The turbocharged four-cylinder engine will be offered in three power states: 134 hp, 161 hp and 188 hp. The hybrid systems include a 27 hp electric motor integrated directly into the transmission and powered by a 1.3 kWh 48 V battery located under the front seats.

The electric motor allows low-speed, emissions-free, purely electric driving when coasting up to 62 mph, and Mercedes says this new hybrid setup can recover up to 25 kW of energy when slowing down, in any gear .

The electric CLA features an 800V electrical architecture for ultra-fast charging speeds of up to 320 kW. At this rate, over 180 miles of range can be added in just 10 minutes. Meanwhile, the 268 hp electric motor on the rear axle was developed by Mercedes and benefits from a two-speed transmission, which improves both performance and efficiency.

Mercedes has confirmed that the EV version will be available with either a 58 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery or an 85 kWh battery with silicon oxide anodes that increase energy density. The Tesla Model 3 rival is said to offer battery-to-wheel fuel efficiency of up to 93% on long trips, while the CLA Concept Class could reach 5.18 miles per kilowatt hour. If the road version is capable of the same feat, it could offer more than 440 miles of range on a single charge.

Thanks to its unconfirmed but likely long range and charging capabilities, a prototype of the electric CLA managed to cover exactly 3,717 kilometers (2,310 miles) in 24 hours at the Nardò test circuit in the south from Italy. THE Porsche Taycan took the same test in 2019 and covered 3,425 kilometers (2,128 miles).

Four-wheel drive 4MATIC models benefit from an additional 107 hp electric motor on the front axle, designed to act as a ‘boost’ drive, meaning it is only activated when more power or traction is necessary. It is also decoupled from the powertrain in order to reduce energy consumption as much as possible.

Finally, pur-electric cars based on the MMA platform can recover up to 200 kW under deceleration and should offer full one-pedal driving, while each edition will come standard with a new multi-source heat pump. This uses the energy saved on the transmission, battery and ambient air.

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