The Nürburgring Nordschleife has humbled some of the fastest cars ever built. Stretching 20.8 km through Germany’s Eifel mountains, the circuit remains one of the toughest benchmarks for any performance car. Mercedes-AMG has now added another chapter to its history there, with the all-electric CLA 45 4MATIC+ setting a new lap record for its segment.
Clocking an officially certified lap time of 7:32.070, the new CLA 45 becomes the fastest car in its class to lap the legendary Nordschleife. The record was set on July 28 under warm summer conditions and marks another milestone for AMG as it enters the high-performance electric era. Deliveries of the new model are expected to begin later this month.
Unlike traditional AMG performance cars, the CLA 45 relies entirely on electric power. It is the second series-production Mercedes-AMG model to feature axial-flux motor technology after the AMG GT 4-Door Coupé, but it pushes the concept even further. Three electric motors, one driving the front axle and two mounted at the rear, combine to produce 680 bhp. The setup launches the four-door saloon from 0 to 100 kph in just 2.7 seconds, placing it firmly in supercar territory despite its practical body style.
The three-motor layout is about far more than outright power. Independent control of each rear motor enables fully variable torque vectoring, while the front motor primarily acts as a booster whenever additional performance is required. Together, the system forms a newly developed AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel-drive system capable of constantly adjusting torque distribution depending on grip levels and driving conditions.
Mercedes-AMG says the lap record was achieved through a combination of hardware and intelligent software rather than raw power alone. The CLA 45 features a specially developed AMG RIDE CONTROL sports suspension with adaptive three-way dampers that continuously adjust damping forces at each wheel within milliseconds. Drivers can choose between Comfort, Sport and AMGFORCE S+ modes, with the latter designed specifically for circuit driving.
Aerodynamics also play a significant role. For the first time in this segment, an active rear spoiler continuously alters its angle depending on the selected drive mode and vehicle dynamics. Active cooling shutters at the front remain closed at high speeds whenever possible, reducing drag and improving both acceleration and efficiency before opening only when additional cooling is required.
Perhaps the cleverest feature is Mercedes-AMG’s new Predictive Performance Manager. Rather than delivering maximum power at every opportunity, the software analyses the circuit layout, elevation changes and driving conditions before deciding exactly where energy should be deployed for the quickest possible lap. Drivers can choose between ‘SPRINT’, aimed at extracting the fastest single lap, or ‘RACE’, which prioritises consistent performance across multiple laps.
Feeding the motors is a 94 kWh lithium-ion battery that has been specifically calibrated for repeated high-performance use. Mercedes-AMG says careful thermal management allows the battery to maintain consistent power delivery even under prolonged track driving, while still delivering a claimed WLTP range of more than 670 km for the saloon.
For AMG, the Nürburgring has always been more than a proving ground. It is where reputations are built. With the CLA 45 now holding the title of the fastest car in its class around the Nordschleife, Affalterbach has made one thing abundantly clear. The shift to electric power has done little to dilute the brand’s appetite for performance.
