Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 (2026): 680 hp for the electric sedan and estate

AMG turns its most vehement compact into a 680 hp electric sedan. With the 2026 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45, the Affalterbach brand closes one combustion chapter and opens another, entirely battery-powered, without giving up the performance promise that built its reputation.

For a long time, the "45" badge meant a supercharged four-cylinder, the one that held the record for specific output in a production engine. The shift to electric was therefore awaited with as much impatience as skepticism. Here is what we now know, with the figures to back it up.

What does this fully electric CLA 45 really change?

The change is radical: the CLA 45 drops the combustion engine for a fully electric drivetrain. It is built on the manufacturer's new dedicated platform and adopts an 800-volt architecture, a guarantee of fast charging and optimized thermal management under heavy load.

The announced output reaches 680 hp, an unprecedented figure for an AMG compact. Notably, this power is available on both the sedan body (called Coupé at Mercedes) and the Shooting Brake estate. The two versions share the same mechanicals, with no power hierarchy depending on the format.

• Powertrain: two electric motors, one per axle, for all-wheel drive.
• Power: 680 hp, identical in sedan and estate.
• Electric architecture: 800 volts, geared toward fast charging and endurance.
• Bodies: Coupé (sedan) and Shooting Brake (estate).

This dual-motor configuration allows variable torque distribution between the axles, a principle dear to AMG for combining traction and agility. The compact thus becomes a genuine electronic all-wheel-drive car, able to modulate its personality according to the driving mode.

Sedan or estate: do you have to choose?

This is one of the range's strengths: the estate is not a lesser product. The Shooting Brake shows the same 680 hp as the sedan, which means the choice rests solely on lifestyle and the need for space, not on performance.

For family or leisure use, the estate logically offers a more generous boot and easier access. The sedan, for its part, bets on a sleeker silhouette. In both cases, the AMG DNA remains identical: two motors, all-wheel drive and electronic torque management.

• Same power (680 hp) and same technical architecture on both bodies.
• Coupé sedan: sleeker line, "pure performance" orientation.
• Shooting Brake estate: versatility and greater cargo volume.
• Choice driven by usage, not by the performance sheet.

How good is the 800-volt architecture day to day?

The 800-volt architecture is not a marketing detail. It allows high charging power and limits component heating, which matters doubly on a performance car expected to string together accelerations and, potentially, laps on a circuit.

Day to day, this higher voltage mainly translates into shorter charging sessions on compatible chargers and into more consistent performance when the battery and motors are called upon repeatedly. This is precisely the kind of demand an AMG must meet.

Who is this 680 hp compact for?

The CLA 45 targets a specific audience: the performance enthusiast who wants the power of a sports car in a compact format, usable every day, now with zero local emissions. Availability in sedan and estate form widens the target even further, from the solo driver to the busy parent.

With 680 hp, it clearly plays in the very high-end compact category. This output far exceeds that of the segment's combustion benchmarks, immediately raising the bar of expectations. The dual-motor all-wheel drive also promises traction at all times, including on wet surfaces.

• The performance enthusiast who refuses to sacrifice daily usability.
• The driver wishing to switch to electric without giving up the thrills.
• The family looking for a powerful, versatile estate (Shooting Brake).
• The driver focused on fast charging thanks to 800 volts.

How does it stand against its rivals?

On the power front, the CLA 45 rises to the top of the compacts. Its 680 hp place it clearly above the segment's historic combustion benchmarks, while fitting into the new wave of electric performance compacts. Here are two reference points to situate its offering.

Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 (2026)

• Energy: fully electric.
• Power: 680 hp.
• Drive: all-wheel drive, two motors.
• Architecture: 800 volts.
• Bodies: sedan (Coupé) and estate (Shooting Brake).

Rival no. 1: Audi RS 3 (combustion)

• Energy: combustion (five cylinders).
• Positioning: the segment's sound and sensory benchmark.
• Drive: quattro all-wheel drive.
• Bodies: sedan and Sportback.
• Limitation against the CLA 45: power well below 680 hp and no full electrification.

Rival no. 2: electric performance compacts (emerging wave)

• Energy: fully electric, like the CLA 45.
• Positioning: from accessible to versatile electric sports cars.
• Drive: often dual-motor all-wheel drive.
• The CLA 45's advantage: the AMG badge, the 800-volt architecture and the sedan or estate choice.
• Still to confirm: range, price and official charging data.

At this stage, several figures remain to be specified by the manufacturer: homologated range, exact charging times, weight and prices. We therefore only put forward here the officially communicated figures (power, powertrain, architecture, bodies) to avoid any approximation.

The verdict: a compact AMG finally worthy of the electric era?

On paper, the transition is a success. By taking its compact to 680 hp, generalizing dual-motor all-wheel drive and adopting 800 volts, AMG delivers a credible electric performance car, available in two bodies with no power compromise. It is a coherent and ambitious proposition.

The final verdict will nevertheless depend on three unknowns: real-world range, dynamic behavior and price. As long as these elements are not made official, the CLA 45 remains a very solid promise rather than an absolute certainty. But the promise is among the strongest in the segment.

FAQ: Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 2026

What is the power of the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 2026?

It develops 680 hp, in both sedan (Coupé) and estate (Shooting Brake) form, thanks to two electric motors and all-wheel drive.

Is the CLA 45 2026 fully electric?

Yes. It drops the combustion engine in favor of a fully electric drivetrain, with an 800-volt architecture that favors fast charging.

Does the estate have less power than the sedan?

No. The Shooting Brake carries over exactly the 680 hp and the same technical architecture as the sedan. The choice comes down to style and space, not performance.

What is the price of the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 2026?

The official price has not yet been communicated. We will update this information as soon as it is confirmed by the manufacturer.

What are its main rivals?

On the combustion side, the Audi RS 3 remains a segment benchmark. On the electric side, the CLA 45 takes on the new wave of battery-powered performance compacts, with the advantage of the AMG badge and 800 volts.

In summary

The 2026 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 marks the compact AMG's move into the electric era: 680 hp, two motors, all-wheel drive and an 800-volt architecture, available in both sedan and estate form. An ambitious proposition whose range, behavior and price remain to be officially confirmed.

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