Benz's 500kW/1759Nm monster confirmed

Mercedes-AMG has made the bold decision to remove the internal combustion engine from its CLA45 coupe-style compact performance car and replace it with a trio of electric motors derived from those found in the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-door Coupé. Boasting 500kW/1759Nm and 0-100km/h acceleration in a blistering 2.7 seconds, the new CLA45 4Matic+ is powered by two axial flux motors on the rear axle and one on the front with adaptive suspension and active aero standard across sedan and Shooting Brake (wagon) variants. The obvious elephant in the room is engine noise, or by definition, the lack of it, with prior iterations of AMG 45 models known and loved by owners for their rasping engine sound and throaty exhaust note. Mercedes-AMG believes it has that significant base covered with the AMGForce S+ setting. Positioning it as "combustion engine emotion at the touch of a finger", the engineering boffins in Affalterbach say this driving mode "delivers an authentic, AMG typical combustion engine experience with the characteristic sound of a high-performance AMG four-cylinder engine." "Coupled with a haptic, immersive experience, including interruption of traction during simulated gear changes, the result is a driving experience that makes performance intensely tangible," the car's launch statement said. Which sounds similar to Hyundai's N e-Shift system that virtually simulates an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission in its Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 N models. Mercedes-AMG is at pains to point out "the sound of an original Mercedes-AMG A 45 S four-cylinder engine was meticulously documented using 13 microphones positioned in different locations recording more than 1600 detailed measurements, inside and outside." The AMG Dynamic+ track-focused package is onboard as is AMG Track Pace which is claimed to "turn every visit to the racetrack into a professional training session." In terms of day-to-day practicality an 800-volt architecture allows fast-charging of the 94kW lithium-ion battery at up to 330kW (22kW AC) and claimed range is over 670 or 640 kilometres (WLTP) depending on the model. Combined cycle (urban/extra-urban) energy consumption is between 18.7 and 16.5kWh/100km, again depending on model. Active aero includes a rear spoiler on the sedan and roof-edge unit on the wagon. In Eco, Comfort and Sport driving modes, the speed threshold for their activation is 145km/h, while in the AMGForce S+ and Race settings they raise immediately. Standard rims in Germany are 19-inch shod with 245/40 Z-rated rubber at the front and 265/40 at the rear. It's likely Aussie versions will come with the optional 20s wearing fatter 255/35 and 275/35 tyres. Inside there are four seats only and the latest-gen MBUX multimedia operating system is included. Standard upholstery combines synthetic leather and synthetic microfibre with genuine leather and AMG Performance seats available. Mercedes-Benz Australia told CarsGuide the new CLA45 is set to arrive here in the first half of 2027 with the Sheeting Brake "under consideration" for local sale. For reference, the now superseded 310kW/500Nm internal-combustion CLA45 AMG 4Matic+ was priced at $126,500, before on-road costs.