Mercedes-Benz CLA EV prototype covers 2,309 miles in 24 hours

• A Mercedes-Benz CLA EV prototype toppled a document set by Porsche Taycan
• Mercedes drove prototype 2,309 miles in 24 hours round Nardo take a look at monitor
• Manufacturing Mercedes CLA EV might turn into most effective U.S.-market EV

Information are supposed to be damaged, and Mercedes-Benz has simply busted one set by Porsche.

In April, Mercedes-Benz quietly took an electrical CLA-Class prototype to the Nardo take a look at monitor with the purpose of seeing what number of miles might be pushed in 24 hours. The reply ended up being 2,309 miles, which set a brand new document.

Below what was internally codenamed Venture N—the N stood for Nardo—the crew took two close-to-production prototype electrical CLAs and aimed to set a document. Porsche set the earlier document of 2,128 miles again in 2019 with a Taycan.

Your entire feat took 40 charging breaks, with every break lasting about 10 minutes. The 2026 CLA can add 186 miles of vary, or about 36 kwh to its 85-kwh battery pack, in 10 minutes, in accordance with Mercedes, when began at a ten% state of cost. The automaker stated that 10 minutes ought to convey the pack to 50%.

2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA EV prototype units distance document at Nardo

That fast charging is enabled partly by the CLA’s 800-volt electrical structure, similar to the Taycan has. 

The record-setting electrical CLA began out at 100% state-of-charge and the crew optimized the charging technique in actual time to take note of air temp and environmental components similar to wind. The crew additionally needed to take note of the very fact the charger was positioned in a selected spot on the monitor, so the stops had been deliberate, and the state of cost at which the automotive obtained plugged in was not constant.

Mercedes stated the ambient air temperature ranged from 55.4 levels Fahrenheit at night time to 84.2 levels throughout the day.

2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA EV prototype units distance document at Nardo

The automotive’s common pace throughout the take a look at was 96.2 mph with the automotive’s high pace of 130 mph reached throughout the session.

The crew consisted of six drivers and three shift modifications with the rear-wheel-drive CLA EV. A single 200-kw completely synchronous motor despatched 268 hp to the rear wheels. Its 2-speed computerized transmission aided with the effectivity, in accordance with Mercedes.

The Porsche Taycan isn’t probably the most environment friendly EV in the marketplace. That distinction is held by the Lucid Air with its 5.0 mi/kwh vary ranking. However the Taycan persistently overachieves and overdelivers above and past its EPA vary scores in real-world driving, which might be attributed partially to its 2-speed transmission and taller cruising ratio. Ought to the manufacturing model high the Air, as Mercedes seems to assert for its prototype, it could herald a brand new effectivity king when the 2026 CLA EV arrives later in 2025. 

Mercedes-Benz paid for journey and lodging together with some German pretzels for Inexperienced Automotive Stories to convey you this firsthand report.