Author: EVAI

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Tesla appears to have discontinued its vinyl wrap option for the Cybertruck. It’s no longer listed in the automaker’s online accessories shop, where it was previously found.

This was first spotted by Canada’s Drive Tesla, which noted that the disappearance of the Cybertruck wrap option comes after Tesla reduced the number of colors from 11 to three. Tesla did not make a formal announcement of this change, and unlike other automakers, it does not have a public relations department to contact for clarification.

2025 Tesla Cybertruck – Courtesy of Tesla, Inc.

Tesla continues to offer vinyl wraps for the Model 3 and Model Y, but as Drive Tesla notes, the Cybertruck’s flat, angular surfaces made it the perfect candidate for a wrap. Wrapping those panels might also help better protect the stainless steel as well.

As of September, the only available colors were Satin Rose Gold, Satin Stealth Black, and Satin Ceramic White, and at up to $6,500, they cost more than aftermarket options, Drive Tesla noted. And according to that outlet, Tesla was only offering installations at three service centers in California.

2025 Tesla Cybertruck – Courtesy of Tesla, Inc.

First shown in concept form in 2019, the Cybertruck finally debuted in production guise about a year ago. While the styling was mostly unchanged, the Cybertruck fell short of Tesla’s promised 500 miles of range, even with a promised range-extender battery.  That option will be approximately $16,000 with a $2,000 deposit, according to Tesla’s website, and won’t be user installable.

Since deliveries started earlier this year, the Cybertruck has also been recalled six times. Just last week, Tesla issued a recall to address a potential fault with the inverters of 2,431 trucks, which could cause an immediate loss of torque to the wheels and requires replacement of the potentially faulty inverters.

Updated on November 27, 2024, to add the Hyundai Ioniq 9.

With the introduction of the all-new Cadillac Vistiq and Hyundai Ioniq 9, the number of electric three-row SUVs got just a little bit bigger. Caddy’s latest EV slots between the Lyriq and the upcoming Escalade IQ, and rounds out the luxury American automaker’s battery-powered SUV portfolio nicely. Meanwhile, the Ioniq 9 is Hyundai’s largest electric SUV to date.

But how do the new Vistiq and Ioniq 9 compare to some of our favorite American-made three-row electric SUVs? Well, you’ve come to the right place because that’s exactly what you’re going to find out after reading this comparison

We’ll look at how the 2026 Cadillac Vistiq and 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 stack up against the Rivian R1S and Kia EV9 in terms of dimensions, powertrain options, battery size, standout features and pricing. We’ve also included some handy tables to make it easier to follow along. So, let’s get started

Size and weight

All the cars on this list are considered large electric SUVs. The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 has the longest wheelbase of all the cars on this list, 123.22 inches. This means interior space should be plentiful for all seven passengers and slightly better than its main competitors. When we checked out the Ioniq 9 in person, we found the third-row seats to be plenty comfortable, even for people over six feet tall.

Meanwhile, the Ioniq 9’s 199.21-inch length places it between the Rivian R1S and its platform stablemate, the Kia EV9. Hyundai did not say how much the Ioniq 9 weighs but mentioned a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

The 2026 Vistiq’s wheelbase measures 121.81 inches; it’s also 205.59 inches long, 86.73 inches wide (with mirrors) and 71.02 inches tall. The Cadillac Vistiq weighs a minimum of 6,326 pounds and has a cargo volume of 15.2 cubic feet behind the third row. Folding the third row increases the cargo area to 43 cubic feet. 

There’s no word on whether the Vistiq has a front trunk or not. We also don’t know what the maximum payload is. What we do know is the maximum trailering capacity: 5,000 pounds.

Rivian’s updated seven-seater SUV has a wheelbase of 121.1 inches, so marginally smaller than that of the Vistiq. Furthermore, the R1S measures 200.8 inches long (4.79 inches shorter than the Vistiq), 82 inches wide (with the side mirrors folded) and has a maximum height of 77.3 inches (6.28 inches taller than the Vistiq).

The R1S weighs an estimated 6,700 to 7,200 pounds and can tow 7,700 pounds. The maximum payload is 2,161 pounds and there’s a frunk under the hood.

Kia’s first all-electric three-row SUV, the EV9, is 197.2 inches long (8.39 inches shorter than the Vistiq), 77.9 inches wide and 68.9 inches tall (2.12 inches lower than the Vistiq). The wheelbase is 122 inches, so one-fifth of an inch longer than the Cadillac.

