Mercedes-AMG has taken the wraps off its first fully electric performance sedan, the CLA 45, bringing 680 horsepower to a segment increasingly shaped by legacy automakers striving to translate internal-combustion character into the electric age. Alongside the sedan, a shooting brake variant will also be offered, and both models abandon the turbocharged engine of their predecessor in favor of three axial-flux electric motors. Despite the battery-electric underpinnings, the new CLA 45 has been engineered to deliver the audible, tactile, and kinetic sensations of a high-strung petrol car.
Simulated combustion, built from real recordings
Central to that experience is a dedicated drive mode called AMGFORCE S+, which orchestrates combustion-style noises, simulated gear-change interruptions, and seat vibrations synchronized with each virtual shift. Rather than relying on a synthesized audio loop, Mercedes sourced more than 1,600 recordings from an actual AMG A 45 S, mixing them live to create what it describes as a more convincing simulation. The approach stands in contrast to Porsche’s E-Shift system, placing Mercedes among a growing group of manufacturers blending nostalgia with new technology.
Performance figures and charging capability
Underpinning the theatrical cabin experience is serious electric performance hardware. The CLA 45 produces 1,759 Nm of torque and can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 3.0 seconds, or 2.7 seconds when measured with a one-foot rollout, on its way to a top speed of 168 mph. A 94 kWh battery delivers up to 416 miles of range, while 330 kW fast-charging capability allows an 80 percent charge in approximately 22 minutes. For context, Tesla’s Model 3 Performance completes the same benchmark sprint slightly quicker, though it does so without any combustion-engine simulation.
Industry moves toward characterful electric driving
Hyundai pioneered this approach with the Ioniq 5 N, and its Ioniq 6 N sibling doubles down with an Active Sound and e-Shift setup that lets drivers toggle between a V8 rumble, pure EV tones, or a futuristic soundscape, all accompanied by the familiar faux shift points and torque interruptions. Porsche and Lexus have since followed, aiming to replace the typical quiet and linear single-speed EV acceleration with the progressive punch and feedback of a gas-powered drivetrain.
Mercedes distinguishes its interpretation by leaning on real-world audio and physical feedback such as shaking seats, while equipping the car with hardware that matches the drama: an active aerodynamic rear wing, adaptive dampers, and AMG-specific styling. As more storied performance brands migrate to electric platforms, the effort to recreate the feel of a combustion-engined car may become less a novelty and more a defining hallmark of the category.
Source: media.mercedes-benz.com