- Mercedes-Benz has revealed the long-awaited new generation of its compact CLA model, which will now be available with a fully-electric 800-volt architecture for the first time.
- The range-topper comes in the form of the CLA 250+ with EQ Technology, which has achieved a WLTP combined range of 792 kilometres (492 miles) – outperforming the manufacturer’s previous top-range EV, the EQS 450+.
- With the record levels of efficiency Mercedes-Benz has achieved on the electric CLA platform, the OEM has coined it as the ‘one-litre car for the electric age’.
Mercedes brings new levels of EV efficiency to the table
The CLA marque, originally introduced in 2013, has already been a sales hit for Mercedes-Benz, and the new option of a BEV variant could widen its appeal further.
The two electric variants to come to market include the CLA 250+ with EQ Technology and the CLA 350 4MATIC with EQ Technology. The 350 is aimed as the all-wheel-drive performance variant, while the 250+ strives for maximum efficiency. Both models pack an 85 kWh lithium-ion battery, with anodes that mix silicon oxide with graphite. Compared to batteries in previous Mercedes-Benz EVs, which used conventional graphite anodes, this allows for an energy density boost of around 20%, contributing to these higher range figures. Carbon footprint per cell is also reduced by 30%, reducing the lifetime carbon footprint of the electric CLA.
Range efficiency has also been contributed with a new two-speed transmission, something we’ve previously only seen on much higher-end EVs like the Porsche Taycan. First gear is more efficient in low-speed driving and provides maximum power for activities such as towing, while second gear is designed to provide maximum efficiency at sustained motorway speeds. The electric CLA is also the first EV from the brand to include an air-to-air heat pump, allowing waste heat from the battery, motor, and surrounding environment to be used in cabin heating. This should see the CLA range continue to perform well during the colder months of the year.
Altogether, these features allow the 250+ to achieve a WLTP combined range of 492 miles. This will make it the longest-range EV available in Europe, though more premium models sold outside of Europe like the Lucid Air Grand Touring still have it beat.
Prices for the electric variants of the CLA are yet to be confirmed. However, the compact saloon size of the CLA suggests it should be a direct rival to EVs like the Tesla Model 3, Polestar 2, and BYD Seal.
Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, commented:
“As the inventor of the automobile, we’ve rewritten automotive history time and time again – and now we’re doing it again with the all-new CLA. It translates our vision of the most efficient Mercedes ever made, the VISION EQXX, into series production. And the results speak for themselves: this car is ahead of the competition in every area – range, charging speed, consumption, comfort and intelligence – and underlines our ambition to lead in electric and in-car software. And it is just the first of a whole series of new Mercedes-Benz vehicles – with all-electric or high-tech hybrid drive.”