The EV9 tips the scales at around 5,000 pounds. It can tow between 1,000 to 5,000 pounds depending on the powertrain and has a maximum luggage capacity of 20.2 cubic feet behind the third row and 42.5 cubic feet behind the second row. There’s also a 3.2 cubic feet frunk.

Battery, range and charging

Hyundai said the only battery available for the new Ioniq 9 would be a 110.3-kilowatt-hour unit, at least at the beginning. The standard-range models should be capable of covering at least 300 miles on a full charge, while the long-range trims should reach 335 miles.

Speaking of charging, the Ioniq 9 comes from the factory with Tesla’s NACS charge port, which makes it easier to top up at Tesla Superchargers across the United States and Canada without an adapter. Hyundai did not disclose the maximum charging speed of the Ioniq 9 but said that a 10% to 80% recharge should take just 24 minutes at a 350 kW DC fast charger.

The power of the on-board AC charger hasn’t been disclosed yet.

According to Cadillac, the Vistiq will only be available with a single battery option, a 102-kilowatt-hour pack (usable) that enables a GM-estimated range of 300 miles. 

The automaker didn’t say how many kilowatts the Vistiq can accept from a DC fast charger but said a high-powered stall can add up to 79 miles of range in about 10 minutes. On AC power the electric SUV can be recharged at up to 11.7 kilowatts. When hooked up to a 7.7-kW home charger, the EV’s range can be replenished by up to 20.5 miles per hour. Upgrading to an 11.5-kW unit ups the figure to 28.5 miles per hour, while a 19.2-kW charger can add up to 46.7 miles of range per hour.

The 2025 Rivian R1S SUV can be ordered with one of three battery packs. The Standard pack has a usable capacity of 92.5 kWh and offers an estimated range of 270 miles. Next is the Large battery pack with 108.5 kWh and an estimated range of 329 miles, followed by the 141.5-kWh Max battery pack that can deliver up to 410 miles in the R1S.

Rivian’s entry-level battery can accept up to 200 kW of power from a DC fast charger, while the Large and Max packs can take in up to 220 kW. The company claims a top-up from 10% to 80% state of charge on a fast charger should take anywhere from 30 to 41 minutes, depending on the battery size. Another metric used by Rivian says the R1S can get up to 140 miles of range in 20 minutes when hooked up to a DC stall.

On AC power, the American-made seven-seater can accept up to 11.5 kW, adding up to 25 miles of range per hour of charging.

Kia offers two battery options for its electric family hauler. The entry-level Light model packs a 76.1-kWh battery that’s good for an EPA-estimated range of 230 miles. All the other trims come with a larger 99.8-kWh pack that can deliver up to 304 miles of range.

The EV9 uses Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP platform rated at 800 volts, so fast charging is … fast. It can accept up to 235 kW from a compatible dispenser, adding 100 miles of range in just 13 minutes. On a Level 2 charger, the EV9 can accept up to 11 kW 

Powertrain options

The flagship 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 will be offered in three powertrain configurations. The long-range rear-wheel drive trim comes with a single, rear-mounted motor that’s good for 215 horsepower. Then, there’s a long-range all-wheel drive version with a total of 303 hp, followed by a Performance AWD trim with 422 hp.

We don’t know the torque figures yet, but we know how fast the Ioniq 9 can get to 60 mph from a standstill. The single-motor EV needs 8.4 seconds to reach 60 mph, the long-range AWD trim cuts that down to 6.2 seconds, while the Performance version needs 4.9 seconds.

GM’s latest electric offering is available with a single drivetrain configuration, at least for now: a dual-motor setup with a permanent magnet unit in the front and an induction motor at the rear. The power output is 615 horsepower and the maximum torque is rated at 650 pound-feet.

The Vistiq can accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in 3.7 seconds. Cadillac has not disclosed the maximum speed.

After this year’s update, the R1S has three powertrain options. The entry-level version comes with a dual-motor setup with up to 665 hp and a 0 to 60 time as fast as 3.4 seconds.

If that’s somehow not enough power, there’s also a tri-motor configuration with 850 hp and a 2.9-second sprint to 60. A quad-motor version will join the range in 2025 with 1,025 hp and a 0-to-60 sprint in just 2.6 seconds.

