Tuesday, January 07, 2014

Mercedes Benz GLA45 AMG Previewed


The Mercedes Benz GLA45 AMG has been revealed by Mercedes Benz AMG. This folks is an A45 SUV in not so many words. It'll be Mercedes Benz's competitor against the also newly launched Porsche Macan mini-SUV and Audi's RS Q3.

Stats? 360bhp, 436Nm torque. The 1,991cc turbocharged unit can accelerate the all-wheel drive mini SUV from a standstill to 100km/h in 4.8sec. The top speed is electronically limited to 250km/h. It has a combined fuel consumption of 37.6mpg, with CO2 emissions of 175g/km.



The GLA class suspension features revised spring and damper units as well as stiffer anti-roll bars in this GLA45 format. Quite surprisingly, there will be an AMG performance suspension with firmer spring and damper tuning is available as an option. Why surprisingly? Well, the A-class chassis is already firmly sprung in the first place and I suppose only hard core track-day enthusiasts would opt for something harder than the already uprated AMG 'base' setup in the first place. But why would anyone want to uprate a mini SUV for track-days is beyond me too. I suppose sometimes if you have money logic gets thrown out the window.

Anyway, nice mini SUV, especially with the optional 10-spoke 20s direct ‘from the AMG Performance Studio’ shown in the media photos. Standard GLA45s will run on 19 inch wheels. Sales over in the UK starts in June.


Expect sales in Malaysia to start a long way from now as Mercedes Benz Malaysia still owes us the launch of the new W222 Mercedes Benz S-class, the new CLA Class (the sedan variant of this GLA) and its CLA45 performance brethren. (I've seen the new W222 S-class and the new CLA200 over in Singapore recently. Both cars are unique to look at and are really cars to look out for when Mercedes Benz launch it over here shortly. Can't wait). The GLA45 and the standard GLA may come in right after the launch of the new W205 C-class, or before it. Who knows....we're still short of a whole bunch of new Mercedes.


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