Mercedes-AMG’s compact performance formula has taken a sharp electric turn with the new CLA 45.
Offered as both a saloon and a Shooting Brake, the model moves beyond the regular CLA brief with a tri-motor drivetrain, serious straight-line pace and a more overtly AMG design language.
It’s also a reminder that Affalterbach isn’t treating electric performance as a single-shape exercise.
At a glance
- The electric Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 has been introduced in saloon and Shooting Brake body styles.
- A tri-motor all-wheel-drive system delivers 671 hp, with independent rear motors enabling torque vectoring and drift mode.
- The saloon can reach 62 mph in 3.0 seconds and offers up to 416 miles of range.
Tri-motor AMG hardware beneath the compact body
The headline change is the drivetrain, which uses two electric motors at the rear axle and one at the front.
Together, they produce 671 hp and send power to all four wheels, but the system is more nuanced than a simple always-on AWD layout.
The rear motors can work independently, allowing true torque vectoring across the back axle.
That setup also gives the CLA 45 a dedicated drift mode, a feature that keeps a familiar AMG attitude even as the powertrain moves fully electric.
The front motor is brought into play when extra traction is required, such as during hard launches or more committed driving.
Fast despite the extra electric weight
At around 2.3 tonnes, the electric CLA 45 isn’t light, but its performance figures are firmly in AMG territory.
The saloon covers 0–62 mph in 3.0 seconds, while the Shooting Brake takes 3.2 seconds for the same sprint.
Top speed is 155 mph as standard, rising to 168 mph with the AMG Dynamic Plus package.
Mercedes-AMG is also quoting up to 416 miles of range for the saloon, giving the model a broader remit than short-distance performance theatre.
A louder visual signature for the electric CLA
The styling leans into the CLA 45’s positioning with a more aggressive stance, a prominent rear spoiler and the largest diffuser yet fitted to an AMG compact model.
Those changes are doing more than separating it from the regular CLA visually, as they give the electric AMG a lower, more assertive presence.
Inside, the car receives bucket seats, sporty trim details and AMG’s familiar drive-mode controls.
Mercedes-AMG has also added AMGForce, an artificial sound feature that references the M139 turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine rather than trying to make the car feel silent and detached.
Details & Specifications
| Brand | Mercedes-AMG |
|---|---|
| Model | CLA 45 Electric |
| Body styles | Saloon and Shooting Brake |
| Powertrain | Tri-motor electric all-wheel drive |
| Power | 671 hp |
| Motor layout | Two rear motors and one front motor |
| Torque vectoring | Independent rear motor control |
| 0–62 mph | 3.0 seconds saloon, 3.2 seconds Shooting Brake |
| Top speed | 155 mph, or 168 mph with AMG Dynamic Plus |
| Weight | Around 2.3 tonnes |
| Range | Up to 416 miles for the saloon |
| Sound feature | AMGForce artificial M139-inspired sound |
The electric CLA 45 looks aimed at drivers who still want the compact AMG personality, but with the instant response and packaging flexibility of a modern EV.
With two bodystyles, 671 hp and a chassis brief that includes torque vectoring and drift mode, it’s shaping up as one of AMG’s more interesting electric performance cars yet.
