Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 EV Takes Aim At The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N's Fake-Shifter Crown
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N made a strange idea feel convincing. It gave an electric car simulated gears, a digital redline, and a soundtrack designed to make fast driving feel more involving. Now Mercedes-AMG has entered the same conversation with a much smaller but exceptionally powerful challenger, the all-electric CLA 45 4MATIC+.
Unveiled at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed, the new Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 brings three axial-flux motors, up to 500 kW of peak output, an 800-volt charging system, and a drive mode called AMGFORCE S+. That mode recreates the sound, rhythm, and physical sensation of a combustion performance car.
The important question is not whether the Mercedes is quick. It clearly is. The more interesting question is whether its software-led theatre can challenge the Ioniq 5 N, the car that made simulated shifting a serious performance EV feature rather than a punchline.
Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 EV facts at a glance
Mercedes-AMG's official model page lists the following headline specifications. The acceleration figure uses a one-foot rollout, so it should not be compared directly with every conventional zero to 100 km/h test.
| Item | Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+ |
|---|---|
| Powertrain | Three axial-flux electric motors, two at the rear and one at the front |
| Peak output | 500 kW, listed by Mercedes-AMG as 680 hp |
| Acceleration | 0 to 100 km/h in 2.7 seconds with a one-foot rollout |
| Top speed | 250 km/h standard, or 270 km/h with the optional AMG DYNAMIC PLUS Package |
| Battery and charging | Published launch specifications list a 94 kWh usable battery and up to 330 kW DC charging |
| Charging time | Mercedes-AMG quotes 10 to 80 percent in 22 minutes |
| WLTP range | More than 670 km for the sedan and more than 640 km for the Shooting Brake |
| Body styles | Four-door sedan and Shooting Brake wagon |
Some English-language reports describe the output as about 671 hp because 680 PS converts to roughly 671 bhp. Mercedes-AMG's own page uses 500 kW and 680 hp. These labels refer to the same headline output, not separate power levels.
Why the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N became the car to beat
The Ioniq 5 N did not win attention simply by producing a large power figure. Its cleverness is in the way several systems work together. N e-Shift uses steering-wheel paddles to imitate an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. The software changes torque delivery, creates a brief interruption between virtual gears, and pairs the action with a rising engine-style sound.
That matters because electric motors deliver smooth, immediate thrust without the natural pauses and reference points familiar to drivers of petrol performance cars. Hyundai's approach adds those cues back by choice. Drivers can switch the feature off and enjoy the direct response of an EV, or turn it on when they want more rhythm and involvement.
Independent coverage has shown why the idea is controversial. Testing by Car and Driver found that simulated shifting reduced straight-line acceleration, while other road tests argued that the loss in speed could be worth it for the added feedback. That tradeoff gives the Hyundai a clear personality.
For more context on the wider performance EV segment, see our Kia EV6 GT review, which covers another Hyundai Motor Group performance EV with virtual shifting technology.
Meet the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 challenger
The CLA 45 is not a conventional CLA with a larger motor added as an afterthought. Its powertrain uses three compact axial-flux motors. One sits at the front, while two sit at the rear. The layout gives AMG independent control of the rear wheels and fully variable torque distribution between the axles.
Axial-flux motors differ from the more familiar radial-flux design by arranging the magnetic flux in a flatter, disc-like package. The potential benefit is high power in a compact footprint. In this car, that packaging helps AMG fit supercar-level output into a compact sedan and a compact wagon.
The official figures are striking. Mercedes-AMG lists 500 kW, or 680 hp, and a 0 to 100 km/h time of 2.7 seconds using a one-foot rollout. The optional AMG DYNAMIC PLUS Package raises the top speed from 250 km/h to 270 km/h.
That is a very different proposition from an ordinary compact EV. It also gives the CLA 45 a credible technical reason to be compared with the Ioniq 5 N rather than treated as a styling exercise.
AMGFORCE S+ is Mercedes' answer to N e-Shift
AMGFORCE S+ is the feature that turns this comparison into a genuine rivalry. Mercedes-AMG says the mode recreates the emotion of a high-performance AMG four-cylinder engine through synchronized sound, simulated gear changes, torque interruptions, a digital rev counter, a gear indicator, steering-wheel paddles, and standard seat shakers.
The sound is not a generic futuristic noise. Mercedes-AMG says it captured the sound of a high-performance AMG four-cylinder engine using 13 microphones and more than 1,600 measurements, then rebuilt the result digitally for the electric CLA 45.
| Driver experience | Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 | Hyundai Ioniq 5 N |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual shifting | AMGFORCE S+ uses torque interruptions and simulated gear changes | N e-Shift simulates an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission |
| Sound | Digitally recreated AMG four-cylinder soundtrack | Engine-style synthetic sound linked to the virtual rev range |
| Physical feedback | Seat shakers and traction interruptions | Torque changes and a shift-like jolt |
| Driver controls | Steering-wheel paddles, rev counter, and gear indicator | Steering-wheel paddles and a virtual tachometer |
| Core promise | A multisensory AMG performance experience | More rhythm, speed awareness, and track involvement |
On paper, Mercedes has copied the basic formula while adding more sensory hardware. Whether the result feels more convincing will depend on calibration, not on the number of speakers or motors. A simulated shift works only when the sound, torque change, display, and timing agree with one another.
Video: Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 electric overview via the embedded YouTube video published with the Carscoops report. Watch it to see the design and performance technology discussed here.
Backed by real performance hardware
The CLA 45's appeal is not limited to simulated sound. Mercedes-AMG gives it adaptive AMG RIDE CONTROL suspension, selectable driving programmes, an active rear spoiler, and active aerodynamic features designed to balance stability and efficiency.
