New Mercedes-AMG CLA 45: 680bhp Three-Motor Setup, 0-62mph in 2.7 Seconds

The 'hot' versions of the German marque's saloon and estate made their debut at the recently commenced Goodwood Festival of Speed (UK).

Mercedes‑Benz unveiled the third-generation coupé-styled CLA saloon in March 2025, and in July of the same year the family was joined by an estate with the Shooting Brake suffix. Both are underpinned by the MMA platform (Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture), which was developed for compact vehicles in the Entry Luxury segment. Now the range has been bolstered by the 'hot' versions – the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4Matic+.

The presentation of the 'hot' newcomers, prepared by the Mercedes-AMG division, took place at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, which kicked off yesterday. The fully electric all-wheel-drive saloon and estate Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 feature a three-motor powertrain: one electric motor is mounted on the front axle, with two more on the rear axle. The combined maximum output of this system is 680 bhp, with torque of 1,759 Nm.

Regardless of body style, the newcomer dispatches the 0–62 mph sprint in 2.7 seconds (when measured after a 1-foot rollout, i.e. approximately 30 cm); under standard measurement conditions, the figure is 3.0 seconds. The top speed of the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 is electronically limited to 155 mph, though this can be raised to 168 mph with the AMG Dynamic Plus package.

The Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4Matic+ features an 800-volt architecture. Its system includes a traction battery with a capacity of 94 kWh. The maximum range on a single charge exceeds 670 km for the saloon and 640 km for the estate. With rapid charging, the battery can be replenished from 10 to 80 per cent in just 22 minutes, or enough for 270 km of driving in 10 minutes.

The overall length of both the saloon and estate is 4,742 mm, with a wheelbase of 2,790 mm. The width is also identical across both variants at 1,859 mm; the four-door stands 1,469 mm tall, while the Shooting Brake variant measures 1,471 mm. In the former case, boot capacity is 390 litres; in the latter, it is 450 litres, with both variants also receiving a 101-litre storage compartment under the bonnet. The drag coefficient for the saloon is 0.23, while the estate achieves 0.26.

The Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 features an AMG Ride Control sports suspension with steel springs, along with additional Comfort, Sport and AMGForce S+ modes (the latter providing, among other things, a distinctive engine sound), on top of the six AMG Dynamic Select driving modes (which govern chassis response, steering, electronic stability control and recuperation system settings). The 'hot' new CLA is equipped with a braking system featuring six-piston callipers and discs measuring 390 mm at the front and 350 mm at the rear.

The 'hot' saloon and estate differ from the standard Mercedes‑Benz CLA thanks to redesigned lower bumper sections with an active air intake, the signature Panamericana grille insert in place of the radiator grille (with optional illumination), and sports side skirts. The models come with 19- or 20-inch alloy wheels, as well as an active electrically operated spoiler – mounted on the trailing edge of the boot lid on the saloon, and at the top of the tailgate on the estate. Inside, there is a sports steering wheel, along with bespoke AMG trim and detailing.

The sales launch date for the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4Matic+, along with pricing for the new 'hot' saloon and estate, will be announced at a later stage.