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

• A Mercedes-Benz CLA EV prototype toppled a document set by the Porsche Taycan
• Mercedes drove a CLA EV 2,309 miles in 24 hours across the Nardo check monitor
• The Mercedes CLA EV may turn out to be probably the most environment friendly EV on sale within the U.S.

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 check monitor with the intention of seeing what number of miles may very well be pushed in 24 hours. The reply ended up being 2,309 miles, which set a brand new document.

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

Underneath what was internally codenamed Undertaking N—the N stood for Nardo—the group 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.

The complete 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 mentioned that 10 minutes ought to deliver 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, identical to the Taycan has. 

The record-setting electrical CLA began out at 100% state-of-charge and the group optimized the charging technique in actual time to take note of air temp and environmental elements similar to wind. The group additionally needed to take note of the very fact the charger was situated in a specific spot on the monitor, so the stops have been deliberate, and the state of cost at which the automobile bought plugged in was not constant.

Mercedes mentioned the ambient air temperature ranged from 55.4 levels Fahrenheit at night time to 84.2 levels in the course of the day.

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

The automobile’s common pace in the course of the check was 96.2 mph with the automobile’s prime pace of 130 mph reached in the course of the session.

The group consisted of six drivers and three shift adjustments with the rear-wheel-drive CLA EV. A single 200-kw completely synchronous motor despatched 268 hp to the rear wheels. Its 2-speed automated 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 ranking. However the Taycan constantly overachieves and overdelivers above and past its EPA vary scores in real-world driving, which may very well be attributed partly to its 2-speed transmission. Maybe Porsche was onto one thing with having a taller second-drive ratio. Mercedes talked about a 5.2 mi/kwh effectivity quantity for the CLA EV, although nothing’s been made official but. Ought to the group at Mercedes obtain that kind of effectivity, it may very well be due to the 2-speed transmission, and 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 deliver you this firsthand report.