New Mercedes-Benz CLA ride 792 km without recharging and has AI by Microsoft and Google

Mercedes-Benz has introduced the fully electric CLA, which will be the flagship of a new family that includes both electric and hybrid models.

At the start of sales, two versions are available: the rear-wheel drive CLA 250+ with a 200 kW (272 hp) engine that accelerates to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds, and the all-wheel drive CLA 350 4MATIC with a combined power of 260 kW. The maximum speed of both models is limited to 210 km/h. The electric car has a range of up to 792 km on a single charge, but this figure is relevant for the version with an 85.5 kWh battery. There will also be a version with a smaller 58 kWh battery, but its range is still unknown.

The model is built on an 800-volt architecture and supports fast charging with direct current with a capacity of up to 320 kW, which allows you to add 325 km of range in just 10 minutes. The design uses a two-speed gearbox: first gear is used for driving in the city, and when the speed increases, the CLA automatically switches to second, which increases efficiency on the highway.

The new model is equipped with the MB.DRIVE system, which includes adaptive cruise control and lane change assistant. The main innovation is the Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS), which turns the CLA into a “smart” car with a constant connection to the cloud and the ability to update “over the air”.

The interface is built on the updated MBUX system with the Superscreen panel, which runs on powerful chips from Unity. The virtual assistant, which uses artificial intelligence from Microsoft and Google, supports ChatGPT and Google Gemini, which allows it to understand natural speech, conduct a dialogue and even react to the driver’s emotions. The navigation system is based on Google Maps and automatically builds the most efficient routes taking into account charging stations.

The base CLA 250+ starts at €50,000, while the all-wheel drive CLA 350 4MATIC will cost around €60,000.

Two versions are available at launch:

• CLA 250+ (rear-wheel drive, 200 kW/272 hp) – acceleration to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds.
• CLA 350 4MATIC (all-wheel drive, 260 kW/353 hp) – acceleration in 4.9 seconds.

The maximum speed of both models is 210 km/h, and the range reaches 792 km (with an 85.5 kWh battery). There is also a version with a 58 kWh battery, but its range has not yet been revealed.

The CLA is built on an 800-volt architecture, and charging with a capacity of up to 320 kW allows you to replenish 325 km of range in just 10 minutes.

Innovations and technologies

The CLA has a two-speed gearbox, which increases efficiency on the highway. It is also equipped with the MB.DRIVE system, which includes adaptive cruise control and lane change assistant.

The main feature is the Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS) with AI from Microsoft and Google. The car is constantly connected to the cloud and receives updates “over the air”.

The new MBUX Superscreen runs on Unity chips, and the virtual assistant with ChatGPT and Google Gemini understands natural speech, adapts to the driver and even reacts to emotions.

Price and start of sales

• CLA 250+ – from €50,000.
• CLA 350 4MATIC – about €60,000.