Monday 18th November

Woah: petrol engine confirmed for new Mercedes CLA

The incoming CLA is yet another super-efficient EV. The twist is the all-new four-pot Merc has found room for...

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Mercedes is very excited about the incoming CLA. It is the first model on its new MMA platform, which means, of course, that it’s the first fruit of a ginormous amount of investment - not least in the new battery-electric powertrains that will power it. These are so efficient and fast charging (up to 320kW) that Mercedes recently broke the record for the longest distance covered by an EV in 24 hours - clocking up 2,410 miles at Nardo. Which is an impressively long way to go in a day and a night in anyone’s book. 

Naturally, that record relied on optimum conditions and many hands, but if the firm hits the real-world numbers it is targeting, then a WLTP range of more than 450 miles from the larger 85kWh battery (via a new, in-house designed rear-mounted 272hp motor with a two-speed transmission) might be possible. Mercedes reckons on long journeys, the battery-to-wheel efficiency might be as high as 93 per cent. Little wonder it has taken to describing the CLA as ‘the one-litre car of the electric age’. 

Of course, if that all sounds very worthy and technologically impressive, yet also as interesting as saliva-flavoured chewing gum, then you’re not alone - although if that is the case, you’ll likely be tickled pink (as we were) to discover that Mercedes, thanks to ‘the wishes and mobility needs of customers in different regions of the world’ has found a way (think giant shoehorn) to introduce a petrol engine into the MMA platform. And not just any engine, a brand-new turbocharged four-pot. In a range of outputs. And it won’t even be a plug-in hybrid. What’s the saying again about wonders and them never ceasing? 

The move is perhaps less fascinating for its wider strategic implications (these are readily understandable: Mercedes isn’t selling enough electric cars), and more interesting in terms of hoops. Because, technically speaking, the company has jumped through a bunch. For one thing, the newly developed mild-hybrid 1.5-litre unit had to be super-compact, a challenge its maker met by reducing the physical space between the cylinders and the side-by-side integration of the motor, inverter and transmission. Mercedes avoided a three-pot solution in favour of better refinement, although it still needed to invest in a ‘comprehensive NVH package consisting of foams and covers to reduce noise emission’ as well as extending the bulkhead insulation. 

The eight-speed auto, dubbed ’eDCT’ because it incorporates the 27hp electric motor, is also new and features ‘widely spread’ gearshift stages, presumably ones that best compliment the Miller combustion cycle used by the engine. Needless to say, very high efficiency is the objective here, too, and though Mercedes hasn’t divulged a targeted fuel consumption figure, it’s safe to assume from the configuration - which is said to recuperate briskly enough to ‘drive purely electrically at urban speeds’ - that diesel-rivalling economy is on the cards. To that end, the 48-volt lithium-ion battery, flat packed with its DC converter, is also new and claimed to offer an ‘energy content of up to 1.3kWh’. Mercedes reckons that the petrol engine alone, thanks to a special feature that allows it to recuperate in all eight gears, is capable of recovering up to 25kW.

Predictably, the manufacturer doesn’t mention any performance figures for the mild-hybrid version of the production car (it will arrive slightly later anyway), but it has already confirmed that 135hp, 163hp and 190hp outputs will be available, and you’ll be able to choose between front- and four-wheel drive. Obviously it’ll be slower than the pure-electric version and modestly noisier - but it’ll be lighter and cheaper to buy and probably more interesting to drive over greater distances. And better than that, given the engine’s modular design and apparent scalability, it’s probably a sign of things to come. We’ve certainly woken up to worse news on a Monday. 

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• 2024 Mercedes CLE 300 | PH Review
• 2024 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Cabriolet | PH Review

[sidesauce]

I wonder if these new models incorporate anything learned from the EQXX concept?

[wistec1]

The worm is turning.

[Jon_S_Rally]

I don't think it's any great surprise that they're planning ICE versions of cars like this, as large parts of the world are still some way off mass adoption of EVs. Perhaps the more important question is whether there is any chance of it being sold in the UK and Europe, or whether they will focus solely on pushing the electric versions.

[mooseracer]

Nail on the head Jon. It will be surprising if it's offered here.

[el romeral]

There is hope for us yet then maybe.

