2013 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Reviews

There is a new king of electric cars.Mercedes-Benz’s Concept AMG GT XX prototype has demolished no less than 25 world records.Mercedes-Benz said the prototype electric car concept “obliterated” the 24 hour driving record by more than 1500km after travelling 5479km in a single day.It didn’t stop there, but kept the good times rolling for seven days, 13 hours, 24 minutes and 07 seconds to travel the equivalent of the earth’s circumference at the equator or 40,075kmIt effectively travelled around the world in less than eight days and demolished the 25 records at various markers along the way.The Concept AMG GT XX averaged about 5300km a day with an average speed of 300km/h.Drivers had to stop to recharge the car, which Mercedes-Benz said achieved max charging speeds of about 850kW.That’s an astonishing charging speed that puts it amongst the fastest charging cars on the planet. Only BYD has speedy replenishing EVs that can absorb about 1000kW or 1MW.Currently the fastest charging vehicles on sale in Australia can take on 350kW of juice, but chargers capable of delivering that speed are far and few between. The record breaking test wasn’t completed on public roads, but at the high speed test track in Nardo, Italy.Nardo’s test track is a high speed ring at about 12km long and has been a regular spot for ultra-fast speed tests for carmakers.Mercedes-Benz used a team of 17 drivers — including its Formula One driver George Russell — to achieve the multiple world record setting test.The test acted as a torture test to Merc’s new 'AMG.EA' EV platform, pushing the motors and charging infrastructure to the limit repeatedly for almost eight days. The Mercedes-Benz Concept AMG GT XX gives a preview of the brand’s new flagship performance model and will be the most powerful AMG yet.This puts it on a collision course with new Chinese rivals such as the Denza Z9 and Xiaomi SU7.It uses three electric motors — which are coolly called axial-flux motors — to make a whopping 1000kW-plus. Mercedes claims these motors are about three times as powerful as conventional electric motors.Its 114kWh battery can accept up to 850kW of charge. The battery chemistry is NCMA (Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese-Aluminium), which is an evolution of the high-capacity NMC batteries found in many long-legged EVs.

New Chinese carmakers such as Xiaomi, Xpeng and Nio are leaving established manufacturers such as Toyota, Nissan and Mazda behind when it comes to technology a new report has found, leaving doubts about whether the traditional players can ever catch up.

The latest safety assessment results released by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) have confirmed maximum five-star results for a trio of recent arrivals - the Kia Carnival, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Skoda Superb.

Massive discounts on Mercedes electric cars

I’m okay with picking pattern progressions, but begin to fall short when the pressure of upper level IQ testing starts to bring me undone. That said, even I could detect the clear sequence of super performance carmakers following one another into the world of the 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8.A slew of British, German and Italian brands using the same performance vs consumption vs emissions equation to propel their exotic machines towards the horizon at warp speed with maximum efficiency.So, why did white-coated boffins from all points of the automotive globe come up with the same engine configuration, capacity and induction answer?Well, at the recent global launch of the Lamborghini Temerario (a 4.0L twin-turbo V8 hybrid) we asked Lambo’s Chief Technical Officer (and drift king) Dr. Rouven Mohr exactly that.He confirmed the broadly accepted answer that an individual cylinder volume of 500cc is the magic number.That’s right, the capacity that took the ‘Wollongong Whiz’ Wayne Gardner and ‘The Master of going Faster’ Mick Doohan to 500cc World Motorcycle Championship glory is the Goldilocks zone for an individual engine cylinder. And that’s because a cylinder of that size, ideally undersquare (with a stroke length exceeding its bore diameter), optimises the combustion process thanks to a relatively small internal surface to volume ratio (as the piston nears top dead centre) which helps improve fuel efficiency while producing optimum power and minimising C02 and NOx emissions.So, 500 times eight equals 4000, which, with the benefit of forced induction pushes the golden ratio to its maximum.And Lamborghini should know because the all-new (L411) unit it developed for the Temerario produces 588kW on its own, before a trio of electric motors tips in another 89kW for a total output of 677kW (920hp).Two turbos producing 2.5 bar located in the engine’s ‘hot vee’ optimise packaging and thermal management; titanium conrods reduce rotating mass; a flat plane crank delivers an even firing order and super hard finger followers in the valvetrain allow more aggressive cam profiles. The result? A 10,000rpm rev ceiling, which is… nuts.Other brands within the Volkswagen Group portfolio are on the same train, like Audi’s SQ7 and SQ8 with Bentley and Porsche directly sharing engine tech.And what about Mercedes-AMG with the GT63 and SL63 or McLaren just about matching Lambo for specific power output with its 750S rocketship?But hands up those who remember JLR’s ‘Ingenium’ modular engine family. Three-, four- and six-cylinder units built around 500cc cylinders. BMW Group with its triple, four- and six-cylinder engines, along with many others have also struck on the 500cc formula. But maybe Lamborghini President and CEO Stephan Winkelmann has the most compelling reason for joining the club.While acknowledging the capacity of the cylinder premise - “Six cylinder is usually three litres, eight is four and 12 is six” - he lets slip that the 4.0L thing “is also a matter of taxation in a lot of countries”. So, follow engine efficiency or follow the money, the 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8 answer is the same.

