Mercedes-Benz is rebooting its CLA sedan with a bold new strategy, offering electric, hybrid, and gas-powered versions of the vehicle, all built on the company's new MMA platform. This move marks a significant shift in the automaker's electrification plans, which have faced challenges in recent years.

The company's electric vehicles, including the EQS, EQE, and EQB, have not performed as well as expected, leading Mercedes-Benz to scale back its ambitions. However, the company is not giving up on its EV plans, and instead, is taking a more nuanced approach. As Mercedes-Benz Group CEO Ola Källenius stated, "The clock starts again" on the company's EV plans, with the new MMA platform at the forefront.

The MMA platform is an "electric-first" platform, meaning that it was designed with electric vehicles in mind from the outset. This approach is a departure from the traditional method of introducing a new platform as an internal combustion engine vehicle and then adapting it for electric vehicles. The CLA will debut as an electric vehicle first, followed by hybrid and gas-powered versions in 2026.

The new CLA boasts impressive range and advanced tech features. The electric version will come with two battery options, a 58.4 kWh version and a larger 85.5 kWh battery, with the US market receiving only the larger battery. This will give the CLA an estimated range of 792 km (492 miles) based on the WLTP standards, making it a competitive player in the long-range EV market.

The vehicle also features a unique brake-by-wire setup called OneBox, which calculates the right amount of braking power and recuperation to maximize efficiency. Additionally, the 800-volt architecture enables ultra-fast charging, adding 300 km (186 miles) of range in just 10 minutes.

Mercedes-Benz is also launching a new software stack called MB.OS, which will power the infotainment MBUX system. This new system offers an "AI-enhanced" user experience, connecting to the cloud to enable over-the-air updates for various features, including driver assistance and semi-autonomous driving. The CLA will feature "Level 2 ++" driving, nearing Level 3 autonomy, with the option for customers to purchase or "unlock" these ADAS features as an upgrade after purchase.

The new CLA also boasts an impressive interior, with Mercedes' Superscreen stretching from pillar to pillar in the front. The vehicle features a 10.25-inch gauge cluster, a 14-inch center display, and an optional 14-inch screen for passengers. This passenger screen can play movies from platforms like YouTube and RideVu by Sony, and is not viewable from the driver's position to minimize distractions.

The vehicle's AI system, powered by Google Gemini, can determine a driver's mood and adjust the lighting accordingly, as well as assist with tasks like finding parking. The system uses OpenAI's GPT-4o model, Microsoft's Azure, and Bing, and will remember previous conversations and recall context.

Mercedes-Benz will launch the electric CLA first in China and Europe, with the US launch scheduled for the fall. The 1.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid ICE version will debut in 2026. While pricing has not been announced, it is likely that the new CLA will be priced above the old $30,000 marker, given the current economic environment.

The success of the new CLA will be closely watched, as it marks a significant shift in Mercedes-Benz's electrification strategy. With increased hostility toward EVs in the US and an administration determined to roll back EV benefits, the company's ability to adapt and innovate will be crucial in the competitive luxury sedan market.