New Mercedes CLA 45 claims 'ring record
680hp EV is the fastest car in its segment, apparently - whatever that segment actually is...
Nobody could accuse AMG of not giving its all when it comes to EV performance cars. Already on sale is a 1,169hp flagship GT, and soon to follow is the second car using its axial flux motor technology, the new CLA 45. Recently revealed at the Festival of Speed, the latest AMG has already been making a name for itself on the Nordschleife in prototype form; the car you see here is now the fastest vehicle in its segment, with a notarised lap time on the 20.832km of 7:32.070.
Fast, for sure, if not extraordinarily so given both a) people’s expectations these days, and b) the 680hp produced by its three motors. That’ll be the kerbweight, presumably, because there was certainly no faulting the spec or the effort: the lap took place last week, with the temperatures at 24 degrees ambient, and the car wearing super sticky Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres. Driver Kevin Berger, part of the AMG Vehicle Dynamic Development team, clearly knows his way around the track. He had Race mode on and everything.
But there’s no escaping the fact that, for a relatively small four-door, this lap time doesn’t move the game on very far. The CLA may well be the fastest compact EV - it currently sits at the bottom of the pre-production and prototype table for the ‘ring, showing just how crazy times have become - though it isn’t much faster than less powerful (and less expensive) combustion cars. Frank Stippler lapped a 400hp RS3 in 2024, wearing similar Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tyres, in 7:33.123. Little more than a second over 13 miles is close enough to be identical, really. An M2 isn’t a million miles away, at 7:38.706, and the CS, remember, went around in 7:25. At least the AMG ought to undercut the £115k BMW…
Chairman of the AMG board Dr Stefan Weckbach said: “AMG was born on the racetrack. Over the past nearly 60 years, we have proven with numerous vehicles that this DNA remains as strong as ever. The CLA 45 now writes the next chapter of that story. It is the fastest car in its class on the world’s most demanding racetrack. My sincere thanks go to all the colleagues whose dedication and expertise made this record possible. And I am certain of one thing: this will not be the last AMG record on the Nürburgring Nordschleife.” Maybe the next one will have some obvious lap time rivals, too…
Because they are built around entirely different technologies, comparing their lap times isn't a fair like-for-like comparison.
I think EVs should compete against other EVs, and ICE cars should be compared with other ICE cars.
Interesting time. Not sure I think it’s relevant next to an RS3 from a couple of years ago. Weight will sap the huge amount of power available. It will also make braking distances longer. Battery might be low down but it cannot overcome physics.
As a road car it may be a different matter. Things like brake feel associated with regen and those axial flow motors are more interesting to me.
Because they are built around entirely different technologies, comparing their lap times isn't a fair like-for-like comparison.
I think EVs should compete against other EVs, and ICE cars should be compared with other ICE cars.
Diesel ?
2wd vs 4wd?
each have their strengths and weaknesses which is why they're all comparable, having segments is good though, and maybe it should all be based on power to weight?
Because they are built around entirely different technologies, comparing their lap times isn't a fair like-for-like comparison.
I think EVs should compete against other EVs, and ICE cars should be compared with other ICE cars.
There are 1000+ bhp ICE cars coming now, probably because EV has forced the need for them to improve numbers. But the next quantum leap will be the McMurtry as it now has enough range to complete the ring.
Whilst ultimately the quickest recorded time is what counts, I would do away with segments and have a boffin create a workable time vs cost table. Shed some light on those in pursuit of speed without a Toyota / Porsche / Mercedes budget. Europes answer to the salt flats, if you will.
TX.
TX.
Because they are built around entirely different technologies, comparing their lap times isn't a fair like-for-like comparison.
I think EVs should compete against other EVs, and ICE cars should be compared with other ICE cars.
Technically its brilliant no doubt, i bet its a great thing to be in, but just not my personal cup of tea.
Technically its brilliant no doubt, i bet its a great thing to be in, but just not my personal cup of tea.
If it was flat out for the full lap using 680hp constantly for that time, it would be 64kWh, so would have 32% battery left at the end.
Realistically, you wouldn’t be flat at all points, so probably be able to do two laps (average of 502hp which is still a lot), especially when some regen is taken into account.
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