AFFALTERBACH: The all-new Mercedes‑AMG CLA 45 4Matic+ recently claimed the title of the fastest vehicle in its segment on the legendary Nordschleife, with an officially measured and notarised lap time of 7:32.070 minutes.
Under summer conditions with ambient temperatures of 24 degrees Celsius and track temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius, the sporty four-door saloon crossed the finish line of the Nürburgring-Nordschleife on July 28, 2026 at 11:31am and celebrations erupted in the pit lane.
The CLA 45 is powered by highly innovative axial-flux motors.
Following the Mercedes‑AMG GT 4‑Door Coupé, it is only the second fully electric production vehicle to feature this high-performance technology.
Three exceptionally powerful electric motors, two on the rear axle and one on the front axle, generate a combined output of up to 500kW (680hp) and accelerate the four-seater from 0 to 100 kph in just 2.7 seconds.
This enables the CLA 45 4MATIC+ to reach levels of performance previously unimaginable in its segment.
The power delivery is further enhanced by the liquid-cooled motors’ ability to repeatedly provide their full output, creating ideal conditions for record-setting laps on the demanding Nordschleife.
“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," said Mercedes‑AMG GmbH chairman Dr Stefan Weckbach.
"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.”
During its record lap on the 20.832km Nürburgring Nordschleife, the CLA 45 4Matic+ also benefited from its steel-sprung AMG Ride Control sports suspension with adaptive three-way adjustable damping.
Based on a multilink front axle and multilink rear axle, all-wheel-guiding components, springs and dampers were comprehensively revised compared with the Mercedes-Benz CLA.
The objective was to achieve higher lateral acceleration while maintaining excellent controllability at the limit.
Drivers can select between three suspension settings: “Comfort”, “Sport” and “AMGFORCE S+”, providing a distinct spectrum from comfort-oriented driving to maximum performance.
Ideal for fast laps on a racetrack, damping force is adjusted within milliseconds at each wheel to suit the driving situation.
A key factor behind the record-setting lap was the Predictive Performance Manager (PPM).
The system analyses the track layout and optimises energy deployment based on the circuit’s topography and the current driving situation.
As a result, the available power is delivered precisely where it has the greatest impact on lap time.
The driver can choose between two operating strategies: “SPRINT” for achieving the fastest possible lap time, and “RACE” for multiple laps with maximum consistency and sustained performance.
The axial-flux motors of the CLA 45 4MATIC+ draw their energy from a lithium-ion battery with a usable energy content of 94kWh.
This class-leading capacity is a key factor behind the vehicle’s outstanding range of more than 670km for the Saloon and 640km for the Shooting Brake.
For the record lap, the CLA 45 4Matic+ was equipped with Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tyres.
