Most often, when I am getting to do a ridealong in a unutilized automobile, prototype or another way, the automobile is if truth be told, you understand, in movement. These days regardless that, sitting within the passenger seat of a camouflaged prototype of the after third-generation Mercedes-Benz CLA, we’ve spent many of the power direction totally prohibited. That’s now not the rest to do with the automobile itself, however in lieu the situations. With head of the electrical power gadget Timo Stegmaier on the wheel, we’re seeking to power up the Timmelsjoch mountain cross in Austria however retain having to cancel because of overall whiteouts.
In most cases that will suck, but it surely offers me a dozen extra pace to speak to Stegmaier concerning the unutilized CLA, which is among the maximum remarkable unutilized fashions that Mercedes will starting this decade. Getting into its ultimate validation section of checking out, the CLA is an idea automobile made genuine, now not handiest as a result of its styling and specifications intently adhere to the Concept CLA that debuted closing fall, however as a result of its electrical motors, batteries, working gadget and alternative parts have been evolved via real-world testing of the groundbreaking Vision EQXX.
Complete disclosure: Mercedes-Benz flew me to Germany to look the hole of its unutilized Manufaktur studio, and after we drove to Austria the place we spent one evening dozing in fancy RVs and every other in a posh resort so shall we journey within the unutilized CLA and take a look at out a number of alternative Mercedes fashions within the snow.
Judging by means of the pair of calmly camouflaged CLA EV prototypes that Mercedes is using us round in, the manufacturing automobile will glance nice-looking a lot similar to the idea that, simply with the sci-fi styling attributes rather toned ill. It’s the sleekest CLA silhouette but with a good looking greenhouse and stepped forward proportions, and the concept’s star-shaped headlight and taillight motif has been guarded, fortunately. Be expecting a matching grille-less nostril remedy to the idea that as neatly, confidently with a whole lot of illuminated stars. Mercedes will proceed to do business in the CLA in genuine colours, too — beneath the purple camo wrap was once glorious blue paint.
I’m now not allowed to discuss what the CLA’s inner is like under the beltline, regardless that it was once coated up anyway, however I will say that the CLA has possibly essentially the most expansive panoramic sunroof I’ve ever skilled, particularly in a mini automobile. It didn’t appear to have an effect on headroom residue, both. Already showed by means of Mercedes, the CLA might be its first manufacturing automobile with a pillar-to-pillar show like those within the EQXX and Thought CLA, and it’ll be the manufacturing debut of the emblem unutilized MB.OS working gadget. I will additionally say that the CLA is very calmness within, rivaling the S63 that I drove previous within the morning. Yeah, electrical automobiles are simply inherently extra calmness within than gasoline ones, but it surely’s an evening and age too much in comparison to the outgoing CLA. Without a doubt a dozen of the silent-ness has to do with the CLA’s aerodynamics and sides just like the extremely flush B-pillar and facet window glazing. Oh, and there might be a “sizeable” frunk.
It rides at the unutilized Mercedes Modular Structure (MMA) platform, which is described as being “electric first” — there might be internal-combustion fashions that pair a turbocharged engine with a 48-volt hybrid gadget, however the CLA was once designed with the totally electrical model as the simpler and extra remarkable type. One of the vital thrilling portions of MMA is that the entry-level variations of the CLA might be rear-wheel power with a unmarried motor powering the rear axle, in contrast to all earlier gas-powered bottom CLAs which were front-wheel power. (The gasoline CLAs will most probably nonetheless be FWD, regardless that.) Advanced and produced in-house by means of Mercedes, that rear motor will assemble 268 horsepower, 47 greater than the latest CLA250’s turbo 4, and it has a two-speed transmission that’s a excess boon for potency. A 2d 107-hp motor on the entrance axle is non-compulsory, described as a “boost” motor that engages when wanted both for higher efficiency or traction.
