2025 Mercedes-Benz CLA – Third-gen C178 debuts as EV with as much as 792 km vary, MB.OS; hybrid to observe

Eighteen months on from the revealing of the Idea CLA Class, Mercedes-Benz has lastly pulled the covers off the manufacturing C178 CLA. This third-generation four-door coupé marks a sea change for the nameplate because it enters its fully-electric period – at the least to begin with.

Let’s get the boring stuff out of the way in which first. The CLA rides on a model new Mercedes-Benz Modular Structure (MMA) for compact fashions, which may also spawn the CLA Taking pictures Brake and two SUVs (we assume these to be the next-generation GLA and GLB). You may discover that there’s no hatchback talked about there, and that’s as a result of the A-Class will likely be discontinued subsequent yr, with the consequence being that the CLA will quickly be Stuttgart’s sole compact sedan providing.

As beforehand reported, the CLA was designed from the bottom as much as be an electrical automobile and thus options some startling technical specs. From launch, the automobile will likely be obtainable in CLA250+ and CLA350 4Matic variants, each with the tedious “with EQ Know-how” tag signifying electrical propulsion.

Powering the CLA250+ is a single rear motor producing 272 PS (200 kW) and 335 Nm of torque, getting it from zero to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds on its method to a prime pace of 210 km/h. The CLA350 provides a 109 PS (80 kW) entrance motor to supply all-wheel drive and enhance complete outputs to 354 PS (260 kW) and 515 Nm – slashing the century dash by practically two seconds to 4.9 seconds.

Extra spectacular is the effectivity, with Mercedes claiming that the CLA is the “one-litre automobile” (referring to the earlier gas consumption purpose of 1.0 litre per 100 km for combustion automobiles) for the electrical period. The corporate is touting measures similar to getting the drag coefficient down to simply 0.21, utilizing of second-generation Electrical Drive Models (EDU 2.0) with a Porsche Taycan-style rear two-speed transmission and including the power to rapidly disconnect the entrance motor on the CLA350 to extend vary.

All this permits the CLA250+ to ship a claimed power consumption of between 12.2 and 14.1 kWh per 100 km, and with an 85 kWh (nett) nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery as customary, this equates to an astonishing vary of between 694 and 792 km on the WLTP cycle. The CLA350 is barely much less environment friendly with power consumption of between 12.5 and 14.7 kWh 100 km; as such, even it has a variety of between 672 and 771 km. A 58 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery possibility will likely be added by the top of the yr.

Serving to the CLA obtain such spectacular vary figures is a extra highly effective regenerative braking system that recuperates as much as 200 kW, offering as much as 3 m/s² in deceleration. This permits it to cowl virtually each braking want; it can even do regen braking up to an entire cease. Customers can choose from three ranges of regen braking (together with off) or allow an adaptive mode utilizing the steering wheel paddles.

The CLA is the primary Mercedes EV to come back with an 800-volt structure, enabling DC quick charging speeds of as much as 320 kW – simply ten minutes of charging will present as much as 325 km of extra vary. Sadly, as excessive tech as this automobile is, its AC charging energy nonetheless solely goes as much as 11 kW, though the automobile will at the least have the ability to ship energy again to the house by way of bidirectional charging, coming through software program replace afterward.

Whereas the CLA is designed to be electric-first, Mercedes is, like virtually each carmaker on the market, reevaluating its electrification technique as international EV demand stalls. As such, it’s hedging its bets by providing the automobile with a 48-volt hybrid powertrain. Not a lot has been revealed simply but, however the firm has confirmed there will likely be three variants, every coming with a brand new 1.5 litre M252 Atkinson-cycle turbocharged four-cylinder engine and an electrical motor housed throughout the eight-speed 8F-eDCT dual-clutch transmission.

Because of a 1.3 kWh battery, the hybrid will have the ability to drive purely electrically at low speeds when lower than 27 PS (20 kW) is required; it can additionally have the ability to coast with the engine off at speeds of as much as 100 km/h. The automobile may also have the ability to regen brake by way of all eight gears, recuperating as much as 25 kW of power.

In stark distinction to the powertrains, the CLA’s underpinnings are very typical, with the entrance axle utilizing a brand new three-link suspension setup – primarily a MacPherson strut with a decrease wishbone. The multilink rear suspension, now standard-fit, has been derived from costlier Mercs, as has a double bulkhead that improves refinement on hybrid variants. Passive consolation dampers come customary.

The design of the CLA follows the final route set by the Idea CLA Class, retaining the trademark fluid form and sweeping low-slung roofline. The latter has been stretched additional rearward – presumably within the service of rear headroom, which has elevated by 28 mm – resulting in a six-window glasshouse (nonetheless frameless, clearly) and a barely shorter rear deck.

On the entrance, you’ll now discover full-width headlights, narrowing within the center to border the trapezoidal grille – this form is mirrored within the taillights. The stated grille is totally illuminated on the electrical mannequin, together with the dinner-plate three-pointed star. Hybrid fashions are differentiated through an open grille with a single horizontal slat, plus a light-weight band alongside the highest edge.

