Mercedes-Benz says its upcoming entry-level CLA will set the bar for EV range, charging speed, and efficiency with advanced new tech. Ahead of its arrival, Mercedes is giving us a closer look at the sporty electric car.

“With the CLA, we are ushering in a new era at Mercedes-Benz,” CEO Ola Källenius said after driving the new EV at its Immendingen site for the first time.

The new model will be the first of a new family of vehicles, kicking off “a new chapter for the entry-level segment at Mercedes-Benz.” Mercedes said the new electric CLA “is designed to set new standards in range, efficiency and charging speed.”

Based on Mercedes’ next-gen MMA platform, the CLA integrates tech from its ultra-efficient Vision EQXX concept and brings it into mass production.

Mercedes said it developed a new electric drive unit in-house to ensure high performance and efficiency.

Källenius showed off the “secret” CLA EV during the event, revealing new features and details, including the new headlight design.

Mercedes previews new entry-level CLA EV

With the headlights being the first thing you see at night, Källenius said the design had to be perfect. One of the coolest design details is the Mercedes star logo integrated into the headlights. Although it looks pretty, Källenius said the design is also about safety and not blinding others on the street.

After hopping into the new EV, you can hear Källenius talk to the vehicle, and Mercedes’ virtual assistant responds. It’s “like you have a butler in your car,” Mercedes CEO explained.

The new entry-level model will be loaded with Mercedes’ latest software and connectivity tech. It will be the first to be equipped with the new MB.OS, or “the brain” behind its next-gen vehicles, as Mercedes calls it.

During the test drive, the new model shows off its sporty design and dynamic driving as it rips around the test track. “This is not even the AMG version,” Källenius said.

With a two-speed transmission, “we can perfectly calibrate at every speed that you are driving how the electric motor works” to maximize efficiency, Källenius explained.

Mercedes leader said the CLA EV will have “incredibly fast” charging. With a new high-powered charging system, “charging almost becomes like fueling.”

Mercedes will officially unveil the new entry-level CLA EV next year, with deliveries expected in 2026. The new model will rival Tesla’s Model 3 and BMW i4, with expected prices around $50,000. It will also be available in a hybrid version.

Unplugged Performance has unveiled its UP.FIT Tesla Model S Plaid police patrol car at Sema – becoming the world’s quickest police patrol car.

The Tesla tuner, through its UP.FIT division, has unveiled several new police vehicles based on Tesla vehicles, but this one is the first to be based on Tesla’s top performance vehicle: Model S Plaid.

This groundbreaking vehicle is designed to meet the high-performance demands of first responders, showcasing the future of electric police vehicles – albeit being a bit of an overkill with a 0-60 mph acceleration in 2 seconds.

Built on the Tesla Model S Plaid platform, the UP.FIT Plaid Pursuit brings a host of modifications and advanced technologies aimed at enhancing high-speed pursuits and traffic patrol operations. The vehicle will be delivered to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Motorsports community outreach program, underscoring a pivotal shift towards electric vehicles in public service roles.

The UP.FIT Plaid Pursuit model incorporates a proprietary electrical wiring harness designed specifically for UP.FIT Tesla vehicles, allowing for the integration of custom forward- and rear-facing warning lights into the front and rear glass.

According to UP.FIT, this enhances visibility compared to traditional rooftop light bars. Additionally, side skirt lighting and a push-bumper equipped with further warning lights and integrated high- and low-frequency emergency sirens ensure that this vehicle is fully compliant with Title 13 regulations in California.

To complement its exterior modifications, the UP.FIT Plaid Pursuit features performance upgrades from Unplugged Performance, including enhanced braking components and UP Forged lightweight wheels. These enhancements not only boost durability but also provide superior handling in pursuit scenarios. UP leveraged its experience building performance kits for performance-oriented Tesla owners.

This electric patrol car is not only duty-ready but also represents a zero-emission alternative to conventional patrol vehicles. With rapid acceleration and an impressive range of 345 miles, the UP.FIT Plaid Pursuit offers law enforcement agencies a powerful and sustainable option for their operations.

Ben Schaffer, CEO of Unplugged Performance, commented

“The UP.FIT Plaid Pursuit embodies everything we value in electric police vehicles. From outstanding acceleration and range to reduced maintenance and fuel costs, this platform equips law enforcement with the latest tools to enhance their mission while saving taxpayers’ money and promoting a cleaner future.”

The UP.FIT Plaid Pursuit will be displayed at the SEMA FutureTech Studio this week.

Electrek’s Take

This looks incredible. However, I think the Model S Plaid is a bit of an overkill. The Model S Long Range is $15,000 cheaper and the difference is an extra second 0-60 mph and 130 mph top speed rather than 200 mph.

A 3-sec 0-60 mph will smoke most cars, and while the top speed could technically be useful in high-speed pursuits, many police departments abandon pursuits when they reach high speeds because it is deemed too dangerous.

I’m not saying there are never any pursuits above 130 mph, but it is fairly rare.

UP’s Model Y police patrol vehicle is also an cheaper option that reduces the total cost of ownership when accounting for gas savings.

A few years back, General Motors had to recall 142,000 Bolts in a major fiasco due to fire risk. This time around, however, just a small number of Bolts are being recalled, only 107. But the risk of fire is deemed high – according to the NHTSA – if these vehicles are charged to full or nearly full capacity.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) posted a recall of the Chevrolet Bolt EVs and its larger version, the EUV, covering model year 2020-22 that were recalled and repaired previously over the same risk. Apparently, the previously installed advanced diagnostic software, which is supposed to detect whether or not the battery is defective, is itself faulty, which could, in turn, lead to a fire risk.

“The installation of advanced diagnostic software may have failed,” the NHTSA stated. “As such, the high voltage battery could catch fire when charged to full or nearly full capacity.”

Chevy dealers will reinstall the software free of charge, of course, to fix the problem. Meanwhile, the NHTSA advises owners of the recalled vehicle to take steps to avoid a fire risk, including setting the “target charge level” feature in the vehicle to 90%, parking outside after charging, and avoiding depleting the battery to 70 miles of range remaining.

GM spokesman Kevin Kelly told Detroit Free Press that the company is not aware of any Bolts having caught fire due to the issue, and that this is a voluntary recall to correctly install advanced diagnostic software from “an earlier field action involving these vehicles.” He added: “The software may fail to identify defective battery modules that require replacement, increasing the risk of a potential vehicle fire.”

GM Bolt owners suffered heaps of frustration following three recalls of the vehicles starting in late 2020, with a total of 142,000 Bolt EVs recalled a year later. Those recalls involved model year 2017 going through model year 2022. But unlike this latest recall, those recalls were due to battery defects that could start a fire, with 18 Bolts catching fire while parked. GM confirmed that 13 of those fires were caused by defective batteries.

LG Energy Solution, the battery maker for the Bolt, replaced the batteries with new battery packs and gave Bolt owners limited warranties of eight years or 100,000 miles. LG also reimbursed GM for $1.9 billion in costs and fees due to the recall.

Last December, GM cut 945 jobs from the assembly plant in Lake Orion due to the company ending its production of the Bolt EV and EUV. The factory is slated to produce Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV on GM’s new Ultium EV platform after a $4 billion investment, but the company has pushed back the launch from 2024 to late 2025. Of course, GM says it is bringing back the popular Chevy Bolt EV, at least the EUV, with the next-gen model to reemerge on the Ultium platform in 2025.

Since, finding a Bolt hasn’t been easy, with only a handful spotted on dealership lots – but we can expect a re-emergence of its best-seller next year.

Photo credit: General Motors Chevy Bolt

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