The Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+ debuts with 500 kW (680 hp) of peak power from three axial flux motors, accelerating from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 2.7 seconds using the industry-standard one-foot rollout measurement, or 3.0 seconds from a standing start. Unveiled this week in sedan and Shooting Brake body styles, the compact performance model shares its architecture with the Mercedes-Benz CLA, named “Car of the Year 2026” by the European Car of the Year jury and rated the safest car tested by Euro NCAP in 2025. Mercedes-AMG reports a combined WLTP range of more than 670 kilometers (416 miles) for the sedan and 640 kilometers (398 miles) for the Shooting Brake. Peak DC charging reaches 330 kW, restoring 10 to 80 percent state of charge in 22 minutes.
Highlights
- Three axial flux motors — two on the rear axle, one at the front — produce 500 kW (680 hp) peak and 450 kW (612 hp) continuous power
- 94 kWh battery on an 800-volt architecture supports 330 kW DC charging, adding roughly 168 miles (270 km) of range in 10 minutes
- WLTP-rated range tops 416 miles (670 km) for the sedan and 398 miles (640 km) for the Shooting Brake, pending official EC type-approval
- Front brakes use 390 x 36 mm discs with 6-piston fixed calipers; most stops are handled by regenerative braking at up to 5 m/s² of deceleration
Drivetrain: Three Axial Flux Motors Produce 680 HP
The CLA 45 4MATIC+ uses the same axial flux motor architecture that debuted in the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupé, packaged into two High Performance Electric Drive Units (HP.EDU). In an axial flux design, the electromagnetic flux runs parallel to the motor’s axis rather than at right angles to it, allowing the front-axle motor to measure just 3.5 inches (9 cm) wide and the two rear-axle motors about 3.1 inches (8 cm) each. The rear HP.EDU houses both rear motors alongside a single-speed planetary gearbox, oil cooling, and two water-cooled silicon carbide inverters. The front HP.EDU pairs its motor with a Disconnect Unit that decouples it in a fraction of a second under low load to cut drag losses, reconnecting for acceleration or energy recovery. The front motor can add up to 225 kW (360 hp) on its own. Combined output is 500 kW (680 hp) peak and 450 kW (612 hp) continuous, with maximum torque of 1,759 Nm (1,298 lb-ft) distributed through the fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel-drive system, including torque vectoring between the rear wheels.
Battery and Charging: 800-Volt Architecture
The 94 kWh lithium-ion battery uses cells with silicon-oxide-blended graphite anodes, which Mercedes-AMG says increases gravimetric energy density by up to 20 percent over conventional graphite-anode cells; volumetric density is rated at 680 Wh/l. The cell chemistry was adapted from the energy storage system first used in the new Mercedes-Benz GLC. The 800-volt system supports DC fast charging up to 330 kW, taking the battery from 10 to 80 percent state of charge in 22 minutes and adding about 168 miles (270 km) of range in 10 minutes. A standard multi-source heat pump draws on ambient air, powertrain waste heat, and the battery itself, preconditioning the pack ahead of DC charging when route navigation is active.
Driving Dynamics: Seven Modes and Active Aerodynamics
AMG RIDE CONTROL sports suspension pairs steel springs with adaptive three-way damping across a three-link front and multi-link rear layout. Seven AMG DYNAMIC SELECT drive modes are offered: Comfort, Sport, AMGFORCE S+, Slippery, ECO, and Individual as standard, plus a RACE mode with the optional AMG DYNAMIC PLUS package that raises top speed from 155 mph (250 km/h) to 168 mph (270 km/h). Active aerodynamics include a rear spoiler on the sedan and a roof-edge spoiler on the Shooting Brake, both deploying above 90 mph (145 km/h) in ECO, Comfort, and Sport modes, or immediately in AMGFORCE S+ and RACE. Active radiator fins at the front stay closed up to 155 mph (250 km/h) to reduce drag, opening in eight stages only when cooling demand requires it.
Brakes
Most braking is handled through regenerative deceleration of up to 5 m/s², which Mercedes-AMG says functions even with ABS engaged or on icy surfaces, across five selectable recovery levels. Hydraulic brakes take over for emergency stops and track driving: 390 x 36 mm (15.4 x 1.4 in) ventilated discs with 6-piston fixed calipers up front, and 350 x 22 mm (13.8 x 0.9 in) ventilated discs with 1-piston floating calipers at the rear.
AMGFORCE S+ and AMG TRACK PACE
The AMGFORCE S+ drive mode simulates a combustion-engine driving experience, including traction interruption during simulated gear changes and seat-shaker vibrations. Mercedes-AMG’s sound team recorded the reference audio from an AMG A 45 S on a chassis dynamometer, using 13 microphones to capture more than 1,600 measurements; a real-time mixing system draws on that library to reproduce the sound in the cabin, with customization between “Powerful,” “Balanced,” and “Minimal” profiles. The RACE mode’s AMG TRACK PACE feature records more than 80 vehicle-specific data points 10 times per second, with the Nürburgring and Spa-Francorchamps pre-loaded alongside custom lap-route recording. A Predictive Performance Manager adjusts power delivery across a track’s sections to optimize lap times over long circuits.
Design and Interior
The AMG-specific front end uses a ten-strut Panamericana grille, with an illuminated grille option and a continuous light strip available. Standard 19-inch wheels carry 245/40 ZR19 tires up front and 265/40 ZR19 at the rear; optional 20-inch wheels step up to 255/35 ZR20 front and 275/35 ZR20 rear. Inside, contoured AMG sports seats come standard, with an optional AMG Performance seat adding memory and multi-contour functions plus the same seat shakers used in AMGFORCE S+. The fourth-generation MBUX infotainment system runs on Mercedes-Benz’s MB.OS platform and integrates AI from ChatGPT, Microsoft Bing, and Google Gemini through the MBUX Virtual Assistant. Dedicated AMG apps — AMG PERFORMANCE MENU and AMG SET-UP — display real-time power flow, tire temperature, and lateral acceleration, and allow reordering of drive-mode controls on the steering wheel.
Technical Specifications
| Spec | Sedan | Shooting Brake |
|---|---|---|
| Peak / continuous power | 500 kW (680 hp) / 450 kW (612 hp) | Same |
| Max torque | 1,759 Nm (1,298 lb-ft) | Same |
| 0-62 mph, rollout / standing | 2.7 sec / 3.0 sec | Same |
| Top speed | 155 mph (168 mph with AMG DYNAMIC PLUS) | Same |
| Battery / DC charging peak | 94 kWh / 330 kW | Same |
| 10-80% charge time | 22 min | Same |
| WLTP range | >416 mi (670 km) | >398 mi (640 km) |
| Energy consumption (WLTP, combined) | 18.7–16.5 kWh/100 km | 19.6–17.4 kWh/100 km |
| Curb weight (EC / DIN) | 5,192 / 5,027 lbs (2,355 / 2,280 kg) | 5,225 / 5,060 lbs (2,370 / 2,295 kg) |
| Length / width / height | 186.7 / 73.2 / 57.8 in | 186.7 / 73.2 / 57.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 109.8 in (2,790 mm) | Same |
| Drag coefficient | 0.23 | 0.26 |
| Trunk / frunk capacity | 13.8 cu ft (390 L) / 3.6 cu ft (101 L) | 15.9 cu ft (450 L) / 3.6 cu ft (101 L) |
Mercedes-AMG says the range, energy-consumption, and CO2 figures above are provisional; no officially recognized testing organization has yet confirmed them, and EC type-approval is pending. WLTP figures are shown; EPA-rated range for the U.S. market has not been published.
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