Kia’s electric three-row SUV is available with either rear- or all-wheel drive. The least powerful variant, the Light Long Range, has 201 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, followed by the standard-range Light trim with 215 hp and 258 lb-ft. Both are rear-wheel drive with a single motor.

The dual-motor, all-wheel drive versions of the Kia EV9 offer a maximum output of 379 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque, except for the top-tier GT-Line which ups the torque figure to 516 lb-ft.

Speaking of the GT-Line, it can go from zero to 60 miles per hour in 5 seconds. The other AWD versions need 5.7 seconds to reach 60 mph, but the top speed is the same–124 mph. Meanwhile, the entry-level Light trim accelerates to 60 mph in 7.7 seconds and has a top speed of 118 mph. The Light Long Range needs 8.8 seconds to reach 60 mph and has a top speed of 115 mph.

Features

The newly introduced Ioniq 9 comes as standard with a pair of curved 12-inch displays for the instrument cluster and infotainment screen. High-output, 100-watt USB-C ports are also part of the conversation, as well as vehicle-to-load and a sliding center console that can be opened by either the front-row occupants or the second-row passengers.

The Ioniq 9 can be ordered with either a three-seat bench or reclining captain’s chairs for the second row. 19-inch wheels are standard, along with an eight-speaker sound system, 10 airbags and a very long list of advanced driver assistance systems.

Cadillac’s three-row EV comes as standard with a 33-inch diagonal high-resolution LED screen, 21-inch wheels and a 23-speaker AKG Studio Audio system with Dolby Atmos. GM’s Super Cruise hands-free advanced driving assistance system is also standard.

On the options list, Cadillac offers adaptive air suspension, rear-wheel steering and 23-inch wheels, among other things.

The Rivian R1S comes with air suspension on all trim levels. Two screens are also included, one of which measures 15.6 inches diagonal, along with 20-inch wheels. Optionally, customers can add an air compressor, a huge panoramic glass roof and an all-terrain pack that comes with reinforced underbody shielding, 20-inch all-terrain tires and a compact spare tire. Bigger wheels are also available.

The standard kit also includes the Rivian Autonomy Platform, which comes with 11 cameras, five radars and AI prediction tech to help the car “see” further even in poor weather conditions and low light. It offers automatic steering, braking and acceleration on select highways, as well as adaptive cruise control and a lane-changing assistant, among other features.

The R1S is the only car on this list that doesn’t support vehicle-to-load (V2L).

The EV9 comes with a pair of 12.3-inch scenes, one for the instrument cluster and the other for the infotainment. A bunch of safety features are also included as standard, like automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control with hands-free driving.

19-inch wheels come with the base trim, along with automatic headlight control, high-beam assist, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, as well as Bluetooth connectivity.

Pricing and availability

The Ioniq 9 is quite fresh, so we don’t know how much it will cost yet. We expect it to be priced slightly higher than its Kia EV9 cousin, but we’ll know more when Hyundai makes up its mind. The Ioniq 9 will go on sale in early 2025 as a 2026 model. It will be manufactured at Hyundai’s Georgia plant.

The 2026 Vistiq starts at $78,790 including destination. Three trim levels will be available: Luxury, Sport and Premium Luxury. The Cadillac Vistiq will be manufactured at GM’s Spring Hill facility in Tennessee starting in early 2025.

The base R1S with the Standard battery pack and dual-motor powertrain starts at $75,900 without destination. Upgrading to the Large battery will set you back $82,900 while the Max battery increases the dual motor vehicle’s price tag to $89,900. The tri-motor variant is only available with the Max battery and starts at $105,900. The quad-motor version is not yet on sale.

The entry-level Kia EV9 Light starts at $56,395 including destination. The Light Long Range, which is rear-wheel drive, ups the MSRP to $60,696. The cheapest dual-motor all-wheel drive version, the Wind, starts at $65,395, while the Land trim costs $71,395. The most expensive Kia EV9, the GT-Line, starts at $75,395.

The least expensive model on this list is the Kia EV9, but going for the top-tier GT-Line gets very close to the Cadillac Vistiq’s price tag. However, the Vistiq is more powerful than the EV9 GT-Line and has a longer driving range–300 miles versus the GT-Line’s 270 miles. That said, the EV9 Light Long Range RWD can go 304 miles and is roughly $20,000 cheaper than the Vistiq.

