Mercedes-AMG is teasing something new. A performance car that it plans to debut tomorrow, but is hiding in some shadows even darker than the paint finish on the car in the image. We’re not quite sure what it is, but it appears that AMG will finally be launching its own version of the latest-generation CLA-Class, and it’s possible this will be an electric vehicle.
‘For The Thrill Seeker’ Drops Tomorrow
MB AMG CLA Shooting Brake spyCarBuzz/Valnet
In the Instagram post, Mercedes-AMG describes the new car as “born for the thrill seeker” and gives the July 9 reveal date. There’s little more to the post, but we already have some idea of what to expect.
Reports from early last year say that the AMG version of the electric CLA-Class will get 500 horsepower. It’s expected to have AMG’s axial flux motors, similar to the high-power and high-efficiency motors used in the AMG GT EV. Benz Chief Technical Officer Markus Schäfer has confirmed that. The existing gas model’s 2.0-liter four makes 416 hp, so the EV should mark a big upgrade.
Base Trim Engine
2L AMG I4 Hybrid
Base Trim Transmission
8-speed auto-shift manual
Base Trim Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
302 HP @5800 RPM
Base Trim Torque
295 lb.-ft. @ 3000 RPM
Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
22/29/25 MPG
Base Trim Battery Type
Lead acid battery
Infotainment & Features
9 /10
AMG is also planning to add fake engine sounds to boost driver engagement. The company is planning a variety of sounds, including a V8 version in a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N-like attempt to woo buyers who wanted gas engines not silent and violent electrics.
There could be up to four different AMG CLA models. AMG generally offers a mid and high-power version, in the case of the current gas car, the CLA 35 with 302 hp and the CLA 45 with 382. The higher-power cars also get more aggressive suspension calibrations. This time, there could be two new models for both the gas and electric-powered versions of the CLA, adding up to that four.
Expect The Typical AMG Upgrades
2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA Spy ShotCarBuzz/Valnet
AMG changes include more power, but they also include more brakes and better handling. The performance arm of Mercedes-Benz adds larger-diameter cross-drilled brake rotors and bigger calipers with more pistons for extra stopping power and fade resistance. The brakes need bigger AMG wheels, which wear stickier tires.
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There will also be some cosmetic changes to make sure you know you’re looking at the AMG model. The brand’s vertical-slat Panamericana-style grille for a start. Accompanied by larger vents in the nose for the appearance of aggressive intakes, and larger side skirts, to start. There will probably be similar changes at the back, including active aero, though without the extra vents. And, naturally, without the quad exhaust tips you expect from an AMG.
Currently, the most powerful electric CLA is the two-motor CLA 350, with more traditional radial flux motors making 349 hp total and 380 pound-feet of torque. That CLA weighs 4,700 pounds, so the AMG won’t exactly be a lightweight sports sedan no matter how powerful it is. The car does deliver an estimated 312-mile range per the EPA, and the AMG model could at least be in that ballpark, though it’s not likely to exceed it.
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AMG’s New 500-HP Sedan Is Almost Ready For Action
The faster take on the high-tech new CLA-Class has been spotted in nearly production-ready testing.
This is far from AMG’s first electric, but the company does have plenty coming out right now. The most recent was the 2027 Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door, which uses its electric motors to deliver 1,153 hp and incredible top speeds and range.
