The German company has published details of the record distance of the electric car, which was covered during the testing of the third-generation CLA model on the Nardo test track. The prototype of the new sedan traveled a total of 3,717 kilometers in a period of 24 hours.
This distance exceeded by 292 kilometers the previous record, which was set by the Porsche Taycan on the same 13-kilometer oval back in 2019.
The CLA is based on Mercedes’ MMA platform and is the first of four compact electric production models that the company plans to launch on the market by the end of 2026. Among them are the successors to today’s CLA Shooting Brake, EQA and EQB models.
All four models use the newly developed electric 800V architecture, the first of its kind used by Mercedes for series production, combined with a new generation of electric motors, heat pumps and the MB:OS operating system introduced in 2023.
The CLA prototype used for the record attempt was taken from a fleet of engineering mules for the new sedan, which is already undergoing testing ahead of its planned launch later this year.
The staff at the Nardo track were assisted by engineers from Mercedes’ Electric Software Hub in Sindelfingen, Germany. The team used real-time data to track the CLA’s progress and telemetry, and also assisted in planning the timing and duration of battery-charging stops.
Maximum speed of the CLA model
The maximum speed of the CLA model is limited to 210 km/h, but Mercedes says that the first goal was not actually a speed record. However, a clever charging strategy allowed the team of drivers to average 154.9 km/h over the duration of the trial, including stoppage time, eventually beating the Taycan’s record set in 2019 by 12.2 km/h.
The two prototypes used in the 24-hour record run had a driver and co-driver, as well as data loggers and other test equipment.
Along with the impressive efficiency of the new Mercedes model, one of the key factors behind the record distance was the “plug and dash” charging strategy developed to maximize driving time. decided on shorter driving stints and frequent stops for charging.
The CLA prototype completed 40 charges in a 24-hour period, each lasting about 10 minutes. This resulted in a total stop time of about 400 minutes.
Overall, the CLA engineering prototype was stationary for almost 28 percent of the time, or about 6 hours and 40 minutes during the 24-hour record attempt.
The short but regular stops allowed the Mercedes to take advantage of the boost function, which allows a high initial charging rate on the DC system compared to the average achieved over longer charging periods.
Mercedes has yet to reveal the charging capacity of its upcoming model, which is being developed under the internal codename C174, but it has previously been hinted that it will support 250W charging, while an additional 50W boost function will allow it to reach 300kW for short periods and ensure that the 15-minute charging with a high-power charger will be enough to travel 400 kilometers.
The energy capacity of the new model’s lithium-ion battery is also a mystery, although it is speculated to be around 89.6 kWh. Allegedly, it ensures a total range of up to 785 kilometers.
The production version is expected to have a lower energy density lithium ion phosphate unit as an alternative.
The used CLA had rear-wheel drive, a rear-mounted synchronous electric motor and a two-speed gearbox. Technical details in this case will also be published later, but Mercedes is reportedly developing a new sedan with a drive that will offer from 205 HP to 545 HP in the AMG version with two engines and four-wheel drive.
Although primarily developed as an electric model, the sedan will also be sold with an internal combustion engine, which is a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and a 48V mild hybrid system with an integrated starter motor mounted in the gearbox in the case of the model codenamed C178.
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