Alongside the aspect, the CLA’s curved shoulder line has been damaged up, now solely showing over the entrance and rear wheel arches to stress the automobile’s haunches. Wheel choices vary from 17 to 19 inches in diameter.

Mercedes’ reasonably narcissistic propensity to dot its three-pointed star all all through the automobile reaches new heights right here. As an alternative of being restricted to simply the grille sample (there are a complete of 142 in there, in case you had been questioning) or some inside trim items, this graphic has now been prolonged to the LED headlights – chrome as customary, illuminated on the elective Multibeam models. It even seems within the taillights, the place it’s joined by the attribute ring and illuminated vertical bars spanning the total width of the rear.

Aerodynamic options embrace flush pop-out door handles, wing mirrors mounted on stalks on the door skins, and optimised wheel spoilers ahead of the entrance and rear axles. Mercedes has additionally tweaked the positioning of the entrance shutlines and partially sealed them, whereas the underbody is now virtually totally shrouded, together with even the management arms and tie rods. The total two-tone wheel covers alone cut back the drag coefficient by as much as two factors, serving to the CLA obtain the aforementioned 0.21 determine.

It doesn’t look it, however the CLA is sort of a bit bigger than the automobile it replaces. Measuring 4,723 mm lengthy, 1,855 mm broad and 1,468 mm tall, the brand new mannequin is 35 mm longer, 25 mm wider and 29 mm taller than the second-generation C118, whereas its 2,790 mm wheelbase is 61 mm longer. One casualty of electrification is the boot, which is now a whopping 55 litres smaller at simply 405 litres. Helpfully, there’s lastly a entrance boot for the primary time on a Mercedes EV, and it’s fairly large too at 101 litres.

Inside, the CLA has a literal vertical wall for a dashboard, serving because the backdrop for the elective MBUX Superscreen. This homes the ten.25-inch digital instrument show and twin 14-inch touchscreens, together with one for the passenger. Fashions with out the Superscreen ditch the passenger show for the three-pointed star graphic, obtainable with illumination.

This complete setup runs on a brand new MB.OS working system, which jumps on the generative AI bandwagon by providing not one, however two fashions. The MBUX Digital Assistant makes use of ChatGPT and Microsoft Bing searches for basic enquiries, switching to Google’s Gemini for navigation-related questions. The system can retain context even when leaping between the 2, so conversations can proceed uninterrupted. The assistant is represented on display by – you guessed it! – but one other three-pointed star.

The CLA will get the newest fourth-generation Mercedes-Benz Person Expertise (MBUX), utilising the Unity sport engine for real-time 3D graphics. The “Zero Layer” interface first seen on the W223 S-Class continues right here and now reveals recently-used apps, whereas the app drawer now lets you create folders, smartphone fashion.

In the meantime, the navigation system makes use of Google Maps and can calculate the quickest, most handy route based mostly on elements similar to street and site visitors situations, quick charger availability, temperature, pace, the automobile’s heating and cooling and even wind situations taking into consideration the automobile’s top. This map can be overlaid on prime of a Tesla-style “encompass navigation” show that reveals different motorists and pedestrians in 3D.

Past the tech, the CLA’s inside is exceedingly minimalist, an strategy that has additionally knowledgeable the (lack of) bodily controls. The nonetheless annoyingly touch-based steering wheel controls sees the 2 common touchpads whittled all the way down to only one for the instrument show (the touchscreen is now solely managed utilizing, effectively, the touchscreen), enabling the remaining “buttons” to be made bigger and hopefully a lot simpler to make use of.

Sadly, Mercedes has adopted the strategy taken by Volkswagen and Volvo in eradicating the discrete rear window switches from the driving force’s door. As with newer automobiles from these manufacturers, the CLA requires customers to press a “rear” button first earlier than they will wind the again home windows up or down. The seat reminiscence buttons have additionally been eliminated – presumably these features have been moved to the display. Maybe the corporate hasn’t learnt the lesson Volkswagen just lately learnt…

Fortunately, Mercedes has at the least seen match to add some options, together with proximity door locking and unlocking (lastly) and a 16-speaker, 850-watt Burmester sound system with Dolby Atmos help. There’s additionally a brand new SoundExperience perform that pipes in a synthesised “engine sound”, even permitting drivers to “rev” the automobile when stationary.

Security-wise, the CLA beneficial properties a brand new entrance centre airbag and a plethora of driver assists, together with Distronic adaptive cruise management as customary in Europe. At launch, the automobile might be had with the elective Drive Help bundle that provides lane centring help for Stage 2 semi-autonomous driving performance, in addition to lane change help.

Afterward, there will likely be a Drive Help Plus that provides an improved Distronic Plus, with computerized lane modifications additionally deliberate. The flagship system is Drive Help Professional, which permits what Mercedes calls “Stage 2++” semi-autonomy, hinting at hands-off (not eyes-off, which might be Stage 3) driving. The system is deliberate for commercialisation in China this yr and within the US in 2026.

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Be taught extra: Mercedes-Benz CLA 2025