A very powerful new Mercedes mannequin in years is simply months away – and we have been out for a experience
The Austrian ski resort of Hochgurgl is 2150 metres above sea degree – roughly equal to 2 Mount Snowdons or almost three Burj Khalifas. Once we go to in early December, temperatures on the uncovered, wind-chilled summit of the street that winds up from right here and throughout the Italian border – often closed for winter – have reached a balmy peak of -15dec C by mid-morning.
The wind is unforgivingly biting and the street utterly lined in thick, closely compacted snow. There are darker patches that you simply would possibly mistake for the secure, grippy refuge of uncovered Tarmac, however extra idiot he who seeks traction on this blackest of black ice.
We’re right here partly as a result of “driving on this street is cool”, admits Mercedes-Benz CLA mission chief Oliver Zolke as he casually lets the again step out halfway by a very icy hairpin, however primarily as a result of it’s the very best atmosphere for exhibiting off three defining traits of the newly electrical saloon: “The flexibility of the recuperation, the traction and uphill acceleration, and the softness of the suspension”.
From the passenger seat, the third-generation CLA feels to all intents and functions completed. Camouflage cloaks the finer design particulars exterior and the compulsory black bedsheet shields the dashboard from view, however Zolke says it’s “99% there” forward of an unveiling in March and a launch round summer season, with simply “some homework” to do on the software program and person interface.
Even with a lot nonetheless left to the creativeness, it’s clear simply how carefully this automobile can be to the pleasingly proportioned idea from final yr – proper all the way down to the full-width digital show we are able to see peeking by the gaps within the sheeting. For higher or worse.
Our check automobile is the range-topping four-wheel-drive mannequin (Mercedes-Benz CLA 4Matic with EQ Know-how, to offer its full title), outfitted with a 268bhp motor on the rear axle and one other with 107bhp on the entrance. Mercedes has but to substantiate a mixed output, however financial institution on round 375bhp, which ought to give it a slight accelerative edge over the Tesla Mannequin 3 Lengthy Vary AWD and the dual-motor Hyundai Ioniq 6.
That is considered one of two electrical powertrains being launched for the next-generation CLA, which is described as the primary automobile of the ‘EV 2.0’ period for Mercedes, so dramatically completely different is it from the present EQE and EQS. The opposite forgoes the entrance motor for a smaller checklist value (anticipate low-£40,000s for the model with the smaller 58kWh LFP battery) and the next most vary of someplace round 440 miles from the 85kWh NMC pack.
There can even be a combustion model, pairing a 1.5-litre petrol four-cylinder engine with a small electrical motor within the gearbox for as much as 188bhp and claimed “diesel ranges of effectivity”. It is due round six months after the EV, in the direction of the tip of 2025.
The range-topping EV definitely feels brisk sufficient, even on this glassy terrain, when Zolke flooring it from a standstill, the dearth of scrabbling and sliding off the road testomony to the superior stage of growth this all-new powertrain is at – though doubtlessly additionally the legally mandated chunky winter tyres that our mule is carrying…
An extended straight part of the in any other case ceaselessly meandering Timmelsjoch move offers the chance to briefly exploit the CLA’s full reserves, and we surge rapidly and confidently to north of 60mph, which wouldn’t really feel particularly speedy however for the unnerving sense of detachment that comes from having such restricted reference factors. With the roadside largely indistinguishable from the blacktop and no mounted landmarks flicking previous the window, we’d as effectively be doing 150mph, or 20mph.
Both method, the CLA is unflustered. I did the identical factor in the identical place a couple of minutes beforehand in a Mercedes-AMG C63 and, even permitting for the help of 4WD and winter tyres, discovered myself making fixed small corrections to my line with a view to preserve the nostril pointing the suitable method. Zolke’s arms stay inflexible by comparability: “There’s not a lot work to do from the motive force’s seat,” he remarks, the automobile monitoring straight and true with no perceptible directional enter from both man or machine.
Zolke maintains his relaxed manner as a decent right-hander approaches, carrying our cruising pace effectively past the purpose at which I’d have began bleeding off the tempo. Because the apex comes into focus, he lifts off the accelerator however leaves the brake pedal alone to show the efficacy of the regenerative deceleration, which might ship energy again to the battery at speeds of as much as 200kW.
“There is no must do any mechanical braking” in D mode, Zolke explains. It will be extra environment friendly by way of vitality utilization, however “extra clean is the recuperation, as you do not really feel it”. To show the distinction, he offers the left pedal an excellent stab and our dialog is interrupted by the noisy and juddering intervention of the ABS, which regardless of its finest efforts is unable to carry the automobile’s pace down any faster than the motors.
The 4Matic mannequin has a bonus right here, as a result of the second motor on the entrance axle boosts the utmost regeneration price, however the rear-driven CLA can even have the ability to cease with no bodily brake enter. “And that is kind of a aspect impact of effectivity. We did not do it for these circumstances; we did it to get most vitality again from the automobile,” says Zolke.
Judging the suppleness of the chassis is trickier, given the tyres don’t actually come into direct contact with the street itself throughout our time within the automobile, however the truth that I’m in a position to chat with Zolke whereas concurrently writing in my pocket book on considered one of Europe’s most difficult roads might be a sign of its composure. In contrast to the larger electrical Mercs, the CLA can be completely coil-sprung, however with non-compulsory adaptive dampers for larger management over the suspension traits – as with the BMW i4 and Tesla Mannequin 3.
Past its dynamic credentials and straight-line efficiency, the CLA is aiming to steal gross sales from its rivals with a claimed cruising effectivity of 5.18mpkWh – giving it long-distance skills that it has confirmed by breaking the document for the longest distance travelled by an EV in 24 hours: 2410 miles round Italy’s Nardò excessive pace ring. Minimising energy wastage at a cruise is essential to attaining that determine, however having the ability to cost at as much as 320kW dramatically reduces time spent idle.
Zolke acknowledges that it is a massive ask to marry segment-leading effectivity (Mercedes loftily refers back to the CLA as “the one-litre automobile of the effectivity age”) with extremely competent dynamics and engagement, however “the largest problem of the mission” was instilling the brand new saloon with all these attributes whereas additionally maintaining it tightly proportioned and low to the bottom.
He defined that Mercedes’ focus for EVs has up to now been targeted on ‘greater’ – each taller and extra premium-focused – mannequin traces, due to the price and bulk of EV batteries, however as each of them come down, decrease experience heights turn into doable. Nonetheless, Zolke stated, there was a paradox to deal with: “The problem was the peak of the automobile, as a result of we’d like house for the battery beneath however to maintain the peak similar to the predecessor for styling, you do not need to have it too excessive – additionally for aerodynamics.”
Even with the automobile nonetheless closely camouflaged, it is clear that the CLA is a detailed proportional match to its predecessor, and the seating place feels roughly as low-slung as it will in a petroleum saloon. Evaluating the 2 with one another – and with their respective rivals – post-launch will give a clearer image, however the early indicators level to the brand new CLA being a remarkably uncompromised all-rounder.
