Mercedes Concept CLA EV previews new compact range

Mercedes-Benz previewed its new range of compact cars with the Concept CLA Class, an electric four-door coupe-style sedan with more than 750 km (466 miles) of range.

The Concept CLA was revealed Sunday night at an event ahead of the IAA Mobility show in Munich. It features a drivetrain derived from the EQXX concept, which was able to travel more than 1,000 km on a single charge.

Mercedes describes the concept as a “close-to-production insight” into a coming family of compact cars that will be the “gateway to the brand.” The compact range will have a four-door coupe, a station wagon and two SUVs, CEO Ola Kallenius said.

The Concept CLA features an 800-volt electric system that can add 400 km of range in 15 minutes, Mercedes says. It can charge at up to 250-kilowatt DC stations.

With highly efficient electric consumption of about 12-kilowatt-hours per 100 km, the Concept CLA is the new “1-liter car,” Mercedes says, comparing it to the most frugal internal-combustion vehicles today.

Kallenius says he remains committed to compact models, even as he emphasizes sales of high-margin vehicles, including the luxury Maybach brand, the high-performance AMG division and off-road G-Class. The average selling price of a Mercedes car has risen 43 percent since 2019, and is now about 73,000 euros ($78,000).

Mercedes currently sells seven main compact models in Europe built on the MFA2 platform: The A-Class, B-Class, A-Class sedan, CLA coupe, CLA station wagon, GLA (plus EQA EV) and GLB (plus EQB EV).

The Concept CLA will be the first car built on the MMA platform, which Mercedes describes as “electric first,” meaning it can also accommodate internal-combustion engines.

The concept is rear-wheel drive, but the new MMA compact range will also include all-wheel-drive options. Other features of MMA include two different battery cell chemistries, with a choice of an entry-level lithium-iron phosphate battery or denser silicon oxide anode design.

Mercedes says the battery packs are lighter and stiffer than current configurations, thanks in part to the use of adhesives rather than screws to join the modules.

The Concept CLA uses a 175-kW electric motor coupled to a two-speed transmission. Power electronics include a silicon-carbide inverter. The new motor, developed in-house, uses significantly less rare-earth metals, Mercedes says.

It also features vehicle-to-grid or vehicle-to-home bidirectional charging.

Mercedes says the design of the Concept CLA transmits “athletic power,” with a shark-nose front end and a seamless grille panel. Flared wheel arches, 21-inch wheels and a wide track emphasize this perception, Mercedes says.

Light bands that wrap around the front and rear are reflective chrome when not illuminated.

Mercedes describes the concept’s interior as “tech infused minimalist elegance” that combines organic materials such as hemp and leather with high-gloss surfaces; the color palette is silver and crystal white, with blue and violet detailing.

Like other new Mercedes models, the user interface will be the automaker’s MBUX system, including the Superscreen that appears to sweep the width of the dashboard.

The interior of the Concept CLA Class is also focused on sustainability, with trim materials including recycled cellulose and hemp. Floor mats are made of bamboo fiber; recycled polyester upholstery is used on the console. Leather seats are made from animals that comply with humane treatment rules and that are not grazed in deforested areas.

The MB.OS operating system is the computer architecture behind the Concept CLA, with MMA vehicles being the first cars to fully run on the system. Level 2 driving assistance -- meaning the driver needs to pay full attention to the road and what the car is doing -- is standard, but hardware and software are “generally ready” for Level 3, meaning the driver is free to do other things in certain situations. Mercedes was the first automaker to win approval for Level 3 assistance in Germany.

MMA vehicles will be built at Mercedes’ factories in Rastatt, Germany; Keckskemet, Hungary; and Beijing. The plant in Rastatt was configured for MMA production using digital twin technology to optimize the location of robots, supply routes and production lines while the current models were still being built, Mercedes says. The use of digital twin technology will lead to a faster ramp-up and better quality and production efficiency, the automaker says. 

Electric, hybrid and gasoline models will be built on the same lines, Mercedes says.