Mercedes-Benz used this weekend’s Munich Motor Show to preview a concept car that may become a production car sooner than most.

In press materials, Mercedes refers to the Concept CLA-Class as “a close-to-production insight into the upcoming family of vehicles that stands at the gateway to the brand.” But the company gives no hint as to when it could replace the CLA that currently serves as the entry-level Mercedes.

The Look: CLA, Plus EV

Visually, it’s clearly an evolution of that car. It bears similar proportions but the slightly-bulged look of electric Mercedes sedans like the EQS and EQE. A low-mounted false grille made up of lighted 3-pointed stars is the biggest hint that you’re looking at an all-electric model.

If it stays all-electric. Mercedes says the design “allows Mercedes-Benz to produce electric, hybrid and petrol models on the same production line and to scale the manufacturing of electric vehicles in line with market demand.” That could allow the company to hedge its bets and produce internal-combustion-powered models while waiting for electric infrastructure to catch up in some markets.

Three-pointed star daytime running lights sit under a long horizontal line of “very-low-energy” LED lighting. “A range of animated lighting scenarios by day and night deliver an even greater sense of emotion and dynamism. They also offer an added dimension of personalization for the driver, such as welcome and goodbye scenarios,” the company says.

A Massive Screen

Inside, the big news is the MBUX Superscreen. The almost door-to-door screen takes up most of the dashboard. It’s not unlike the Hyperscreen found in the EQS and EQE, but its appearance at the lower price point of the CLA would be something new.

The concept uses a headliner appointed with hundreds of 3-pointed stars – a detail that probably won’t make it to production.

But it’s easy enough to imagine toning down the look a bit to produce a production car.

Big Claims About Range, Charging Speed

Most headlines about the Concept CLA-Class, however, focus on its electric drivetrain.

Mercedes is making some eye-popping claims about what its next generation of electric power is capable of. The Concept CLA-Class, the company says, should earn a range rating of “more than 750 kilometers (466 miles)” in European testing. American tests tend to certify lower ranges, but numbers like that would still put the Tesla Model 3 to shame.

Perhaps more significantly, the Concept CLA-Class sits on an 800-Volt architecture, allowing it to charge much faster than current Tesla models if you can find a Level 3 fast charger capable of putting out energy fast enough.

Mercedes claims owners should be able to add “up to 400 kilometers (248 miles) in 15 minutes.” We should caution, however, that most EV owners do most of their charging at home, at slower Level 2 chargers.

Level 3 Automation Possible

Sharp-eyed readers may have also noticed another feature – a sensor bubble at the top of the windshield.

That, Mercedes says, houses the lidar and other sensors necessary for “best-in-class driver assistance.”

“These powerful sensors will enable customers to equip their vehicle with a wide range of SAE Level 2 features,” the company says.

SAE – formerly the Society of Automotive Engineers – uses a five-level system to describe efforts to develop self-driving cars. At Level 2, drivers can sometimes remove their hands from the wheel but not their attention from the task of driving. Most advanced automation systems currently for sale, like Tesla’s Full Self-Driving Capability and GM’s Super Cruise system, qualify as Level 2.

Mercedes, however, is the only automaker with legal permission to sell a Level 3 system anywhere in America. At Level 3, drivers can safely look away from the road and engage in other tasks for short periods. Mercedes sells a Level 3 system on some S-Class and EQS vehicles in Nevada and parts of California.

The company says the Concept CLA-Class “is generally ready for an SAE Level 3 system upgrade,” which could come to the car later.