Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 is now a 500kW EV that fakes a petrol engine

Key takeaways

• Electric Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 makes 500 kW from three motors
• 0-100 km/h takes 2.7 seconds, matching supercars
• WLTP range tops 670 km with 330 kW charging

Mercedes-AMG has revealed the 2026 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+, and it marks a clean break from the badge's past. The nameplate that once carried the world's most powerful production four-cylinder is now fully electric, making 500 kW and covering 0 to 100 km/h in 2.7 seconds. It arrives in saloon and Shooting Brake body styles.

Three motors, 500kW and a fake engine

Power comes from three axial flux motors, two on the rear axle and one up front, the same drive tech AMG first used in its GT 4-door Coupe. Together they produce 1,759 Nm and can hold peak output lap after lap, which is exactly where older performance EVs tend to fade.

The twist is what AMG does with all that silence. A driving mode called AMGFORCE S+ pipes in the recorded sound of a real petrol AMG four-cylinder, complete with simulated gear changes and seat shakers that mimic engine vibration. Engineers sampled an A45 S on a dyno to capture every detail of it.

2026 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 specs

Range and charging

The 94 kWh battery delivers a WLTP range of more than 670 km in the saloon and 640 km in the Shooting Brake. An 800-volt architecture allows DC charging at up to 330 kW, taking the battery from 10 to 80% in 22 minutes. Ten minutes on a fast charger adds around 270 km.

Underneath sits the same platform as the Mercedes-Benz CLA, which was named European Car of the Year 2026 and rated the safest car Euro NCAP tested in 2025.

AMG's fake engine is a hedge, not a gimmick

By recording a real four-cylinder and faking gear changes, AMG is betting its core buyers still want combustion drama even after the engine is gone. That decision positions the electric CLA 45 against petrol performance cars like the BMW M2 and Audi RS3 rather than any EV, because nothing electric matches this output in a car this small yet. If Mercedes prices it as a halo model, expect it to land above the petrol AMG cars it effectively replaces.

Australian availability

Mercedes-Benz Australia has not confirmed local timing or pricing for the electric CLA 45. Expect it to sit at the very top of the CLA range when it does land here.

The big question is whether AMG buyers actually want a very quick EV that spends its energy pretending to be petrol. Australians will have to wait on local timing to find out what that answer costs.

Frequently asked questions

How fast is the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45?

It hits 100 km/h from a standstill in 2.7 seconds, with a top speed of 250 km/h, or 270 km/h with the AMG Dynamic Plus package.

What is the range of the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45?

The saloon covers more than 670 km on the WLTP cycle and the Shooting Brake more than 640 km, both drawing on a 94 kWh battery.

When does the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 arrive in Australia?

Mercedes-Benz Australia has not confirmed a local launch date or pricing yet. We will update this page once details are locked in.