Skip to main content

Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG goes Black – well, in the digital realm at least

mercedes benz cla 45 amg goes black in the digital realm edition 4
The rendering of the CLA 45 AMG Black makes us wish we had invested more wisely. Image used with permission by copyright holder

The beauty about a conceptual rendering is just that: it’s a conceptual rendering. This means it gives car enthusiasts flexibility in coming up with some very cool ideas.

Take for example Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG as Black Series edition sports saloon, pictured above, done by digital designer Anton Gjorsev. 

Recommended Videos

Featuring some of the same distinctive design elements as existing cars, but touting the Black edition badge like the C63 AMG Black Series, the digital concept features a CLA AMG with all the visual extras we love about the exclusive AMG Black breed. Gjorsev gave his vision of a CLA Black flared wheels and an aggressive front fascia that gives the car a much more menacing look.   

Of course, we can only speculate if Mercedes-Benz will ever allow AMG to build a CLA Black. Rumors have been running high that it might, though – especially in light of the debut of the new CLA 45 AMG Racing Series Concept. The stripped down racer debuted at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show and is intended to showcase the potential engineering and technical enhancements that can be added to the car.  

The CLA 45 AMG concept is equipped with a turbocharged, 360-horsepower AMG 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which is mated to an AMG Speedshift DCT seven-speed sports transmission.

One thing’s for certain: we do know a higher-performance version of the base CLA 45 would be a welcomed addition to the Black Series lineup. It would be especially welcomed by those of us who are still a few investments shy of being able to afford the $275,000 SL 65 AMG in the Black.

(Images courtesy of Car Scoops)

Marcus Amick
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Marcus Amick has been writing about the world of cars for more than ten years and has covered everything from new automobiles…
Tesla’s ‘Model Q’ to arrive in 2025 at a price under $30K, Deutsche Bank says
teslas model q to arrive in 2025 at a price under 30k deutsche bank says y range desktop lhd v2

Only a short month and half ago, Tesla CEO Elon Musk told investors that outside of the just-released driverless robotaxi, a regular Tesla model priced at $25,000 would be “pointless” and “silly”.

"It would be completely at odds with what we believe,” Musk said.

Read more
It looks like the end of the road for Cruise robotaxis
A Cruise autonomous car.

Autonomous-driving operations at Cruise look certain to end after its main backer, General Motors (GM), said it will stop funding the initiative.

GM, which has owned about 90% of Cruise since 2016, announced the decision in a statement shared on Tuesday. It follows a challenging period for Cruise after one of its autonomous cars ran over a woman after she was knocked into its path by a human-driven car in San Francisco in October 2023. The incident led to California regulators suspending Cruise's license to test its driverless cars on the state's streets, a decision that prompted Cruise to pause operations in other locations where it operated. It restarted low-level testing in Arizona in May 2024.

Read more
Hyundai Ioniq 9 vs. Kia EV9: Electric SUV sisters battle it out
Hyundai Ioniq 9 driving

The long-awaited Hyundai Ioniq 9 is finally on its way. Hyundai has taken the wraps off a production-ready version of the electric SUV, showing a modern vehicle that could well be the electric SUV to beat when it finally rolls out to the public. But it will have to contend with Hyundai’s sister company in order to truly gain the title of best electric SUV in its price range. The Kia EV9 has been a go-to option for a few years now.

But is one of these SUVs actually better, or are they just different? We put the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and the Kia EV9 head to head to find out.
Design
There are some similarities in the designs of the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and the Kia EV9, but they also look a little different. First, the similarities. Both vehicles are clearly SUVs, with larger blocky shapes. But, while the Kia EV9 has straight lines and sharper angles, the Ioniq 9 is a little curvier, with a rounded roofline and sculpted curves in the side panels.

Read more