[D4rez]

Jon_S_Rally said:

I don't think it's any great surprise that they're planning ICE versions of cars like this, as large parts of the world are still some way off mass adoption of EVs. Perhaps the more important question is whether there is any chance of it being sold in the UK and Europe, or whether they will focus solely on pushing the electric versions.

Exactly this, they’ll keep an option open where they can for as long as possible. They’ll probably start with it in the UK in 2025 then drop as the ZEV/ban gets tougher.

Cue a load of petrolheads marvelling at the 1.5litre four pot that’s been “saved”. It’ll be compliant with the 68db noise regs (down from 72 today) so utterly silent even in the AMG versions.

So two powertrain choices - both with over 400 miles range, both with speaker augmented character. One with a bunch of tax and running cost benefits and one which refuels 7 minutes quicker but can’t refuel on your driveway. The choice for now is with the customer.

Edited by D4rez on Monday 18th November 07:17

[Forester1965]

Older cars are looking more and more attractive as each day goes by. No worrying about the latest infotainment or electronic bonging nannies. All the feels and sounds of a mechanical machine and the joy of interacting with it.

All lost with new cars, for me at least.

[GT9]

el romeral said:

There is hope for us yet then maybe.

I guess that depends on what you are hoping for.

Mild hybrids like this are a useful tool during the transition to augment the population of plug-in hybrids and EVs for those who are unable to charge at home and maybe for rural dwellers who are genuinely going to be constrained by the need to plug the car in.

Let's wait for the road test comparison between the two powertrains but it's inevitable that the EV will be faster, more spacious, and with higher refinement. As the two cars age, there is also the issue with maintenance and reliability.
And the probability of catching fire...

A useful addition to the population of cars for those who need it, but unlikely to set pulses racing.

[plfrench]

I’d say there’s precisely zero chance of them bringing this petrol engine to the UK. They won’t be able to sell them past the end of 2029 so the sales window is tight, plus it will water down MB’s performance on XEV mandate for the years preceding this. Also, with that sort of range, why would people want a far slower petrol car? Just wouldn’t make sense.

[Jon_S_Rally]

GT9 said:

I guess that depends on what you are hoping for.

Mild hybrids like this are a useful tool during the transition to augment the population of plug-in hybrids and EVs for those who are unable to charge at home and maybe for rural dwellers who are genuinely going to be constrained by the need to plug the car in.

Let's wait for the road test comparison between the two powertrains but it's inevitable that the EV will be faster, more spacious, and with higher refinement. As the two cars age, there is also the issue with maintenance and reliability.
And the probability of catching fire...

A useful addition to the population of cars for those who need it, but unlikely to set pulses racing.

plfrench said:

I’d say there’s precisely zero chance of them bringing this petrol engine to the UK. They won’t be able to sell them past the end of 2029 so the sales window is tight, plus it will water down MB’s performance on XEV mandate for the years preceding this. Also, with that sort of range, why would people want a far slower petrol car? Just wouldn’t make sense.

Interesting that you both mention speed. I think this is an important distinction as far as the enthusiast goes. You are right that, for most people, the EV might make more sense but, for many enthusiasts, speed is becoming increasingly less important. This arms race of silly 0-60 times has become almost meaningless, regardless of powertrain type. Fans of ICEs will happily sacrifice ultimate performance for something that offers at least some level of engagement and personality, something that the vast majority of EVs fail to deliver.

Will a middling CLA deliver those thrills? Maybe not, but I think there will long be a subset of consumers that would still buy one over its EV counterpart, simply because they enjoy the sensation of driving a car with a combustion engine.

[va1o]

I saw one of these when I was at the Rastatt factory last month. It’s got strong potential to do well and very wise of MB to continue offering as ICE.

[plfrench]

Jon_S_Rally said:

Interesting that you both mention speed. I think this is an important distinction as far as the enthusiast goes. You are right that, for most people, the EV might make more sense but, for many enthusiasts, speed is becoming increasingly less important. This arms race of silly 0-60 times has become almost meaningless, regardless of powertrain type. Fans of ICEs will happily sacrifice ultimate performance for something that offers at least some level of engagement and personality, something that the vast majority of EVs fail to deliver.

Will a middling CLA deliver those thrills? Maybe not, but I think there will long be a subset of consumers that would still buy one over its EV counterpart, simply because they enjoy the sensation of driving a car with a combustion engine.

