SPIED: Mercedes-AMG's 550-HP CLA Shooting Brake Will Torment Its Tires

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SPIED: Mercedes-AMG's 550-HP CLA Shooting Brake Will Torment Its Tires originally appeared on Autoblog.

Wagons Are Becoming Popular Again, And AMG Is Watching

There's no doubt that the vast majority of retail car buyers choose crossovers or SUVs, but not everyone seeking practicality wants a raised ride height, and some automakers are satisfying their desires with new wagons. Mercedes is one of them, preparing a new take on its CLA Shooting Brake, and new spy shots from our photographers in Europe suggest that the AMG variant will be quite the beast.

We'll get into the design momentarily, but first, take a look at the tires - our spies say the rubber on this AMG CLA prototype only had "a few" fast laps of the Nürburgring, yet the tread is heavily worn. The sidewalls also appear to have taken some abuse. This indicates either too much weight, an unrefined stability control system delivering too much power in low-traction scenarios, or both.

Electric AMG Will Burn All Four Tires

SH Proshots/Autoblog
SH Proshots/Autoblog

View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article

The BMW M2 CS, currently the fastest compact car on the Nürburgring, delivers 523 horsepower from its twin-turbocharged straight-six. Being a heavier electric car than any M2 or RS 3, the AMG CLA EQ will reportedly get as much as 550 hp, shared across front and rear axles. These specifications are yet to be confirmed, but they sound right for a high-performance EV.

Like the sedan our spies shot last month, the AMG wagon is getting an adaptive rear spoiler, here situated at the top of the tailgate. This is expected to be manually operable, potentially allowing owners to show off by deploying the spoiler even when parked. Mismatched wheels front and rear are not unsuaul for a prototype, but it's worth noting that the front design looks specific to electric AMGs with its flat-faced rim borders.

Potential For Drifting Seems High

SH Proshots/Autoblog
SH Proshots/Autoblog

View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article

The last update we got from our spies said that the electric motor on the front axle would be idle in most scenarios to maximize range, likely disconnecting at highway speeds and in certain modes. Total range is expected to be over 430 miles, but those who buy a car with an AMG badge may have other priorities, and we suspect that there will be a mode to enable drifting. After all, previous CLA and A-Class cars from the AMG division have had the ability.

Hopefully, we'll get confirmation on these details and more soon; production bodywork suggests the CLA AMG EQ will be revealed by the end of the year. Whether the shooting brake will be available in the U.S. remains to be seen, but the non-AMG CLA Shooting Brake has already been revealed, following the launch of the sedan in March.

SH Proshots/Autoblog
SH Proshots/Autoblog

View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article

SPIED: Mercedes-AMG's 550-HP CLA Shooting Brake Will Torment Its Tires first appeared on Autoblog on Jul 28, 2025

This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jul 28, 2025, where it first appeared.

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