The Rivian R1S, meanwhile, is the most expensive of the bunch but also the most powerful and most capable when going off-road.

EV battery prices have been falling, and they could decline even more steeply over the next two years, according to a new Goldman Sachs report.

On the pack level, global average battery prices declined from $153 per kwh in 2022 to $149 in 2023, according to the report, which predicts that they’ll continue dropping to $80 per kwh by 2026. That’s almost 50% lower than 2023, and past the point where EVs achieve price parity with gasoline cars, analysts estimate.

Goldman Sachs EV battery price forecast October 2024

Analysts attribute continually-decreasing battery prices to two main factors. One is technological advancements, specifically larger cells and cell-to-pack tech that lower the number of battery modules or eliminate them completely. This could help not only lower costs, but achieve up to 30% higher energy density that could keep battery-pack size in check, analysts believe. Tesla has moved to produce its own large-format 4680 cells, but has had trouble keeping manufacturing costs of those cells down.

The other factor is a downturn in the prices of raw materials like lithium and cobalt. Higher raw-material prices contributed to soaring EV battery costs in 2022, but that’s declining and will continue to decline through at least 2030, representing about 40% of anticipated battery cost reductions, according to Goldman Sachs.

Comparing 4680 vs. 2170 – Panasonic

This follows another report from Goldman Sachs earlier this year predicting a 40% drop in EV battery costs between 2023 and 2025, which analysts said could boost sales, potentially allowing EVs to claim 50% of the U.S. market by 2030.

Despite the blip of pandemic-adjacent supply-chain issues, EV battery prices have steadily decreased since the modern EV era kicked off with the arrival of the Tesla Roadster about 15 years ago. Prices have dropped 90% since that time, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

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The 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class EV will have a hybrid sibling The CLA EV will be able to add 186 miles of range in 10 minutes CLA EVs will feature both CCS and NACS charge ports The next-generation Mercedes-Benz CLA won’t just be a redesigned car. It will mark the introduction of a new era for Mercedes. Arriving late next year, the 2026…

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• A Mercedes-Benz CLA EV prototype toppled a record set by the Porsche Taycan
• Mercedes drove a CLA EV 2,309 miles in 24 hours around the Nardo test track
• The Mercedes CLA EV could become the most efficient EV on sale in the U.S.

Records are meant to be broken, and Mercedes-Benz has just busted one set by Porsche.

In April, Mercedes-Benz quietly took an electric CLA-Class prototype to the Nardo test track with the aim of seeing how many miles could be driven in 24 hours. The answer ended up being 2,309 miles, which set a new record.

2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA EV prototype sets distance record at Nardo

Under what was internally codenamed Project N—the N stood for Nardo—the team took two close-to-production prototype electric CLAs and aimed to set a record. Porsche set the previous record of 2,128 miles back in 2019 with a Taycan.

The entire feat took 40 charging breaks, with each break lasting about 10 minutes. The 2026 CLA can add 186 miles of range, or about 36 kwh to its 85-kwh battery pack, in 10 minutes, according to Mercedes, when started at a 10% state of charge. The automaker said that 10 minutes should bring the pack to 50%.

2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA EV prototype sets distance record at Nardo

That rapid charging is enabled partly by the CLA’s 800-volt electrical architecture, just like the Taycan has. 

The record-setting electric CLA started out at 100% state-of-charge and the team optimized the charging strategy in real time to take into account air temp and environmental factors such as wind. The team also had to take into account the fact the charger was located in a particular spot on the track, so the stops were planned, and the state of charge at which the car got plugged in was not consistent.

Mercedes said the ambient air temperature ranged from 55.4 degrees Fahrenheit at night to 84.2 degrees during the day.

2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA EV prototype sets distance record at Nardo

The car’s average speed during the test was 96.2 mph with the car’s top speed of 130 mph reached during the session.

The team consisted of six drivers and three shift changes with the rear-wheel-drive CLA EV. A single 200-kw permanently synchronous motor sent 268 hp to the rear wheels. Its 2-speed automatic transmission aided with the efficiency, according to Mercedes.