We're not talking silly levels of 0-60 here though. Just normal day to day use - the difference between a 272hp EV drivetrain and 136-190hp petrol will be significant in terms of responsiveness.

Anyway, absolutely a moot point here in the UK - why would Mercedes waste a precious non-zero emission sale on a lowly CLA when they can reserve those for far higher margin AMG specials? Even if this comes to market by 2026, they'll already be in the position of needing to sell 33% zero emissions, with the levels continuing to ramp up quite sharply from there. Just wouldn't make sense to sell here.

[andy43]

plfrench said:

I’d say there’s precisely zero chance of them bringing this petrol engine to the UK. They won’t be able to sell them past the end of 2029 so the sales window is tight, plus it will water down MB’s performance on XEV mandate for the years preceding this. Also, with that sort of range, why would people want a far slower petrol car? Just wouldn’t make sense.

This. With the fines for fleet averages it just won’t be worth marketing.

Sad that a PH article can get so excited over a st 4 pot that we probably won’t ever see sold in Europe.

[plfrench]

evojam said:

I for one would'nt care a jot about it being a bit slower than the EV version on the boy racer away from the lights dash.Reckon they'd sell well if they brought the this new compact petrol hybrid model to the UK,probally 500kg's or so lighter that the EV version and along with much lower purchase price and more solid residuals would look an attractive buy to many!

They wouldn't want it to sell well here - that would mean they'd miss their ZEV targets. The obvious way to avoid this would be to increase the price so it covered its own £15k mandate fee. That would sort the problem out More realistically, they just wouldn't bother for the UK market and leave this for other markets where they need to have an alternative. MB are one of the few manufacturers set to beat the headline 22% ZEV in the UK this year, can't see them throwing that strong performance away with such a daft decision.

[SDK]

evojam said:

I for one would'nt care a jot about it being a bit slower than the EV version on the boy racer away from the lights dash.Reckon they'd sell well if they brought the this new compact petrol hybrid model to the UK,probally 500kg's or so lighter that the EV version and along with much lower purchase price and more solid residuals would look an attractive buy to many!

Prices : The gap between EV and petrol is closing to very little now.
Residuals : Hybrid deprecation is worse than pure EV

[bigyoungdave]

D4rez said:

Jon_S_Rally said:

I don't think it's any great surprise that they're planning ICE versions of cars like this, as large parts of the world are still some way off mass adoption of EVs. Perhaps the more important question is whether there is any chance of it being sold in the UK and Europe, or whether they will focus solely on pushing the electric versions.

Exactly this, they’ll keep an option open where they can for as long as possible. They’ll probably start with it in the UK in 2025 then drop as the ZEV/ban gets tougher.

Cue a load of petrolheads marvelling at the 1.5litre four pot that’s been “saved”. It’ll be compliant with the 68db noise regs (down from 72 today) so utterly silent even in the AMG versions.

So two powertrain choices - both with over 400 miles range, both with speaker augmented character. One with a bunch of tax and running cost benefits and one which refuels 7 minutes quicker but can’t refuel on your driveway. The choice for now is with the customer.

Edited by D4rez on Monday 18th November 07:17

Not sure EV charging reliably enables 400 miles of range to be added in 10 mins in thousands of easily accessible forecourts across the country

[charltjr]

andy43 said:

plfrench said:

I’d say there’s precisely zero chance of them bringing this petrol engine to the UK. They won’t be able to sell them past the end of 2029 so the sales window is tight, plus it will water down MB’s performance on XEV mandate for the years preceding this. Also, with that sort of range, why would people want a far slower petrol car? Just wouldn’t make sense.

This. With the fines for fleet averages it just won’t be worth marketing.

Sad that a PH article can get so excited over a st 4 pot that we probably won’t ever see sold in Europe.

It's clickbait, pure and simple.

[B10]

Surprised that there are no negative comments on the styling that you think is under the camo. Jag got so much grief last week, so lets have some comments please. You were on a roll last week.

Edited by B10 on Monday 18th November 09:10

Edited by B10 on Monday 18th November 09:20

[Harry_523]

el romeral said:

There is hope for us yet then maybe.

Ah yes, the petrol head dream of driving a stifled electrified low powered crummy little 4 pot merc.

it goes like this - 5cyl+ Petrol engines > EVs > everything else. I'll fight on that hill.

[Mike1990]

If its sold here, the 190bhp will be a good sweet spot i reckon.