Mercedes-Benz has confirmed the launch of its compact luxury GLA SUV in India on 30th September and now reports suggest that the company will also launch its Affalterbach tuned performance version, the GLA45 AMG on the same day. The GLA45 AMG will be the German automaker’s most affordable performance SUV in the country and shares its underpinnings with the regular GLA with both the models being based on the new Modular Front Architecture (MFA) platform. The powerplant on the other hand comes from the CLA45 AMG that was launched few weeks earlier.
Differentiating the super fast GLA45 AMG from the regular GLA SUV is the addition of sporty AMG parts and body kits throughout the SUV. You get a new bumper at the front and rear, lowered suspension and sporty new tyres, while inside the cabin; the AMG pack adds a new AMG steering wheel, sports seats and carbon accents to complete the performance look. Under the hood, the GLA45 AMG draws power from the 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that produces 360 PS and 450 Nm of torque, paired to an AMG SPEEDSHIFT 7-speed transmission, while power is sent to all four wheels via the 4MATIC all-wheel drive system.
Despite being an SUV, the Mercedes GLA45 AMG can put even some performance sedans to shame with a 0-100 km/hr time of just 4.8 seconds and the top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/hr. The GLA45 AMG will be a major brand builder for Mercedes in the country, especially with the company’s concentration towards bringing performance products. The automaker also opened AMG Performance centres across the country this year to groom the performance car culture in the country. The SUV will also be the company’s last AMG launch this year and will be brought in via the CBU route with an expected price of around Rs. 75 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi).
