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 observe
• The Mercedes CLA EV might grow 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 observe with the goal of seeing what number of miles could possibly 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

Below what was internally codenamed Undertaking N—the N stood for Nardo—the workforce 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 keeping with Mercedes, when began at a ten% state of cost. The automaker stated that 10 minutes ought to carry the pack to 50%.

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

That speedy 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 workforce optimized the charging technique in actual time to take note of air temp and environmental components equivalent to wind. The workforce additionally needed to take note of the actual fact the charger was situated in a selected spot on the observe, so the stops had been deliberate, and the state of cost at which the automotive received plugged in was not constant.

Mercedes stated the ambient air temperature ranged from 55.4 levels Fahrenheit at evening to 84.2 levels through the day.

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

The automotive’s common pace through the check was 96.2 mph with the automotive’s high pace of 130 mph reached through the session.

The workforce 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 keeping 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 rankings in real-world driving, which could possibly 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 workforce at Mercedes obtain that sort of effectivity, it could possibly 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 Studies to carry you this firsthand report.