DistantNews
Support us
Mercedes CEO praises electric AMG CLA 45's 'V8-like' performance and sound
🇵🇱 Poland /Technology

Mercedes CEO praises electric AMG CLA 45's 'V8-like' performance and sound

From Rzeczpospolita · () Polish

Translated from Polish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius lauded the electric AMG CLA 45, comparing its driving experience to a V8 engine.
  • The electric sports car set a Nürburgring lap record for its class with a time of 7:32.070.
  • The vehicle uses simulated engine sounds and vibrations to replicate the feel of traditional combustion engines, a trend growing in the premium electric vehicle market.

Mercedes-Benz Group CEO Ola Källenius has declared his experience driving the electric Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 as the "best V8 I've ever driven," a striking statement for an electric vehicle that lacks a combustion engine.

Källenius's revelation came after a drive in the AMG CLA 45, which recently set a new lap record for its class at the Nürburgring, completing the circuit in 7 minutes and 32.070 seconds. The electric sports car boasts impressive performance figures, with three electric motors generating a combined 671 horsepower and 1759 Nm of torque. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.0 seconds and can reach speeds of up to 270 km/h with the AMG Dynamic Plus package.

When I drove the CLA 45 with this system for the first time, I felt like a newborn Christian.

— Ola KälleniusDescribing his profound experience with the electric car's simulated V8 sound system.

However, Mercedes-Benz emphasizes that raw performance alone doesn't replicate the emotional connection drivers have with traditional gasoline-powered sports cars. To bridge this gap, the CLA 45 incorporates artificial sound generation and simulated gear shifts, mimicking the auditory experience of AMG's turbocharged four-cylinder and even V8 engines. Källenius found this sound system particularly impressive, likening the sensation to being "born again."

This approach of using artificial sound and haptic feedback to enhance the driving experience in electric vehicles is becoming more prevalent in the premium and sports car segments. Porsche, for instance, employs similar technologies. The simulated sounds not only provide an auditory cue but also change with the powertrain's load, offering drivers additional information about the car's behavior. Vibrations transmitted through the chassis and seats further amplify these sensations, aiming to give drivers a more intuitive feel for the vehicle's dynamics, much like they would experience in a traditional sports car.

It was the best V8 I've ever driven: it had all the characteristic feelings of a V8, but offered more power and torque.

— Ola KälleniusComparing the driving sensation of the electric CLA 45 to a traditional V8 engine.
About this summary

Originally published by Rzeczpospolita in Polish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog