Why Mercedes Boss Felt Like A ‘Born-Again Christian’

The AMG CLA 45 is back, though not as you remember it. The gas engine is gone, replaced by three electric motors that push out ludicrous power. Even though it’s an EV, Mercedes says it delivers “combustion engine emotion at the touch of a finger” by activating a dedicated drive mode. With AMG Force S+ engaged, it not only fakes the sound of a four-cylinder engine but also brings simulated gear changes to further mimic an ICE-like experience.

Although the marketing lingo suggests the new AMG 45 is the electric equivalent of its four-banger predecessor, Mercedes CEO Ola Källenius goes a step further. He caught up with Autocar and called the not-so-compact-anymore CLA “the best V8 I’d ever driven: it had all the feeling of a V8 but with more power and torque.” That’s not all, as the Swedish-German business executive says he felt “like a born-again Christian” after driving the car for the first time.

While it’s perfectly understandable for higher-ups to praise a new product, we’re taken aback by what the number one at Mercedes has to say about the AMG CLA 45. Calling the CLA the best V8 he’s ever driven is quite the statement, especially considering how many high-performance Mercedes-AMG models Källenius has experienced over the years.

Does An Electric AMG Make Sense?

That said, it remains to be seen whether customers will be just as enthused, especially since the gas engine is now gone. The previous CLA 45’s turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder was a major part of the car’s character, so convincing enthusiasts that an EV can deliver the same emotional punch won’t be an easy task.

Mercedes is clearly aware of that challenge and has gone to considerable lengths to make the electric AMG feel more familiar. The simulated shifts, artificial engine sounds, and other software tricks are designed to give drivers something resembling the sensations associated with an ICE-powered performance car.

The tri-motor setup delivers a continuous 612 horsepower, which happens to match what the E63 had from its twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine. That’s a remarkable figure for a CLA, regardless of what’s powering it, and it gives the new electric AMG plenty of ammunition when it comes to straight-line performance.

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Source: Mercedes-Benz

Motor1’s Take: Outright power has never been the only reason people bought an AMG. The sound, response, mechanical drama, and sense of occasion all played a role. Whether three electric motors and some clever software can recreate enough of that magic remains one of the biggest questions surrounding the new CLA 45. We’re certainly less optimistic than Ola Källenius.

For now, Mercedes seems pretty convinced it can persuade the ICE-loving audience to switch to EVs. If the company’s CEO genuinely felt “born again” after driving it, perhaps the electric AMG has a better shot at winning over skeptics than its specs alone would suggest.

And for those who still want the real thing, Mercedes will continue to offer a V8 elsewhere in its lineup. Just don’t expect to see it under the hood of the CLA or even the C-Class, as an eight-cylinder AMG C63 isn’t coming.