
The maximum speed of both models is limited to 210 km/h.
Despite its compact size, the new CLA has an impressive range of up to 792 km on a single charge. But this figure is relevant for the version with a large 85.5 kWh battery (NMC). There will also be a variant with a smaller 58 kWh battery (LFP), but Mercedes has not yet announced its range.
It is one of the most energy-efficient electric vehicles thanks to its low aerodynamic drag and two-speed transmission. The first gear is used for low-speed driving in the city, and when the speed increases, the CLA automatically shifts to the second gear, which significantly improves efficiency on the highway. This is especially important because it is at high speeds that electric vehicles usually lose a lot of energy. Mercedes seems to have found a simple but effective solution.
The car is based on an 800-volt architecture. The new battery supports fast DC charging with a capacity of up to 320 kW, which allows you to add 325 km of range in just 10 minutes of charging. The battery itself has become more energy-dense and has a reduced carbon footprint, which reduces overall CO₂ emissions by 40%.
The Mercedes-Benz CLA is equipped with the MB.DRIVE system, which includes modern driver assistance functions such as DISTRONIC Distance Assist (adaptive cruise control) and Lane Change Assist (lane change assistant), which increases road safety.
«Smart» car with AI
The main innovation of the new CLA is the Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS), which makes it the brand’s smartest car. This system, enhanced by artificial intelligence, effectively turns the car into a supercomputer, constantly connected to the cloud and able to receive updates «over the air». Mercedes promises that the CLA will remain relevant for years to come, with improvements to everything from multimedia to driver assistance systems.
The fourth generation of the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) system integrates AI from Microsoft and Google. The new MBUX Superscreen, built on high-performance chips from Unity, displays information and applications in a smartphone-like format.
The MBUX virtual assistant, based on generative artificial intelligence, will become the main way to interact with the car. It uses ChatGPT and Google Gemini, which allows it to understand natural language and engage in a dialog with the driver. This assistant can answer navigation questions, find points of interest, and even respond to the driver’s emotions, creating a more personalized experience.
Navigation is realized via Google Maps, and Mercedes-Benz Navigation with Electric Intelligence automatically plots the most efficient routes, including stops for charging. There is also MBUX Surround Navigation, which provides realistic 3D visualizations of the road, improving the driver’s orientation in space.
Price of the Mercedes-Benz CLA
The CLA 250+ version will go on sale from €50 thousand, and the CLA 350 4MATIC will cost more – about €60 thousand.
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