Mercedes-Benz
B-Class Electric
The B-Class will be the first all-electric from the Mercedes brand in the U.S. when it arrives in early 2014. It won’t be the first front-wheel drive, as the CLA-Class will get here this Fall.
On paper, the B-Class resembles nothing more than the Ford C-MAX (188 or 195 horsepower). With a 134-horsepower motor it might seem that the B-Class will not be very lively, but without a final curb-weight we can’t predict its acceleration. Diesel B-Class models in Europe weigh about 3150 pounds, but the battery pack and U.S. spec bumpers and other homologation may increase that significantly. The 228 pound-feet of torque on the other hand should launch it pretty well from a dead stop.
The little wagon shape may not be ideally suited for the U.S. market’s tastes, but it is suited for placement of a large battery in the floor while still leaving a decent luggage space.
Mercedes is estimating a range of 115 miles on a full charge. This will, of course, vary with weather, traffic and driving style. Obviously, a lot of time stuck at traffic lights shouldn’t affect range, unless you need the heater or air conditioning. Cold temperatures will also reduce range regardless of heater use. The B-Class Electric will use regenerative braking to recapture some braking energy.
If the battery becomes totally discharged, it can be temporarily rejuvenated by placing ground unicorn horn and kitten tears in a small reservoir under the hood. [Not true. - Ed)
The CLA-Class was revealed during the Detroit Auto Show in January. Now, New York gets the smoking, tattooed, tough older brother. The CLA45 AMG uses the same 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine as his smaller, more polite brother, the CLA250. But the CLA45 AMG turns the boost up to 11, well, actually 26.1, psi. This results in 355 horsepower, what MB rightly claims is the highest specific (for the engine size) horsepower for a production engine. That is quite a jump from the 208 horsepower in the CLA250.
CLA45 AMG
The CLA-Class was revealed during the Detroit Auto Show in January. Now, New York gets the smoking, tattooed, tough older brother. The CLA45 AMG uses the same 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine as his smaller, more polite brother, the CLA250. But the CLA45 AMG turns the boost up to 11, well, actually 26.1, psi. This results in 355 horsepower, what MB rightly claims is the highest specific (for the engine size) horsepower for a production engine. That is quite a jump from the 208 horsepower in the CLA250.
Now crazy, high output turbo four cylinders are hardly a new thing. In fact they go back to the Eighties. Gear-heads can quote the 291 horsepower in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo’s 2.0 liter, or the 305 horsepower in the WRX STI.
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Year
|
Vehicle
|
Engine
|
Boost
|
Horsepower
|
|
1980
|
Lotus Esprit
|
DOHC 2.0 4-cylinder
|
9 psi
|
210 HP
|
|
1984
|
Dodge Daytona Turbo
|
SOHC 2.2 4-cylinder
|
6.5 psi
|
142 HP
|
|
1984
|
Ford Mustang SVO
|
OHV 2.3 4-cylinder
|
14 psi
|
175 HP
|
|
1985
|
Porsche 944 Turbo
|
SOHC 2.5 4-cylinder
|
11 psi
|
217 HP
|
|
1985.5
|
Ford Mustang SVO
|
OHV 2.3 4-cylinder
|
15 psi
|
205 HP
|
|
1986
|
Shelby GLHS
|
SOHC 2.2 4-cylinder
|
12 psi
|
175 HP
|
|
1989
|
Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX
|
DOHC 2.0 4-cylinder
|
12 psi
|
180-195 HP
|
|
1992
|
Dodge Daytona R/T
|
DOHC 2.2 4-cylinder
|
11 psi
|
224 HP*
|
|
1995
|
Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX
|
DOHC 2.0 4-cylinder
|
12 psi
|
210 HP
|
|
2002
|
Subaru WRX
|
DOHC 2.0 flat 4-cylinder
|
13.5 psi
|
227 HP
|
|
2008
|
Chevrolet Cobalt SS
|
DOHC 2.0 D.I. 4-cylinder
|
15 psi
|
260 HP
|
|
2014
|
Mercedes CLA45 AMG
|
DOHC 2.0 D.I. 4-cylinder
|
26.1 psi
|
355 HP
|
Obviously, if this much power were sent through the front wheels alone the steering wheel would twist the driver’s arms off and the car would cram itself in the ditch the first time the driver floors it, so 4Matic All-Wheel Drive is standard as it is on many new AMG cars. The CLA45 AMG also uses a dual-clutch 7-speed transmission. Functioning like an automatic, its innards more closely resemble a manual, with much quicker shifts and less power loss than a traditional automatic transmission. It also boosts “RACE START,” a feature that makes launching the tiny hotrod without bogging down or turning the tires into ash fully automated. Mercedes claims 0 to 60 MPH in 4.5 seconds.