- The Mercedes-Benz CLA EV model broke the record set by the Porsche Taycan
- Mercedes drove the CLA EV 2,309 miles in 24 hours around the Nardo test track
- The Mercedes CLA EV could be the most efficient EV sold in the US
Records are meant to be broken, and Mercedes-Benz recently upset one set by Porsche.
In April, Mercedes-Benz quietly took the CLA-Class prototype to the Nardo test track to see how many miles it could drive in 24 hours. The answer ended with 2,309 miles, which set a new record.
2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA EV prototype sets a distance record at Nardo
Under what was internally codenamed Project N—the N stands for Nardo—the team took two electric production CLAs close to production and aimed to set a record. The Porsche set the previous record of 2,128 miles back in 2019 and Taycan.
Everything took 40 charging breakseach break lasts about 10 minutes. The 2026 CLA can add 186 miles of range, or about 36 kwh to its 85-kwh battery, in 10 minutes, according to Mercedes, when started from a 10% state of charge. The automaker said 10 minutes should bring the pack to 50%.
2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA EV prototype sets a distance record at Nardo
That fast charging is enabled in part by CLAs 800-volt electrical structurejust like the Taycan does.
The record-breaking electric CLA started at 100% of the cost and the team developed a real-time charging strategy to take into account air temperature and environmental factors such as wind. The team also had to take into account the fact that the charger was somewhere on the track, so the stops were scheduled, and the charging status of the car connected to it was inconsistent.
Mercedes said the ambient air temperature ranges from 55.4 degrees Fahrenheit at night to 84.2 degrees during the day.
2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA EV prototype sets a distance record at Nardo
The average speed of the vehicle during the test he was 96.2 mph with a top car speed of 130 mph achieved during the session.
The team had six drivers and three shift changes with the rear-wheel drive CLA EV. A single 200-kw permanently attached engine sent 268 hp to the rear wheels. Its engine's 2-speed automatic transmission helps with efficiency, according to Mercedes.
The Porsche Taycan is not the most efficient EV on the market. That difference is managed by Lucid Air with its 5.0 mi/kwh rating. But the Taycan consistently outperforms and over-delivers above and beyond its EPA ratings in real-world driving, which can be attributed in part to its 2-speed transmission. Maybe Porsche was on to something with the high second drive ratio. Mercedes claims an efficiency figure of 5.2 mi/kwh for the CLA EV, although it hasn't been made official yet. If the Mercedes team achieves that kind of efficiency, it could be thanks to the 2-speed transmission, and announce a new efficiency king when the 2026 CLA EV arrives later in 2025.
Mercedes-Benz paid for travel and accommodation and some German pretzels through Green Car Reports to bring you this report in person.