Mercedes-Benz (Mercedes) is officially launching the CLA, its all-electric vehicle (EV), in Malaysia, with availability for it starting today. The EV was initially previewed back in January this year, and is the first EV to wear the CLA badge.

Running through the specs quickly, the CLA 250+ is powered by an electric motor with 272HP or 335Nm of torque. That translates to a top speed of 210km/h, a 0-100km/h acceleration of 6.7 seconds, and a WLTP range of up to 792km. This, by the way, is handled by the automotive brand’s Electric Drive Unit (EDU) 2.0, plus a drive architecture that includes a two-speed transmission on the rear axle, combining performance with efficiency. The first gear has a short ratio of 11:1, enabling excellent acceleration right from the start and great efficiency in urban traffic. The second gear (ratio: 5:1) is designed for power delivery at higher speeds and higher efficiency on the highway for outstanding long-distance range and comfort. The top speed is also achieved in the second gear.

For charging, the CLA depends on DC fast charging rated at up to 320 kW. Under optimal conditions, the system adds up to 325 km of driving range in just 10 minutes, although the CLA relies on 800V DC charging infrastructure. AC charging, meanwhile, caps out at 11 kW.

Inside the cabin, the dashboard and cockpit of the CLA show off an MBUX Superscreen, combining a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, comprising two 14-inch touchscreens, with one serving as the dedicated display for the cockpit. Software-wise, the dashboard is powered by the latest version of MB.OS operating system.

As mentioned, the Mercedes CLA 250+ is already available in Malaysia and retails at RM274,888 and comes with a 4-year warranty. The price, by the way, is without insurance. The brand is also offering monthly instalment plans for interested buyers through its Agility+ plan, which starts from RM2,988 per month.

In addition to the availability of the CLA 250+, Mercedes also launched its MB.CHARGE Public charging stations. These charging stations are in collaboration with seven charging point operators, including Gentari and JomCharge, among others. For Mercedes EV owners or, in this case, CLA owners, customers can easily charge their vehicle via the Mercedes-Benz app and MBUX,

On the Peninsula itself, Mercedes says that it has 3,000 charging points, situated at 1,000 locations.

Updated 6:02 pm, Fri, 14 August 26