The latest generation Mercedes-AMG CLA45 4MATIC officially enters the compact high-performance Benz into the electric market.
A monumental shift has occurred at the absolute peak of the compact performance segment. With the traditional internal combustion A-Class not being renewed for an additional generation, its legendary hot-hatch sibling, the A45, is likely being retired without a successor. Stepping up to claim the definitive crown as the spiritual successor to the world’s most powerful four-cylinder production car is the latest-generation Mercedes-AMG CLA45 4MATIC+. However, instead of relying on highly strung turbochargers and pistons, this new performance icon shifts the paradigm entirely by adopting an ultra-advanced, race-derived fully electric architecture.
For automotive enthusiasts in Southeast Asia, this evolutionary leap lands remarkably close to home. The standard, civilian-spec Mercedes-Benz CLA has already opened its order books for buyers in Malaysia, meaning this earth-shattering AMG high-performance variant should theoretically follow suit in the near future to spearhead the brand’s local electric performance offensive.
Revolutionary Drive Technology: 680 HP From Three Axial Flux Motors
The mechanical heart of the new CLA45 4MATIC+ advances into performance territory previously unthinkable for a compact vehicle footprint, completing the benchmark sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in a super-sports-car-rivalling 2.7 seconds. This relentless acceleration is achieved via a revolutionary drive concept comprising three cutting-edge axial flux electric motors—engineered as incredibly slim, flat discs in an H-configuration sandwich layout where a single stator is enclosed by dual rotors. This architecture delivers vastly superior continuous power density compared to conventional electric motors.
The system packages these ultra-compact powerplants into independent High Performance Electric Drive Units (HP.EDU) on each axle, complete with space-saving, oil-cooled planetary gearboxes and highly efficient, water-cooled silicon carbide (SiC) inverters engineered to manage extreme voltages and thermal loads. The rear HP.EDU houses two independent axial flux motors producing up to 500 kW (680 hp) of unbridled output.
Up front, a single 9-centimeter-wide axial flux motor acts as an intelligent 225 kW (360 hp) booster system. To preserve maximum driving range, a dedicated Disconnect Unit (DCU) uncouples the front axle within a fraction of a second during low-load conditions to eliminate parasitic drag losses, instantly re-engaging the front wheels the millisecond the driver demands absolute power or energy recovery.
Intelligent 4MATIC+ Control and 800-Volt Ultra-Fast Charging
Harnessing this mechanical fury is a completely reimagined AMG Performance 4MATIC+ fully variable all-wheel-drive system. Because all three electric motors operate entirely independently of one another, the car’s central computing matrix continuously varies torque distribution between the front and rear axles while executing instantaneous, independent torque vectoring across the two rear wheels. Wheelspin is detected and corrected within milliseconds, ensuring optimal traction on compromised road surfaces while maintaining a highly dynamic, rear-biased handling signature.
Feeding this triple-motor network is a high-performance 94 kWh lithium-ion battery pack featuring state-of-the-art silicon oxide-graphite anodes, boosting gravimetric energy density by 20 percent over conventional setups. Operating on a native 800-volt electrical architecture, the CLA45 minimizes cabling weight while unlocking an impressive range of up to 670 kilometers for the saloon and 640 kilometers for the Shooting Brake variant.
When plugged into a high-output DC fast charger, the vehicle sustains a peak electrical intake capacity of 330 kW, enabling a 10 to 80 percent charge in just 22 minutes. This rapid charging profile is managed by a standard multi-source heat pump that actively harvests ambient energy, powertrain waste heat, and battery thermal reserves to pre-condition the cells to their absolute ideal operational temperature window before arriving at a charging station.
Bespoke AMG Dynamics and the Legendary Sound Reborn
The CLA45 handles high lateral acceleration through an AMG RIDE CONTROL sports suspension utilizing forged aluminum lower links up front, a sophisticated multi-link rear setup, and adaptive three-way damping adjustable via three distinct driver modes: Comfort, Sport, and AMGFORCE S+. Drivers can further alter the vehicle’s driving characteristics using the AMG DYNAMIC SELECT system, which toggles across six standard profiles alongside an uncompromising, track-focused “RACE” program that unlocks a physical Launch Control sequence and active Traction Control parameters.
To prevent the quiet nature of EVs from diluting the brand’s visceral heritage, the sound design specialists at Affalterbach opted against synthetic tones. Instead, using 13 highly sensitive microphones on a chassis dynamometer, they meticulously mapped over 1,600 real-world acoustic measurements from a reference Mercedes-AMG A 45 S combustion engine under load. An intelligent real-time mixing system cross-references these files against live driving parameters to deliver an authentic, aggressive internal combustion engine soundtrack inside the cabin.
Active Aerodynamics and Next-Gen Digital Racing Cockpit
Efficiency and downforce are continuously optimized via active aerodynamics, utilizing a speed-sensitive active rear spoiler on the saloon (and a roof-edge spoiler on the Shooting Brake) that deploys dynamically based on velocity, acceleration, and drive mode. At the front fascia, newly developed active radiator fins remain closed up to 250 km/h to drastically cut the drag coefficient and redirect clean air beneath the flat underbody, opening in eight distinct stages only when thermal sensors report high cooling requirements.
When taking the vehicle to the track, the integrated AMG TRACK PACE digital racing coach records vital performance metrics in real time, projecting ideal braking points and cornering radii directly onto the MBUX head-up display using advanced augmented reality technology. This system works alongside a Predictive Performance Manager (PPM) that dynamically alters energy flow section-by-section across pre-loaded circuits to guarantee the absolute fastest lap times possible.
Inside, the cabin features firm, anatomically contoured sports seats wrapped in premium ARTICO leather and MICROCUT microfibre, framed by a pure four-seat configuration. The dashboard houses the fourth-generation MBUX infotainment system running on the proprietary MB.OS platform, marking the industry’s first structural integration of advanced artificial intelligence models including ChatGPT and Google Gemini. Complete with a dedicated AMG Performance Menu to monitor tire temperatures, lateral G-forces, and real-time battery status, the CLA45 creates a deeply connected interface between driver and machine.
