Mercedes-Benz is paving the way for the electric vehicle revolution with its latest unveiling, the Concept CLA Class. In a bid to catch up with Tesla and emerging EV competitors from Asia, German automakers like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi have showcased their visions for the future of EVs at the IAA Mobility Motor Show in Munich.
Mercedes-Benz envisions the Concept CLA Class as a flagship for its new line of entry-level all-electric vehicles, featuring four distinct models: a four-door coupé, a shooting brake, and two SUVs. This move aligns with the company’s commitment to achieving net carbon neutrality across its entire vehicle lineup by 2039.
Underpinning these future EVs is the Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture (MMA), an electric-first platform incorporating technology from the Vision EQXX concept to enhance efficiency. The vehicle’s powertrain includes a 175 kW permanently excited synchronous machine with a two-speed transmission, all weighing less than 110 kilograms. This setup delivers remarkable energy efficiency, with up to 93 percent of battery energy reaching the wheels during long-distance drives.
As a result, the Concept CLA Class boasts a WLTP range exceeding 466 miles (750 km) and a consumption rate of approximately 5.2 mi/kWh (12 kWh/100 km), setting a new standard for drivetrain efficiency. Mercedes-Benz offers customers a choice between two battery types, with top-tier variants featuring silicon-oxide anode design for exceptional energy density, while entry-level versions use lithium-iron phosphate batteries.
Additionally, these models support 800 V architecture, enabling high electric efficiency and rapid charging, with the capability to gain up to 248 miles (400 kilometers) of range in just 15 minutes. Mercedes-Benz’s emphasis on efficiency extends to its 800 V electric-drive system, innovative battery cell chemistry, and integration, contributing to excellent energy density while reducing value-chain CO? emissions by over 40 percent.
The Concept CLA Class also integrates the brand’s new MB—OS platform to power the MBUX Superscreen, a technology derived from the Vision EQXX concept, offering real-time graphics. Sustainability is a core theme, as both the interior and exterior of the Concept CLA Class feature eco-friendly materials, including nearly carbon-free steel, low-carbon footprint aluminum, sustainably sourced and processed leather upholstery, and trim made from paper.
In a competitive move, BMW presented the “Vision Neue Klasse” at the IAA Motor Show, another EV concept aligning with the company’s electric goals. BMW’s forthcoming EVs will be based on the Neue Klasse architecture, with production expected to commence in 2025. These specialized EV platforms from Mercedes and BMW represent a departure from earlier designs that simply added batteries to combustion or hybrid vehicles.
