The new Mercedes-Benz CLA will be revealed in the coming months with the choice of two battery-electric powertrains or an all-new petrol engine that promises diesel levels of efficiency.
The first car on Mercedes' new MMA platform has been engineered as an EV first, with heavy technical and design influence from the record-breaking EQXX concept. But in recognition that "the wishes and mobility needs of customers in different regions determined the pace" of the switch to EVs, it will also be offered with a bespoke mild-hybrid powertrain engineered with a stringent focus on efficiency.
Inside Mercedes' new diesel-baiting petrol MHEV
The CLA's new 'M252' 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine has been designed to be as small as possible, because MMA is an EV-native architecture so it has to take up not much more space than the electric car's front motor. It is, though, described as modular in its construction and the general design can be scaled up for larger applications.
The cylinders are positioned as close together as possible to keep the block compact, the exhaust manifolds are housed within the cylinder head itself rather than outside it, and the gearbox, electric motor and inverter are all integrated into one tightly formed unit.
All in, the motor is said to be smaller in every dimension and 17% lighter than Mercedes' current four-cylinder engine.
A four-pot was chosen over a triple because of the heightened refinement offered by an even number of cylinders. A comprehensive array of insulation measures, including foams and covers, have been installed to further keep unwanted noise and vibration to a minimum.
The engine will send 134bhp or 161bhp through the front axle, or 188bhp to both ends in the range-topping CLA 4Matic – which, Mercedes notes, is a "considerable output per litre".
Indeed, this will be among the most potent engines of its size. For reference, the same-sized four-pot in the Mini Cooper C produces 154bhp, and the 1.5 in the Volkswagen Golf is capped at a 148bhp maximum.
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Hope they put a decent head gasket on it with those cylinders being so close together. I'm also assuming it has a turbo give the power outputs. Interesting that the Japanese seem to favour naturally aspirated hybrids with the electric motor making up for the lack of torque.
If you can squeeze 55-60mph out of four pot ,other than being a bit of a pollution, if's a choice thing.
It would be good if they put the small hybrid on the diesel. Enough electric for most town use so no dpf issues and diesel efficency for longer trips.
A diesel will always be 30% more efficent than petrol in a like for like situation.
But then it's 30% more to begin with, more unrealiable, noiser, heavier, more poluting, rougher and the fuel is more expensive.
Sorry not 30% but around 2k to 3k more expensive in this sector.
All combustion engines are chronically inefficient in real-world use. About 20% efficient. Which means 80% of the fuel you buy is wasted. That's why fuel is priced in litres but measured in Mpg. The fossil industry is trying to confuse you.
LOL.
The litres/MPG confusion is the result of EU rules and regulations. Something, I suspect, you're very fond of.