2025 Mercedes CLA Electric should set several new benchmarks

Update: ‘Design,’ ‘Specifications’ and ‘Release Date & Manufacturing’ sections updated.

Mercedes-Benz is developing a new pure-electric compact car that would be more efficient, range-focused, and perhaps cheaper than the EQA SUV. Previewed by the Mercedes Concept CLA Class, it could set several benchmarks in the segment. Here’s what we know:

Design

In August 2023, spy pictures and videos revealed several interesting design details, and then on September 3, 2023, in Munich, the Concept CLA Class was unveiled as an early preview at IAA 2023.

The Mercedes CLA Electric will have an low, wide, and athletic stance. At the front, it features angry-eye-like circular headlamps with the star-shaped daytime running lights, similar to the concept. A concave nose section with a new star-studded faux grille panel (optional) and a functional lower air intake would be positioned below these lights.

Thus, the face of the car should look quite aggressive, like that of a shark. Lastly, it’s possible that the A-shaped grille’s star inserts will glow, perhaps with softly changing brightness for realism, when the car is stationary.

On the sides, in addition to the extra-slippery roofline, precise joints, and shut lines, we expect powerful wheel arches, 20-inch wheels, and flush-fitted door handles to be among the design highlights. We expect a short rear deck and a swoopy rear overhang to also add to the car’s sporty styling. The rear windows will be slightly bigger than on the current CLA, so passengers in the back will be able to enjoy a little more of the scenery.

At the rear, we expect a ducktail spoiler integrated into the trunk lid, a convex rear bumper, and circular lights with star-shaped clusters, imitating the look of the headlights.

Interior

‘Curved Ultrawide Display’ with new tech features

The Mercedes CLA Electric’s interior will be highly digital, as seen in most recent Mercedes-Benz models, especially in EVs. The CLA Electric will be the brand’s first model to be available with MBUX Superscreen, a low-cost version of MBUX Hyperscreen seen on bigger electric Mercs like the EQS, engineered for compact models. This will be an optional feature, with basic variants expected to feature a simpler dashboard layout.

MBUX Superscreen integrates three horizontal displays seamlessly beneath one glass surface, without transitions or bumps. These displays could be mini-LED panels with thousands of local dimming zones. The passenger display would allow the front passenger to use third-party video streaming services while traveling. Eye-tracking and various other safety technologies will ensure the driver doesn’t get distracted by that. Rear headroom and rear knee room are expected to be better compared to the gas-powered second-gen CLA.

The electronics of the CLA Electric, both system and in-cabin, would run on the Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS). Developed in-house, the new software “will perfectly link the vehicles with the cloud and the IoT, and comprise four central domains: Powertrain, Autonomous Driving, Infotainment, and Body & Comfort Systems,” Dr. Michael Hafner, Vice President MB.OS Base Layer & MBUX, Mercedes-Benz, said in an internal interview. The car should have a slew of eco-friendly materials on the inside, such as a biotechnology-based and certified-vegan silk-like fabric and a paper material made from recycled cellulose.

MBUX Surround Navigation

The Mercedes CLA Electric should feature the company’s new built-in 3D navigation system, called ‘MBUX Surround Navigation.’ It shows a real-world view of the vehicle’s surroundings and adjusts accordingly to the vehicle’s movements. In addition to the route, it displays the surrounding vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians close to the roadside, potential hazards, and nearby buildings and other infrastructure. It should make judging the vehicle’s distance from surroundings and predicting next driving actions easy, especially in busy metros like New York and Los Angeles.

Specifications

MMA (Mercedes Modular Architecture) Platform

The Mercedes CLA Electric will debut the company’s electric-first MMA platform and a new electric drive unit simply called the ‘Mercedes-Benz Electric Drive Unit (MB.EDU).’ MB.EDU would consist of power electronics featuring silicon carbide (SiC) for high efficiency, a two-speed transmission, and a permanent magnet synchronous motor with barely any heavy rare earths – close to 0%.