The sedan uses an active rear spoiler, while the Shooting Brake uses an active roof-edge spoiler. The official model pages also list AMG-specific bodywork, widened front wings, a ten-strut grille, 19-inch wheels as standard, and optional 20-inch alloy or forged wheels.
The car is also a dedicated four-seater. That decision prioritizes the driving experience over maximum passenger flexibility, which is a useful reminder that AMG is positioning the CLA 45 as a performance model first.
For the braking system, launch reports describe larger performance hardware than the standard CLA. Because detailed equipment can vary by market and package, buyers should check the final local specification before treating every component as standard.
Range and charging give the CLA 45 a second advantage
Performance EVs often make a choice between pace and usable range. Mercedes-AMG is trying to avoid that compromise. The sedan is rated at more than 670 km on the WLTP cycle, while the Shooting Brake is rated at more than 640 km. Those are European WLTP figures, not EPA estimates, so they should not be copied into a US buying guide as if they were identical measurements.
The 800-volt electrical system accepts up to 330 kW of DC charging. Mercedes-AMG says a 10 to 80 percent charge takes 22 minutes, and a ten-minute stop can add more than 270 km of WLTP range under suitable conditions.
That charging story matters because the Ioniq 5 N is often discussed as a performance car first and a road-trip EV second. The CLA 45 is making a broader argument: an enthusiast EV can be dramatic without giving up long-distance capability on paper.
Our 2026 Tesla Model Y Performance comparison covers the other side of this market, where range, daily comfort, and charging access matter more than theatrical feedback. The CLA 45 is aimed at a different emotional target, even though the two cars compete for attention from fast EV shoppers.
The catch is availability, price, and independent testing
The launch information reviewed for this article does not provide a final price. It also does not confirm a US launch for the AMG CLA 45. The model is presented in sedan and Shooting Brake forms, but market availability is likely to vary. Buyers should wait for local Mercedes-AMG announcements before making assumptions about ordering or import options.
There is another limitation. The CLA 45 is new, so the available performance figures are manufacturer claims or launch specifications. I did not find an independent instrumented test that directly compares it with the Ioniq 5 N at the time of writing.
That test will decide the real hierarchy. The Hyundai has already shown that its simulated shifting can be entertaining even when it is technically slower. Mercedes-AMG now has to prove that AMGFORCE S+ feels like a coherent driving tool rather than a collection of effects.
The bigger market trend is clear, however. Artificial sound and simulated shifting are moving from isolated experiments into a recognizable performance EV language. Our analysis of electric performance car design and simulated shifting looks at why even exotic brands may use the same tools to preserve a sense of occasion.
Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 EV vs Hyundai Ioniq 5 N: the early verdict
The Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 is a serious challenge to the Ioniq 5 N, but not because it simply repeats Hyundai's formula. It combines a three-motor layout, active aerodynamics, strong charging claims, long WLTP range, and a multisensory drive mode in a compact performance car.
The Ioniq 5 N still owns the first-mover advantage. Its N e-Shift system has been driven, tested, criticized, and praised in the real world. That experience gives Hyundai credibility that Mercedes cannot claim until journalists and customers spend time in the CLA 45.
- The CLA 45 uses three axial-flux motors and up to 500 kW of peak output.
- AMGFORCE S+ combines simulated shifts, synthesized four-cylinder sound, seat shakers, and torque interruptions.
- Mercedes-AMG quotes more than 670 km of WLTP range for the sedan and up to 330 kW charging.
- The Ioniq 5 N remains the proven benchmark for simulated shifting in a performance EV.
- Final price, market availability, and independent CLA 45 test results remain important unanswered questions.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 EV?
The Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+ is a fully electric performance sedan and Shooting Brake with three axial-flux motors, AMG-specific chassis hardware, and a simulated combustion driving mode.
How powerful is the electric Mercedes-AMG CLA 45?
Mercedes-AMG lists up to 500 kW and 680 hp of peak output. Some reports use about 671 hp after converting 680 PS to bhp. Those figures describe the same headline output using different conventions.
What is AMGFORCE S+?
AMGFORCE S+ is a drive programme that simulates the sound and sensation of a high-performance AMG four-cylinder engine. It includes simulated gear changes, torque interruptions, a rev counter, a gear indicator, and seat shakers.
Does the CLA 45 have a traditional combustion-style gearbox?
The simulated shifting experience is software-led. It uses torque management, sound, displays, and physical feedback to imitate gear changes. It should not be confused with the presence of a conventional petrol engine and gearbox.
What is the range of the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45?
Mercedes-AMG quotes more than 670 km of WLTP range for the sedan and more than 640 km for the Shooting Brake. WLTP is a European test cycle, so the figures cannot be treated as EPA ratings.
How fast can the CLA 45 charge?
The 800-volt system supports up to 330 kW DC charging. Mercedes-AMG says a 10 to 80 percent charge takes 22 minutes and a ten-minute stop can add more than 270 km of WLTP range under suitable conditions.
Is the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 coming to the United States?
US availability was not confirmed in the sources reviewed for this article. Mercedes-Benz market announcements should be treated as the final authority for local pricing, ordering, and delivery information.
Sources and verification notes
Technical claims were checked against Mercedes-AMG's official CLA 45 sedan page, the official CLA 45 Shooting Brake page, and launch reporting from Motor1. The Hyundai comparison uses the independent testing context reported by Car and Driver. The original article analyzed for this rewrite is available at TopSpeed.
Would you choose the proven Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, or wait for the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 EV and its AMGFORCE S+ system? Share your view in the comments and follow World Cars Blog's EV coverage for future performance EV comparisons.
