The Canadian wilderness of Calgary provided the backdrop for a high-octane showdown between the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45, BMW M2, and Porsche 718 Cayman GT4. Beyond drag racing, these performance titans were put through their paces in slalom and braking challenges.
The Mercedes emerged victorious in drag racing and braking, showcasing its raw power and stopping ability. The BMW proved its mettle in the slalom, demonstrating superior agility. Unfortunately, the Porsche struggled to keep up, finishing last in every event. While specific performance figures were absent, the results paint a clear picture of these vehicles’ strengths and weaknesses.
The compact luxury performance segment is fiercely competitive, with several high-powered contenders vying for attention. The outgoing 2023 AMG CLA 45, with its handcrafted 2.0-liter turbocharged engine producing 382 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque, marked a potent farewell to the model.
Its successor, the 2024 AMG CLA 45 S, ups the ante with 416 horsepower and 369 lb-ft, promising even quicker acceleration. For a more budget-conscious option, the 2025 AMG CLA 35 offers a hybrid-assisted 2.0-liter engine generating 302 horsepower and 295 lb-ft.
Challenging these Mercedes models is the Porsche GT4, equipped with a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six engine delivering 414 horsepower and 309 lb-ft. Finally, the BMW M2 presents itself with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six producing 453 horsepower (473 in the 2025 model) and 406 lb-ft of torque.