Battery & Motor

The CLA Electric would be available in single-motor RWD and dual-motor AWD configurations. Autocar claims that customers will be able to choose between 201 hp and 223 hp single-motor RWD configurations. 58 kWh LFP and 85 kWh NMC will be the battery pack options, as per the British publication’s intel. According to a JESMB report dated February 23, 2024, though, the lithium-ion NMC battery pack’s energy storage capacity will be slightly higher, around 90 kWh.

Mercedes-AMG CLA Electric

At the Mercedes CLA Preview in Immendingen, Germany, Ola Källenius, CEO, Mercedes-Benz Group, sneakily confirmed the AMG variant. In response to host Sarah Harman’s enthusiasm during a lively track session, he remarked, “This is not even the AMG version.” Accelerating out of a corner, he added, “Imagine what that’s going to feel like.”

The Mercedes-AMG CLA Electric is expected with a 536 hp twin-motor powertrain, sportier bumpers and wheels, and an exclusive rear spoiler, it would draw performance enthusiasts. It should come with sports seats and a different multifunction steering wheel, too, not to forget a few additional menus on the screens to make/display variant-specific driving adjustments.

Range & Charging

The batteries of the Mercedes CLA Electric would operate at 800 volts and support charging at up to 250 kW. On the WLTP cycle, just 15 minutes of charging could be enough to cover a distance of 249 miles. On a full charge, the maximum WLTP range will likely be more than 466 miles. The maximum EPA-est. range of the CLA Electric could be around 375 miles.

JESMB has learned that bi-directional charging will be available in the MMA family, but not from Day 1. Customers should be able to use the energy stored in the CLA Electric’s battery pack for V2L (vehicle-to-load) and V2G (vehicle-to-grid) applications.

Level 2++ Autonomous driving features

In the same report, JESMB says that Mercedes’s market analysis has shown that there is currently no market for the Level 3 system in the entry segment. For Level 3 approval, the braking, electrical system, radar, steering, lidar, and camera systems would have to be upgraded. This increases costs and is currently not aligned with Mercedes’ entry segment, adds JESMB.

Instead of Level 3, the company is likely to start with a highly-developed Level 2++ system featuring comfort functions on the CLA Electric. WardsAuto had said in its exclusive report, filed on May 31, 2024, that the new CLA would use lidar-based sensors and high-definition mapping to offer hands-off point-to-point autonomous driving in city conditions. It’s not fully autonomous, as the driver would have to take control of the steering wheel in the case of the system activating visual and audio warnings.

Release Date & Manufacturing

The most intelligent car that they’ve (Mercedes engineers) ever made, supercomputer on board, sensors everywhere, Artificial Intelligence-based software..it feels like this is the complete package.

Ola Källenius, CEO, Mercedes-Benz Group, at the Mercedes CLA Preview in Immendingen, Germany

The production-ready Mercedes CLA Electric will celebrate its world premiere in 2025. The U.S. launch should take place the same year. The company has confirmed that the Mercedes-Benz plant in Rastatt (Germany) will begin producing the MMA models from the middle of the decade. The North American market should source the CLA Class from this center.

Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake Electric

Since the CLA’s inception early last decade, it has been a tradition for the lineup to include a Shooting Brake. The practical long-roof derivative will follow it in the third generation, securing its space in the three-pointed star’s shrinking compact car lineup. The redesigned, third-gen estate will be available as an EV. The first-ever Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake Electric could start arriving in dealerships in 2026.

TopElectricSUV says

We’re expecting the Mercedes CLA Electric as a four-door coupe offering a sleek and stylish design, high levels of aerodynamic and energy efficiency, and an impressive driving range that sends range anxiety into the history books! Expect prices to begin at around USD 50,000 in the U.S.

Also Read: Next-gen Mercedes GLA Electric/EQA (2025): All the details

Mercedes CLA Electric FAQs

Featured Image Source: Mercedes-Benz