Nürburgring record and a new character
Earlier this month, Mercedes-AMG set a lap record in its class at the Nürburgring for the new electric CLA 45, completing the track in an impressive 7:32.070. With three electric motors, a total output of 671 hp and 1759 Nm of torque, this car is a completely different proposition than the previous model. Mercedes insists that despite its electric drivetrain, it remains engaging to drive.
As was already the case with the fully electric AMG GT 4-Door earlier this year, Mercedes-AMG tried to convey the essence of its gasoline models in the electric CLA 45. This is achieved through simulated gear shifts and a soundtrack that reproduces the old 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. As Mercedes head Ola Källenius recently told, the system can also mimic the sound of a V8.
“When I first drove the CLA 45 with this system, I felt born again. It was the best V8 I have ever driven: it gave all the sensations of a V8, but with more power and torque,” Ola Källenius shared in a recent interview with Autocar.
During the presentation of the new car, Mercedes-AMG did not mention that the CLA 45 can reproduce the sound of a V8, only stating that it imitates a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Among all the electric cars we have tested that try to mimic the sound of a burning gasoline engine, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N does it best. So it will be interesting to see how successful the Mercedes-AMG system turns out to be.
The seats vibrate too
One of the most interesting features introduced with the CLA 45 is the AMGForce vibration motors. They are built into the front seats and are designed to transmit vibrations similar to those felt in a car with a gasoline engine. We, however, are skeptical that even careful refinement of these systems allows this car to be called the “best V8” that Källenius has ever driven.
Performance and range
As for dynamics, the new electric CLA 45 has all the makings of being exciting to drive. According to the manufacturer, the car accelerates to 100 km/h in 3.0 seconds and continues to 270 km/h with the AMG Dynamic Plus package. Thanks to a 94 kWh battery, the WLTP range is 670 km.
Such software-based reproduction of sound and vibrations inevitably causes controversy. On the one hand, manufacturers are trying to maintain an emotional connection with drivers for whom not only numbers matter, but also sensations. On the other hand, any imitation remains an imitation, and it is unlikely to completely replace a real internal combustion engine. Nevertheless, modern technology can make electric cars more vivid, and the question is whether buyers will accept this philosophy. Amid ever-increasing competition, Mercedes-AMG must convince the public that the electric CLA 45 can deliver emotions no worse than its predecessor.