Mercedes-Benz: Källenius celebrates the electric AMG CLA 45 Coupe

(Motorsport-Total.com/Motor1) – Movie fans know the scene from “The Blues Brothers”: Inspired by James Brown’s singing in church, Jake “sees the light.” A revelation experience that Mercedes boss Ola Källenius apparently recently had as well. But with a different kind of music …

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But first things first: The AMG CLA 45 is back, but different from how you remember it. The gasoline engine is gone, replaced by three electric motors with enormous power. Although it is an electric car, according to the manufacturer, the Mercedes is supposed to deliver “combustion engine emotions” at the push of a button. When “AMG Force S+” driving mode is activated, the system not only imitates the sound of a four-cylinder but also simulates gear shifts to mimic the driving experience of a combustion engine.

Even though the marketing language suggests that the new AMG 45 is the electric counterpart to its four-cylinder predecessor, Mercedes boss Ola Källenius goes a step further. In an interview with Autocar, he described the now not-so-compact CLA as “the best V8 I have ever driven: It had all the feeling of a V8, but with more power and torque.” That’s not all: The Swedish-German manager said he felt “like a born-again Christian” after the first drive with the car.

Does an electric AMG make sense?

It is understandable that executives praise a new product. Still, what the number one at Mercedes says about the AMG CLA 45 surprises us. Calling the electric CLA the best V8 he has ever driven is a remarkable statement. Especially considering how many high-performance models from Mercedes-AMG Källenius must have experienced over the years.

Whether customers will be similarly enthusiastic remains to be seen. Especially since the combustion engine is now history. The up to 421 hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder of the previous CLA 45 was a central part of the car’s character. Convincing enthusiasts that an electric car can offer the same emotional appeal will likely not be an easy task.

Photo gallery: Mercedes AMG CLA 45 Electric (2026)

Mercedes is apparently aware of this challenge and has made considerable efforts to make the electric AMG feel more familiar. Simulated gear shifts, artificial engine sounds, and other software tricks are intended to convey to the driver some of the impressions associated with a performance car with a combustion engine.

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The drive with three electric motors delivers a continuous 612 hp (450 kW), putting it on par with what the E 63 got from its 4.0-liter V8 biturbo. For a CLA, that is a remarkable figure, regardless of the drive type. The new electric AMG should therefore have plenty of reserves for straight-line performance.

The Motor1 assessment: Pure power was never the only reason people bought an AMG. Sound, responsiveness, mechanical drama, and the special feeling always played a role as well. Whether three electric motors and clever software can restore enough of this magic remains one of the big questions surrounding the new CLA 45. We are certainly less optimistic than Ola Källenius.

For now, Mercedes seems quite convinced that it can persuade the combustion engine faction to switch to electric cars. If the company boss really felt “born again” after the drive, the electric AMG might have better chances to convince skeptics than the technical data alone would suggest.

And for all those who still want the real V8 experience, Mercedes will continue to offer an eight-cylinder elsewhere in the model lineup. However, one should not expect it under the hood of the CLA — nor in the C-Class, as an AMG C 63 with eight cylinders is not coming.

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The special Mercedes 500 GE V8 AMG of the Saudi prince

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Source: Autocar