The Porsche Taycan isn’t the most efficient EV on the market. That distinction is held by the Lucid Air with its 5.0 mi/kwh rating. But the Taycan consistently overachieves and overdelivers above and beyond its EPA range ratings in real-world driving, which could be attributed in part to its 2-speed transmission. Perhaps Porsche was onto something with having a taller second-drive ratio. Mercedes mentioned a 5.2 mi/kwh efficiency number for the CLA EV, though nothing’s been made official yet. Should the team at Mercedes achieve that type of efficiency, it could be because of the 2-speed transmission, and herald a new efficiency king when the 2026 CLA EV arrives later in 2025. 

Mercedes-Benz paid for travel and lodging along with some German pretzels for Green Car Reports to bring you this firsthand report.

• The 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA will be available as an EV and hybrid
• The electric CLA will be able to add 186 miles of range in 10 minutes
• It may be the first EV to feature both CCS and NACS charge ports

Mercedes-Benz still views the future as electric, though the timeline for the transition’s become a bit fuzzier and longer than anticipated.

When it arrives next year, the electric 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA will be the first of four new models (three of them U.S.-bound) on the next-gen MMA EV-dedicated platform. With two charge ports, high-power fast charging capabilities, a more advanced electrical architecture, new in-house designed motors, a 2-speed transmission, and a hybrid powertrain option, it’s the genesis of Mercedes’ forthcoming scalable lineup.

Mercedes-Benz CLA

2026 Mercedes CLA will include CCS and NACS charge ports

The electrical architecture of the CLA is future-proofed thanks to a new in-house designed 800-volt electrical architecture. Mercedes said the system has a peak charge rate of 320 kw, but more importantly it can recover 186 miles of range in 10 minutes when fast-charged starting at a 10% state-of-charge. Mercedes said that’s approximately 36 kwh of energy in 10 minutes. It’ll take less than 22 minutes to go from 10-80% state-of-charge, according to Mercedes.

Home charging will utilize an 11.0-kw onboard charger—likely good for an eight-hour overnight charge with the U.S.-spec model’s 85.0-kwh usable capacity.

Mercedes engineers revealed that when the CLA launches in the U.S. it’ll have two charging ports under a single charge-port door. One will be a CCS port while the other will be a NACS (Tesla) port.

They said this is for the benefit of the customer, because who wants an adapter that can get lost or broken? Powertrain and rolling chassis units that were shown only had a CCS port and no visuals were yet shown of the two charging ports side-by-side.

Mercedes-Benz CLA

Mercedes EVs to use a 2-speed transmission and new electric motors

Mercedes designed and developed a new electric drive unit, dubbed EDU 2.0 (Electric Drive Unit 2.0). These motors are the first of a new family of BEV powertrains just as Mercedes has created families of gas-powered engines. The motors are said to be scalable and future iterations are coming, presumably for the AMG and heavier crossover SUV variants.

Single-motor rear-wheel-drive CLAs will feature a 200-kw permanently synchronous motor (PSM) in the rear with 268 hp. All-wheel-drive 4Matic models will add an 80-kw motor to the front axle, to be engaged during acceleration or when slip is detected. Both motors feature silicon carbide inverters.

The CLA will be the first, but not the last, Mercedes EV to feature a 2-speed transmission. Engineers expect most of the automaker’s upcoming and future EVs to have the additional complexity in the name of smoothness and efficiency.

The motor (EDU 2.0), transmission, and power electronics are all packaged in one housing.

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class EV

First gear has an 11:1 ratio and maxes out at 68 mph while second gear switches to a 5:1 ratio with a top speed of 130 mph. Second gear is used for highway driving and cruising while first gear is designed for dynamic and low-speed driving. A wet friction-based clutch is utilized to engage first gear while a dog clutch is used to engage second gear to ensure the average consumer won’t feel the transmission shifting and engaging at various speeds, according to Mercedes engineers.

Mercedes-Benz CLA

Mercedes rethinks its regenerative braking system

Mercedes engineers are aware the two-stage blended brake system in the EQS (and EQS) is far from ideal.

The MMA platform, and specifically new CLA, use Mercedes’ next-gen regenerative braking system. It’s still a two-stage blended system, but engineers claim it operates differently than today’s system in the EQS.

The car will use regenerative braking until it can’t recuperate quickly enough or conditions necessary don’t allow it (when the battery is too full, too cold, too hot, etc.) before engaging the friction brakes. Up to 200 kw of recuperation is possible, according to Mercedes.

