Mercedes-AMG Unveils the New All-Electric CLA 45 4MATIC+ as Its Most Powerful CLA Ever

Mercedes-AMG has pulled the wraps off the CLA 45 4MATIC+, and it lands as an electric performance sedan rather than the turbocharged four-cylinder that once wore this badge. For Quebec shoppers weighing what an AMG-badged compact sedan looks like in the electric era, here’s what’s actually confirmed.

This isn’t a gradual update. The AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+ swaps its combustion identity for three electric motors and a dedicated battery tuned for repeated hard use, not just straight-line numbers.

What’s Confirmed About the New AMG CLA 45

The AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+ uses three axial-flux electric motors, two on the rear axle and one on the front, producing a combined 680 hp and 1,297 lb-ft of torque. Mercedes-AMG states the car reaches 100 km/h from a stop in 2.7 seconds and tops out at 270 km/h with the AMG Dynamic Plus package.

The front motor works as a booster, adding power to the rear-biased setup only when traction or acceleration demands call for it. Torque vectoring across the rear wheels, combined with independent control of all three motors, is what Mercedes-AMG calls the AMG Performance 4MATIC+ system, a fully variable all-wheel-drive layout built specifically for this car rather than adapted from a non-AMG CLA.

The result was demonstrated on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife, where the car posted a 7:32.070-minute lap, a time Mercedes-AMG says makes it the fastest vehicle in its segment on that circuit. The motors’ liquid cooling let them deliver full output repeatedly across the lap rather than tapering off, which is the practical difference between a strong 0-100 km/h run and holding that performance under sustained demand.

Lineup, Powertrain, and Key Specs

The AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+ sits at the top of the electric CLA family, above the CLA 250+ Electric and CLA 350 4MATIC Electric. All three share the same 2,790 mm wheelbase-range platform, but the AMG version is tuned distinctly for output and chassis behaviour rather than range-per-charge efficiency.

Where the CLA 350 4MATIC Electric puts 349 hp through a two-motor setup for a 4.9-second sprint, the AMG version adds a third motor and nearly doubles the output, at the cost of the four-seat-only configuration and a suspension tuned for handling rather than pure comfort.

What Matters for Shoppers Right Now

The chassis underneath the AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+ uses multilink suspension front and rear, with AMG Ride Control adaptive damping adjusting each wheel’s damping force in milliseconds across Comfort, Sport, and AMGFORCE S+ modes. That’s a meaningfully different setup than a comfort-tuned electric sedan, built for a driver who wants the suspension to respond to how they’re driving, not just smooth out the road.

The AMGFORCE S+ mode simulates the sound and shift feel of a combustion AMG four-cylinder, including brief interruptions during simulated gear changes. It’s a deliberate choice to keep the emotional feedback loop that AMG buyers expect, even without an engine driving it.

Design-wise, the AMG-specific front end, available with an optional illuminated grille, and a diffuser-style rear pair with an active rear spoiler that adjusts for aero balance, a first for this class per Mercedes-AMG. Inside, AMG Performance seats, a dedicated AMG steering wheel, and exclusive trim distinguish the cabin from the standard CLA lineup.

For shoppers cross-shopping electric performance sedans, the appeal is straightforward: AMG character, expressed through a three-motor electric drivetrain instead of a turbocharged four-cylinder, with the charging speed to make it usable beyond weekend drives. The 94 kWh battery, combined with 330 kW DC charging, is built to support both the performance story and longer trips without turning every charge stop into a long wait.

The Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tires used for the Nürburgring lap point to a car tuned with a track-capable identity in mind, not just aggressive styling. That’s a different proposition than a quick electric sedan wearing sport badges without the chassis work to back it up.

Where to Learn More About the AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+

The AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+ arrives as the performance flagship of the new electric CLA family, built around a three-motor drivetrain, an 800-volt architecture, and a chassis tuned specifically for AMG-level handling rather than borrowed from elsewhere in the lineup.

Visit Mercedes-Benz Laval in Laval to connect with the sales team about ordering timelines and what to expect as this model reaches Quebec dealerships.