On October 29, it was reported that the third-generation Mercedes-Benz CLA will use a 2.0T four-cylinder engine manufactured by Geely and Horse. The latter, more formally known as Horse Powertrain Limited, was created on May 31, 2024, as a 50:50 owned company between Geely and Renault.
The engine’s output is claimed to be 250 horsepower (186 kW) and a maximum torque of 360 Nm. Previous reports indicated that the internal combustion engine to be used in the CLA was being engineered and developed in partnership between Mercedes-Benz and Geely. It should be noted that Geely, through its CEO Li Shufu, owns about 10% of Mercedes-Benz and also has a joint venture with the company to produce Smart brand EVs.
Although the engine is being produced in China, the catalytic converter will be installed in Germany to meet emission regulations. Earlier reports indicated that the engine would be part of a 48V mild-hybrid system using a gearbox-mounted integrated starter motor.
The new CLA will be built on the MMA architecture and will feature mild-hybrid and all-electric powertrains. Reports indicate that there will not be a plug-in hybrid option.
It should be noted that the engine from Geely will not be the only Chinese technology used in the CLA. Reports earlier this year indicated that the CLA features a high-level intelligent driving solution from Chinese startup Momenta. This will mean that the CLA is the first Mercedes-Benz to have an urban assisted driving capability. Momenta was founded in 2016, and Mercedes-Benz was an early investor in the company, participating in the Series B funding round in 2017.
All-electric versions of the CLA are expected to feature a 175 kW rear mounted electric motor and have a 89.6 kWh battery pack, with a range of up to 750 km (WLTC) giving an energy consumption of only 12 kWh per 100 km. The MMA platform will have an 800V architecture and will be able to increase its range by 400 km after 15 minutes of charging.
The all-new CLA is expected to debut in 2025, although the mild-hybrid version may not go on sale until 2026.
Source: Fast Technology
