Mercedes-Benz's Next CLA-Class Will Be A High-End Luxury EV

Battery capacity will sit around the 100 kWh mark. As such, we can expect the electric CLA to boast a range of around 530 miles. That's impressive, but we expect a more modest figure once the vehicle is subjected to EPA testing.

The compact luxury car will gain motivation from second-generation permanent magnet synchronous motors, known as eATS2.0 by Mercedes-Benz. These units will receive a silicon carbide inverter and send power to the wheels via a two-speed transmission.

It's safe to assume the Stuttgart-based brand will offer different drive setups. Expect a dual-motor derivative with all-wheel drive and a single-motor CLA with front- or rear-wheel drive. Even though it will share a platform and styling with its electric sibling, the gasoline model will be vastly different under the skin, thanks to its new four-cylinder engine.

"It is an all-new engine engineered for Euro 7 emission regulations," said the company's Markus Schafer. While development took place in Germany, the four-pot will reportedly make use of certain components from Geely. The Chinese automaker has worked closely with the German giant in the past, with their most recent efforts culminating in the new Smart #1 electric car.

A source has told the British publication that the four-cylinder CLA will not be offered as a plug-in hybrid. "In the future, the customer will be able to choose between pure electric or mild-hybrid petrol depending on the market."

Regardless of the chosen drivetrain, the CLA will also introduce the new MB.OS infotainment software. This chip-to-cloud system has been designed to support Google Maps and other third-party applications. Level 2 assisted driving will also be available on the entry-level Benz.

Thanks to our spy photographers, we've already seen the new CLA-Class during winter testing. Camouflage conceals much of the design, but the new model will be larger than its predecessor and sport an even larger front grille.

Expect the 2025 CLA-Class to borrow styling cues from the latest crop of high-end Benzes, including the new SL. The CLA is one of the luckier entry-level cars from the marque. The A-Class and B-Class may have received a facelift, but reports from Germany suggest they are not long for this world.

This is all part of the automaker's strategy to focus on more luxurious models. Previously, Mercedes focused on volume and introduced a car to fill almost every niche. That's no longer the case, with a renewed emphasis on pricey products like AMG and Maybach-badged vehicles. The CLA - along with the GLA and GLB crossovers - will survive the mass culling of Mercedes vehicles.