Australia’s peak motoring body has detailed its latest batch of data from real-world fuel use testing.

Mercedes-AMG has detailed a number of new “performance-oriented” Edition R and Edition R+ models for Australia.Following the “strong reception” of the AMG C43 and GLC Edition R models, this time the brand has given its smallest passenger cars the treatment.These include Edition R versions of the AMG A35 and A45 S sedan and hatchback, as well as hotter Edition R+ versions of the AMG CLA35 and CLA45 S sedan.Pricing for the new AMG A35 Edition R hatch and sedan, as well as the AMG CLA35 Edition R is down by up to $4300 compared to the standard model it’s based on. They now start at $86,200 before on-road costs.With the hotter AMG A45 S Edition R+ and CLA45 S Edition R+, on the other hand, pricing is the same as the standard model it’s based on. This means a starting price of $122,500 before on-roads and $129,300 before on-roads, respectively.A table detailing the full pricing for the new Mercedes-AMG A-Class and CLA Edition R and Edition R+ line-up is at the bottom of this story.Despite being cheaper, the new AMG A-Class and CLA Edition R models pick up a wide range of exclusive kit.This includes the AMG Aerodynamics Package that features a large front splitter with additional flics, a high-gloss black diffuser blade, as well as an AMG rear wing for the A35 hatchback and an AMG rear spoiler for the A35 sedan and CLA35.These models also pick up 19-inch black AMG alloy wheels with red brake calipers, AMG aluminium interior trim, as well as synthetic leather and microfibre upholstery with red top stitching.Over the standard AMG A45 S and CLA45 S, Edition R+ versions of both pick up AMG performance seats. The CLA45 S Edition R+ also picks up a fixed AMG rear wing for the first time.Power for all A-Class and CLA Edition R and Edition R+ models remain unchanged.The A35 and CLA35 are powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 48V mild-hybrid boost producing total system outputs of 225kW of power and 400Nm of torque.The A45 S and CLA45 S, however, are powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine without any mild-hybrid assistance, but it produces 310kW and 500Nm.The current Mercedes-Benz CLA is reaching the end of its lifecycle and will be replaced by a new-generation model imminently that’s set to be offered in mild-hybrid and electric guises.The current A-Class is also nearing the end of its lifecycle and isn’t set to get a replacement. Production was meant to cease next year, though reports from Europe now state that it could continue until 2028. 

It’s been over five years now since COVID lockdowns started and in some way it feels like a lifetime ago. For a lot of people buying new cars during this period, however, there were long wait times. COVID lockdowns were a key reason for this, but another major reason for delays was the global shortage of semiconductors.

Mercedes-Benz is embracing the hybrid life.The German brand was an early adopter of plug-in hybrid (PHEV) tech before going cold on the petrol-electric combo several years ago to focus on full electric vehicles.Not anymore, though, as plug-in hybrid variants come streaming back into Australia wearing the three-pointed star badge.Benz has just launched the GLA 250e in Australia, joining the C350e in the brand’s growing range of plug-in hybrids. Even the vaunted C63 muscle car now comes with plug-in hybrid power instead of witha rumbling V8.The GLA 250e is priced from $78,000 (before on-road costs), which is cheaper than the petrol-powered GLA 250.The GLA 250e pairs a 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor to deliver combined outputs of 160kW and 450Nm.Mercedes-Benz claims the GLA 250e can drive up to 65km on electric power alone thanks to its 11.5kWh battery.It can be charged via AC power at a max rate of 3.7kW, which is fine as it is a small battery and will easily fill up overnight when connected to a regular household power outlet.Owners who want faster charging can upgrade it to 11kW capacity for $800.Some of the equipment highlights include 18-inch alloy wheels, panoramic sunroof, ambient interior lighting, heated front seats, wireless device charging and metallic paint.

Solid state batteries, the 'holy grail' of EV tech, continues to hit hurdles.