COMPUTING POWER

The CLA 250+ is more computer than car. Is that a good thing?

- By Kurt Morris Photographs Amit Naik

There's been endless talk about Al taking over our lives.

From language models on laptops to voice assistants on phones, artificial intelligence has slipped quietly into everyday routines. In cars, though, genuine Al integration has largely remained theoretical — something promised rather than experienced.

After spending time with the new Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ in Bengaluru, India's Silicon Valley, that finally seems to be changing. This is the first car I've driven that genuinely feels built around the AI future we've been hearing about.

Bengaluru is an appropriate setting for the launch. The CLA is effectively a rolling technology platform wrapped in a sleek coupe-like body. Before we get into range, performance or ride comfort, the conversation has to start with computing power.

The CLA is the first Mercedes-Benz model to feature Nvidia's Orin system-on-chip, capable of delivering up to 508 trillion operations per second. That's supercomputer territory. And it's sitting inside what appears, at first glance, to be a stylish compact luxury sedan.

This processing backbone runs everything from driver-assistance systems and battery management to AI assistants and the car's connected digital ecosystem. The CLA also marks the beginning of Mercedes' next technological phase. It's the first of 40 upcoming models built on the brand's new-generation modular electric architecture.

The centrepiece of the cabin is a 14-inch touchscreen running Mercedes' latest operating system. It integrates services like ChatGPT, Gemini and Microsoft Bing, and the interface feels quick and fluid rather than overcomplicated.