Regardless of the whiteout situations, slick ice patches and deep snowy ruts, the all-wheel-drive CLA I’m driving in by no means has a unmarried factor with traction, making it across the corners higher than some alternative 4Matic-equipped automobiles I’ve pushed at this program. Going uphill from a cancel, Stagmaier is in a position to boost up rather temporarily in a immediately layout, which is extra notable than it sounds. There are even a few issues the place we’ve inadvertently pushed right into a deep snowbank, and the CLA is in a position to power itself out with bliss. There’s deny faux spaceship-like EV noise, and even any genuine noise from the motors. Simply peaceful, easy, simple acceleration. The regenerative braking gadget could also be overhauled, with complete one-pedal using and a unutilized auto form that makes use of direction steerage and alternative real-time data to regulate the quantity of regen at the fly. In lieu of paddles, the regen is now decided on by means of pulling at the column-mounted equipment shifter, which additionally now has the beginning/cancel button on it.
Within the U.S. we’ll handiest get an 85-kWh lithium-ion battery bundle that’s 20 % extra power opaque than the EQ lineup’s packs, however alternative markets will give you the option for a smaller LFP battery as neatly. Mercedes well made up our minds to present the MMA platform an 800-volt structure, heading off the error made by means of alternative manufacturers of the use of a 400-volt setup, so it’ll be capable to fast-charge at as much as 320 kW and achieve over 186 miles of length in simply 10 mins. (The idea that touted 250 miles in quarter-hour, which must be achievable.) Underneath the rear-fender flap you’ll in finding each a J1772 port for Degree 1 AC charging and an NACS port for DC fast-charging, and the automobile will include a CCS adapter. Additionally remarkable for wintery situations like those is a unutilized warmth pump that makes use of squander power from the motors and battery to energy the state keep an eye on in a extra environment friendly means.
Mercedes gained’t say simply how slippery the CLA is, however I’m anticipating one of the vital lowest drag coefficients within the trade, particularly given how the current-gen CLA already has a super-low 0.23 coefficient. Occasion U.S.-spec specifications aren’t to be had but, the CLA could have a length of over 466 miles at the Eu WLTP, which might translate to no less than 400 miles from the EPA, dozens higher than its EQS sibling. Much more impressively, it’ll have a median power intake determine of five.2 miles in line with kWh, handily beating the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Lucid Air. Pair that along with its fast charging speeds and lengthy length, and the CLA might be one of the vital environment friendly EVs on sale by means of any measure.
That potency is already proving itself in the actual global. On checking out days like what I’m experiencing within the Alps, which is a vastly remarkable take a look at location for the emblem, all of the engineers gets in combination within the evenings to document on how their days went. Stegmaier says there have been again and again the place certainly one of his colleagues would say, “Today, I couldn’t do my charging test because the car is too efficient even up and down the mountain.” Not too long ago, a camouflaged CLA prototype poised an continuity document by means of touring 2309 miles in 24 hours at the Nardò oval circuit, longer than the gap between Los Angeles and Chicago and 181 miles longer than the Porsche Taycan’s impaired document. The CLA was once pushed at its 130-mph lead rush, at which Stagmaier says the automobile is working at 93-percent potency, and it prohibited to fee 40 instances, taking about 10 mins in line with charging consultation cancel.
Taking the stops into consideration, the electrical CLA traveled at a median rush of 96 mph. In that 24-hour document run, Mercedes’ engineers optimized the best space and selection of charging stops for the best time efficiency, which it says manner extra to shoppers than length or charging speeds actually do. The CLA handiest traveled about 60 miles between stops, with the battery happening to ten % and being charged again as much as round 55 %, as a result of this was once extra pace environment friendly than using for longer however making longer charging stops. The manufacturing automobile’s navigation gadget will do business in routes in line with the pace potency, so that you’ll handiest cancel when and for so long as you actually want to. As an example, establishing with a complete battery and making two ten-minute stops, a prototype CLA coated just about 800 miles.
Mercedes will formally disclose the unutilized CLA within the spring, with the automobile poised to move on sale nearest in 2025. It’ll be adopted by means of next-gen variations of the GLA and GLB crossovers, in addition to a unutilized CLA Taking pictures Brake — Mercedes, I’m begging you to deliver that to The united states — that may proportion its electric-first platform and way. With its mixture of top potency, taste and generation, the unutilized CLA can be a leap forward generation for the emblem, and perhaps even EVs as an entire. And hiya, no less than you comprehend it can deal with a storm from snow, too.