Unlike in the EQS and EQE models, the brake pedal will not move on its own when the car’s using regenerative braking.

One-pedal driving will be enabled by some of the four levels of regen, dubbed D- (one-pedal driving), D, D+ (least amount of reg), and D Auto. Engineers said the car will remember the selected regenerative brake setting upon key cycle and won’t change until a user changes the system, unlike today’s car.

Mercedes-Benz CLA

Every U.S. CLA gets an NMC battery pack

In other markets the entry-level CLA will feature a 58.0-kwh (usable) LFP battery pack. The U.S. market won’t get this battery as it won’t meet U.S. needs in terms of range, according to a Mercedes spokesperson.

The U.S.-spec CLA will come standard with the larger 85.0-kwh (usable) nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery pack. Engineers said that’s 96% of the pack’s capacity, making gross capacity 88.5 kwh. 

Both packs use prismatic cells rather than pouch or cylindrical cells. Engineers said this route was taken for the best use of volume, dimensions, and stability. The new chemistry features silicon anode materials to increase energy density. 

Upcoming AMG models will have their own battery pack design.

Battery software and integration was all developed in-house and will continue to be done in-house. Markus Shäfer, a member of Mercedes Group AG’s board and the automaker’s Chief Technology Officer, said full vertical integration is key to the automaker’s future. The hardware and software all have to work hand-in-hand. That’s why Mercedes now, for the first time in history, has a Chief Software Officer in the C-suite.

The system is capable of bi-directional charging, applied to home (V2H) and grid (V2G) situations.

Mercedes-Benz CLA

2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA ushers in the MMA platform

The MMA platform is a new clean-sheet BEV platform. Mercedes engineers said the platform, and battery pack, are both scalable. The expectation is that more than 90% of future Mercedes’ models will be based on a common battery platform.

The entire package is modular with uniformly designed battery components, which serve as the core element of the platform. The battery pack isn’t structural in the same way as a Tesla Model Y, where the battery serves as the vehicle’s floor and seats bolt to the pack. But the battery pack is part of the vehicle’s safety structure.

Every MMA-based Mercedes EV will feature a heat pump.

Mercedes said two crossover SUVs will follow the CLA. They may directly replace the GLA and GLB crossover SUVs. Then comes the CLA Shooting Brake, which won’t come to the U.S.

There’s at least one example of an engineering flaw baked in from the start. Because the MMA platform was originally envisioned as a dedicated BEV modular architecture, and during the planning process a hybrid powertrain was baked in, the front electric motor shares mounting points with the hybrid model’s gas engine. This leads to the electric motor sitting higher than it would otherwise need to. It will lead to the CLA having a frunk capable of probably holding only a small briefcase.

Mercedes-Benz CLA powertrain

A hybrid CLA option will live alongside the EV

In the hybrid, a new 1.5-liter turbo-4 sits under the hood and hooks to an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic with a 27-hp electric motor sandwiched between the motor and transmission. Total system output is 187 hp. A 1.3-kwh lithium-ion battery pack is mounted beneath the driver seat, and the entire system runs on 48 volts.

Mercedes said the system is capable of driving on electric-only power or sailing at speeds of up to 62 mph.

All the gears of the 8-speed automatic transmission can be used for recuperation to harvest up to 25 kw of energy back into the battery pack. Mercedes said this won’t be a plug-in hybrid. 

Hybrid models will be front-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive will be available with a driveshaft and electronically-disconnecting clutch.

Mercedes-Benz CLA powertrain

Mercedes engineers said that a 1.5-liter inline-4 was chosen over a turbo-3 due to noise, harshness, and vibration concerns. The new engine weighs 17% less than the outgoing 2.0-liter turbo-4 in today’s CLA. While that engine has a belt starter-generator, the new engine does away with that as well as any traditional starter and alternator, with those functions being handled by the electric motor. A 12:1 compression ratio enables an efficient Miller cycle, and a newly designed manifold integrates the exhaust-gas turbocharger directly into the plumbing to save weight and space.

No fuel economy projections were provided, but engineers said the target is “diesel-like fuel consumption.”

Mercedes-Benz hasn’t announced pricing, range, equipment or final specs for the 2026 CLA EV or Hybrid. That information will come at the official reveal and closer to the launch.

Mercedes-Benz paid for travel and lodging along with some German pretzels for Green Car Reports to bring you this firsthand report

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