The New AMG CLA 45 Is Electric, Extremely Fast, and Surprisingly Theatrical

Mercedes-AMG has used the Goodwood Festival of Speed to reveal its new CLA 45 4MATIC+ range, and the old four-cylinder formula is gone. The performance model is now fully electric and comes as both a sedan and Shooting Brake, with three axial-flux motors doing the work.

One sits at the front and two are mounted at the rear, producing up to 671 hp and 1,297 lb-ft of torque. That's enough for 0-62 mph in 2.7 seconds with a 1-foot rollout, or three seconds from a normal start. Top speed is 155 mph, rising to 168 mph with the AMG Dynamic Plus Package.

A 94-kWh battery feeds the motors and gives the sedan more than 416 miles of WLTP range. The Shooting Brake covers over 398 miles, but gains an extra 2.1 cubic feet of trunk space. Plug into a 330-kW DC fast charger and the battery can go from 10 to 80 percent in 22 minutes.

A ten-minute stop can add more than 168 miles. The three-motor layout also allows variable torque distribution between the front and rear axles, plus torque vectoring between the rear wheels. Mercedes says the system can smoothly move between rear- and all-wheel drive depending on what the car needs.

The chassis has received the full AMG treatment. AMG Ride Control uses steel springs and adaptive three-way damping with Comfort, Sport, and AMGForce S+ settings, while six AMG Dynamic Select modes adjust the suspension, steering, accelerator, stability control, and energy recovery.

AMGForce S+ is the unusual one. It adds active seat shakers, simulated traction interruptions during “gear changes,” and digitally recreates the sound of AMG's old turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder. Stopping power comes from six-piston front calipers with 15.4-inch discs and single-piston rear calipers with 13.8-inch discs. Regenerative braking offers five levels of energy recovery.

The styling is familiar CLA, but AMG has added its own details. There's a fully enclosed Panamericana grille, star-pattern headlights, a short light strip between them, and a front bumper with a large faux lower intake filled with plastic. Buyers can add a continuous light strip and illuminated grille. An active front intake can stay closed at speeds approaching 155 mph, helping range and acceleration.

Sporty side skirts, flush door handles, 19- or 20-inch wheels, and a rear diffuser with fins instead of exhaust tips complete the look. The CLA is also the first model in its class with active aerodynamics. The sedan gets a power-deployable rear spoiler, while the Shooting Brake uses a roof-edge spoiler, both controlled automatically or manually. A Night Package adds gloss-black trim, while the Dynamic Plus Package brings red brake calipers with black AMG lettering.

Inside, the CLA 45 is now a four-seater, as the middle rear seat has been replaced by a shallow tray. Faux-leather and microfiber sport seats with red stitching come standard, with real leather, two-tone finishes, and red seat belts available. Aluminum trim, stainless-steel pedals, AMG floor mats, and a Nappa leather AMG Performance steering wheel are also included, while microfiber and mixed leather/microfiber steering wheels can be ordered.

The dashboard carries a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14-inch infotainment display, and a 14-inch passenger screen. The new CLA 45 may have ditched its combustion engine, but AMG has clearly tried to make sure nobody mistakes it for a quiet commuter EV.