Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 Electric: 671 hp, 670 km Range and Portugal Price
Published: 11/07/2026
The first fully-electric performance AMG finally has a face
It was Kimi Antonelli, the Formula 1 championship leader, who pulled the cover off the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 electric at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on 9 July 2026. The symbolism was deliberate: this is the first fully-electric performance AMG, the car Affalterbach uses to prove it can translate decades of petrol know-how into batteries. It packs 680 hp, all-wheel drive and a range you rarely see on a car that hits 62 mph in three seconds flat.
For anyone living in Portugal, this is one of those launches worth following closely — even if it won't actually arrive until 2027. Here's what matters.
Three Yasa motors, 671 hp and 1,759 Nm of torque
The heart of the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4Matic+ electric is a set of three axial-flux motors built by British firm Yasa (owned by Mercedes): one on the front axle, two on the rear. Axial-flux tech is lighter and more compact than conventional electric motors, and it enables something petrol never managed with this precision — sending torque wheel by wheel.
The numbers speak for themselves:
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Combined power | 671 hp (500 kW / 680 PS) |
| Torque | 1,759 Nm |
| 0-100 km/h (saloon) | 3.0 s (2.7 s without rollout) |
| 0-100 km/h (Shooting Brake) | 3.2 s |
| Top speed | 250 km/h (270 km/h with AMG Dynamic Plus pack) |
| Weight | around 2.3 tonnes |
| Brakes | 390 mm front (6-piston), 350 mm rear |
In practice, the two rear motors deliver torque vectoring — pushing more force to the outer wheel through a corner — and the car defaults to rear-wheel drive, only engaging all four wheels when it needs to. Yes, there's a drift mode. AMG couldn't resist.
Those 2.3 tonnes are the price of a big battery and three motors, but 1,759 Nm available from a standstill hides the weight well. For context, that's more torque than any petrol AMG has ever offered.
670 km of range and 330 kW charging
This is the argument that changes everything. The 94 kWh battery (NMC chemistry, borrowed from the new electric C-Class platform) and the 800V architecture give the saloon up to 670 km of WLTP range. The Shooting Brake settles for 640 km. This is a performance car that can do Lisbon to Porto and still have plenty left.
Charging keeps pace. On a rapid charger delivering up to 330 kW, the battery goes from 10 to 80% in 22 minutes. Put another way: a 10-minute stop at a service station recovers around 270 km of range — enough to stop worrying about the battery on a run down to the Algarve. A standard heat pump and the ability to disconnect the front motor up to 160 km/h help stretch every charge.
On Portugal's network, the ultra-rapid chargers on the MOBI.E system (the national EV charging network) and the operators along the motorways already deliver power levels that make good use of these 330 kW. The 800V architecture is exactly what makes those charging times possible.
Simulated sound and an 8-speed gearbox: AMG refused to go silent
This is the most divisive detail — and the most AMG of them all. Rather than accept electric silence, Mercedes digitally recreated the sound of the old petrol CLA 45, the M139 turbo four-cylinder. To do it, engineers placed 13 microphones inside and outside the previous car and generated more than 1,600 audio files.
The result is a simulated eight-speed gearbox with "shifts" you can feel, synthetic pops and bangs audible inside and out in S+ mode, and even haptic motors in the front seats that reproduce the four-cylinder's vibrations. In Race mode it all switches off for maximum performance. It'll split opinion, but nobody can accuse AMG of building an anonymous EV.
Saloon or Shooting Brake: space and four seats
The electric CLA 45 comes in two body styles: the four-door saloon and the practical Shooting Brake (sporty estate). Both drop the centre rear seat — replaced by a shallow tray — making the car a strict four-seater in the name of its "uncompromisingly sporty character".
The boot holds 390 litres, joined by a 101-litre frunk (front compartment) that's perfect for stashing the charging cables. The Shooting Brake adds around 60 litres of extra cargo space. On the outside, the car is 24 mm wider than the standard CLA, wears an active rear spoiler and rides on 19-inch wheels as standard (20-inch optional).
Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 electric: price and when it reaches Portugal
Here's the part still to be confirmed. Mercedes hasn't announced official pricing, but early estimates point to a UK starting figure around £70,000 — roughly €82,000 on a direct conversion. Translated to the Portuguese market, and knowing how the brand tends to position its AMGs here, it's realistic to expect figures from €90,000 up.
One tax detail works in the buyer's favour: being fully electric, the CLA 45 is exempt from ISV (Portugal's vehicle registration tax) and enjoys a reduced IUC (annual road tax), unlike an equivalent petrol AMG, which would pay many thousands of euros in tax. That softens the price gap against combustion rivals.
Among electric rivals, the positioning is clear: AMG wants to sit below the upcoming electric BMW M3. Order books have already opened abroad, with first deliveries expected in 2027, though some European markets suggest a commercial launch as early as late 2026. For Portugal, 2027 is the likelier bet.
Worth it? If you want a performance EV that gives up neither drama nor range, the electric CLA 45 is one of the most complete launches announced this year. The official Portuguese price is the missing piece — and that's exactly what we'll be watching for once Mercedes reveals it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mercedes has not yet confirmed Portuguese pricing. Early estimates point to a UK starting figure around £70,000 (roughly €82,000 on a direct conversion), so given how the brand typically positions its AMGs here, it is realistic to expect figures from €90,000 up. Being fully electric, it is exempt from ISV registration tax and enjoys a reduced IUC road tax, which softens the gap against an equivalent petrol AMG.
Order books have already opened abroad, with first deliveries expected in 2027, though some European markets suggest a commercial launch as early as late 2026. For Portugal, arrival in 2027 is the likeliest bet. The car was revealed on 9 July 2026 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
AMG deliberately positions the electric CLA 45 below the upcoming electric BMW M3, both on price and in segment. With 671 hp (500 kW), 1,759 Nm of torque and 0-100 km/h in 3.0 seconds (2.7 s without rollout), it pairs top-tier performance with up to 670 km of WLTP range, a combination few electric sports cars manage in this bracket.
The saloon is rated at up to 670 km WLTP and the Shooting Brake up to 640 km, thanks to the 94 kWh battery and 800V architecture. On a rapid charger delivering up to 330 kW, the battery goes from 10 to 80% in just 22 minutes, and a 10-minute stop recovers around 270 km of range. A standard heat pump helps protect real-world range in winter.
Yes. As a fully electric vehicle, the CLA 45 is exempt from ISV (vehicle registration tax) and benefits from a reduced annual IUC road tax, unlike an equivalent petrol AMG, which would pay many thousands of euros in ISV alone. While its high starting price likely places it outside direct private purchase subsidies, the recurring tax saving is significant compared with combustion alternatives.