Mercedes has just shown off its all-new CLA range, which will start rolling onto UK roads later this year. During the launch in Rome, the German car firm boasted that this will be its “cleverest” car ever thanks to the inclusion of a supercomputer inside, which keeps the vehicle constantly connected and fully updated with regular software releases making sure this car stays feeling fresh long after the wheels leave the showroom floor.
It also runs on the latest Mercedes operating system and has access to smart features such as Google Gemini and ChatGPT, so you can chat with it and ask questions just like a real person. It will even know your mood and respond to requests accordingly.
The CLA comes packed with upgrades over the current range, and it will also offer owners the option to go fully electric for the first time (the current CLA is only fuel or hybrid versions). And there could be a good reason to consider jumping away from polluting petrol.
Mercedes reckons its CLA will have a pretty epic range, with the company claiming that it can keep on going for over 420 miles on a single charge. That means you can drive from London to Edinburgh without fear of battery light flashing red.
Even when things do run flat, it should be much quicker to give it a boost with the battery get an extra 200 miles of range with just ten minutes in the plug. That’s thanks to a new battery and 800-volt system that can significantly reduce charging time.
Range anxiety is still a massive issue for those considering switching to an EV, but this upgrade could finally make going electric appear much more attractive.
Of course, we’ve seen big claims about electric cars and how far they’ll go, but the marketing spiel often doesn’t match reality.
We’ll have to wait for the first reviews to start flooding in, but Mercedes reckons its mix of efficiency, new two-gear Electric Drive Unit and improved recuperation will give it the edge over other EVs.
Along with that extended range and rapid refills, the CLA also gets some other upgrades, including a panoramic glass roof, a huge Superscreen and even a separate display for passengers (at an extra cost, of course).
It’s covered in sensors and cameras to help you stay safe, and it has some refreshed styling, including a front grille that glows in the dark.
“The new CLA offers more to customers in every dimension: more space, more refinement, more comfort, more intelligence, and more efficiency compared to its predecessor. It is the cleverest car Mercedes-Benz ever made – and the first model in a completely new family of vehicles. Each new model will be available with both electric and high-tech hybrid drives. The debut is made by the all-electric CLA,” Mercedes said.
There’s no word on UK pricing or release date just yet but watch this space.
