Mercedes-Benz has supplied early particulars of the powertrains that will likely be provided for the third-generation CLA, which is ready to be the primary mannequin to be constructed on the Mercedes-Benz Modular Structure (MMA). The skateboard platform may also be used for 3 different vehicles, together with a taking pictures brake and two SUVs.
In response to the German carmaker, the CLA will likely be out there as pure electrical automobile (EV) which makes use of its new-generation Electrical Drive Unit (EDU 2.0). This sees a rear-wheel drive format that was sometimes reserved for autos greater up the category tree, with electrical motor rated at 272 PS (268 hp or 200 kW).
All energy electronics, together with a silicon carbide (SiC) inverter are built-in right into a single part to maintain issues compact. For even higher effectivity, the rear EDU 2.0 unit additionally will get a two-speed transmission, which isn’t widespread amongst EVs that sometimes go for a single-speed discount gear.
The transmission’s first gear (11:1 ratio) is used when accelerating from a standstill and switches to the second gear (5:1 ratio) at greater speeds, with the highest velocity being 210 km/h. The shift factors additionally soak up account the driving state of affairs and the chosen driving programme.
To fulfill the wants of shoppers who require all-wheel drive, 4Matic variants of the upcoming CLA will add a front-mounted electrical motor (with a single-speed discount gear) offering 109 PS (107 hp or 80 kW). This gained’t be energetic on a regular basis and can solely kick into motion when the corresponding energy or traction is required.
To realize this, a Disconnect Unit (DCU) is used for the primary time for the model’s entry-level phase to decouple the electrical motor on the entrance axle. Mercedes-Benz says this reduces entrance axles losses by 90% and helps to extend vary, with the goal being a WLTP-rated determine of 750 km as per the Idea CLA Class from a yr in the past. The compact entrance unit additionally permits for a frunk.
As for batteries, Mercedes-Benz is providing two cell chemistries to select from, together with a nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) pack with an power content material of 85 kWh (680 Wh/l, 496 kg). The choice is a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery with 58 kWh (450 Wh/l, 484 kg) – each packs are liquid cooled and have 4 modules inside them.
The CLA may also mark the primary time the model makes use of an 800V electrical structure in a manufacturing automobile, which allows super-fast DC charging at as much as 320 kW that’s claimed so as to add 300 km of vary with simply 10 minutes of charging. There’s additionally AC charging at both 11 kW or 22 kW, and there are plans so as to add bi-directional charging in future, new entry-level fashions.
On the day by day drive, the CLA can even recuperate as much as 200 kW, with 4 ranges accessible by prospects: D Automobile (clever recuperation), D+ (coasting, no recuperation), D (commonplace recuperation as much as one metre per second sq.) and D- (excessive recuperation as much as three metres per second sq.).
To showcase the aptitude of the CLA’s electrical powertrain, Mercedes-Benz’s Challenge N noticed two close-to-production prototypes cowl as a lot floor as potential inside 24 hours on the Nardo high-speed check observe in Italy. On the finish of testing, a CLA coated precisely 3,717 km with 40 charging stops, each lasting round 10 minutes. If these are taken under consideration, the typical velocity was 154.9 km/h.
Spectacular as which may be, there are those that should not able to go totally electrical. As such, Mercedes-Benz is masking that buyer base by providing the brand new CLA as hybrid with a 48V system. On the coronary heart of this setup is the M252 from the corporate’s FAME (Household of Modular Engines) line-up.
The M252 runs on the Miller cycle (12:1 compression ratio) and has a displacement of 1.5 litres, with three energy ranges provided: 136 PS (134 hp or 100 kW), 163 PS (161 hp or 120 kW) and 190 PS (188 hp or 140 kW). Paired to the engine is a brand new eight-speed dual-clutch transmission dubbed 8F-eDCT, which has an built-in electrical motor rated at 27 PS (27 hp or 20 kW).
The electrical motor present help at low speeds and allows electrical coasting at a velocity of as much as round 100 km/h. It additionally acts to fireside up the engine, which means there’s no want for a traditional pinion starter and the start-stop perform is nearly imperceptible for the motive force. A particular function being touted is the engine can recuperate in all eight gears to get better as much as 25 kW of power.
All that power is fed to a 48V lithium-ion battery with an power capability of 1.3 kWh. For environment friendly packaging, the battery cells and the DC/DC converter are built-in in what is named a flat pack that’s tucked below the motive force’s seat (left-hand drive). As an possibility, prospects can even select to have a mechanical 4Matic all-wheel drive system.
The brand new CLA is predicted to go on sale someday subsequent yr, and we are going to doubtless get much more particulars as we method its official debut date.
GALLERY: 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLA prototype
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