Mercedes is starting out the first quarter of 2020 with a bang. The company recently announced it will introduce three new plug-in hybrid vehicles that will be derivatives of the new GLA, CLA sedan, and CLA Shooting Brake (estate).
Even more importantly, the move will make electric and hybrid cars more affordable, even if they are Mercedes. All three cars belong to the company’s entry-level range.
“The GLA and CLA models are based on the same platform, so it’s expected that the hybrid versions will also share an identical drivetrain. While there’s no news on the specific details of the new hybrid drivetrain, it’s expected to be the same unit that works in the A-Class A250e plug-in hybrid. The A250e is powered by a 1.3-litre petrol engine that works in conjunction with an electric motor to produce a total power output of 215bhp and 450Nm of torque. In the A-Class, it’s quite quick too – 0 to 100km/h only takes 6.6 seconds (claimed).”
Affordable Quality: A Legacy Reputation
Though these new vehicles may be more affordable, because they’re Mercedes, they don’t skimp on quality. As anybody who does Mercedes repair for a living knows, the European car manufacturer has a reputation to maintain. And maintain it they do.
Here’s the breakdown of the battery and acceleration power. CarScoops reports:
“With the 15.6 kWh battery fully charged, they’re expected to have a zero-emission driving range of around 50-60 km (31-37 miles). Mounted beneath the rear seats, the battery supports fast charging, taking roughly 25 minutes to charge from 10 to 80 percent, while 0-100 percent is achieved in 1 hour and 45 minutes at a 7.4 kW wallbox.
“The GLA and CLA plug-in hybrids should be able to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in under 7 seconds, seeing as the A250e hatchback can do it in 6.6 seconds and the sedan is 0.1 seconds slower. Top speed should be around 240-250 km/h (149-155 mph).”
That kind of power is just what we’d expect from Mercedes. We’ve been doing car repair at our shop in Cincinnati to know that Mercedes is a quality car. It’s great news they are becoming more affordable, because we all deserve to drive one and share in that greatness.
