Mercedes GLA45 AMG revealed

A new year starts with a new AMG, the GLA45 ready to battle the RS Q3 and Macan Turbo

The decals have gone! Mercedes has revealed the production GLA45 AMG prior to Detroit and, thankfully, it does without the gaudy add-ons of the Concept version as standard. We’ll come to the optional extras shortly...

'Fascinating note' promised from those pipes

However, as a small sporting SUV it looks pretty good, don’t you think? Similarly to the A45 and CLA45 with which it shares so much, the flagship GLA isn’t markedly different to the standard car in appearance. The front features bigger intakes, a more prominent front splitter and a so-small-you-may-miss-it badge in the radiator grille. A bit like BMW does in fact.

The standard wheels are 19-inch; the car shown here features optional 10-spoke 20s direct ‘from the AMG Performance Studio’. A set of ‘Turbo AMG’ badges sit proudly on the wings, and the aluminium roof rails are standard. From behind, the GLA45 is distinguished by a ‘diffuser insert’ and a pair of chrome-plated exhaust pipes.

That exhaust promises a ‘fascinating note’, with an optional AMG Performance system offering customers ‘an even more appealing and distinctive engine sound’. If it’s anything like the rather boisterous A45, the standard pipes should be anti social enough.

Interior carried over from the A45 hatch

The engine and seven-speed Speedshift gearbox are carried over as well. In the GLA45, the 360hp and 332lb ft hurl it to 62mph in 4.8 seconds and a limited 155mph. CO2 is rated at 175g/km and it offers 37.6mpg combined. Mercedes hasn’t thought to include a kerbweight in its stats, but we’d have to assume it is carrying a few extra kilos over the 1,555kg A45.

The inside of the GLA is similar to the outside; like an A45, but a bit higher up. So there are the same sports seats, leather wheel and trio of air vents across the dash. It’s a good cabin in the hatch, and works well here too.

But then there are the options to consider. For the interior, Mercedes is offering a Performance wheel and seats (all the better to hear the Performance exhaust from), some different upholstery colours and additional carbon trim. There’s a wealth of extra carbon available for outside too, including mirror caps, side sills and the rear apron. The spoiler and red calipers seen on the GLA45 concept will also be offered.

Spot the 'Turbo AMG' badge

Perhaps the most relevant PH option is the AMG performance suspension upgrade. As standard, the GLA45 gets stiffer steering knuckles than standard, a newly developed rear axle, thicker anti-roll bars and unique springs and dampers. For those wanting an extra edge (possibly brave given the A45’s uncompromising ride), the AMG option further stiffens the springs and dampers.

The GLA will be the fifth Mercedes AMG SUV after the ML63, GL63, G63 and G65 as ‘meeting a wide variety of customer desires had always been one of the strengths of Mercedes-AMG’. But of course. And with the demand for compact SUVs showing no signs of abating, the GLA 45 will surely prove popular. How it will fare against the RS Q3 and Macan Turbo is something we’ll find out later in 2014.

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tyrrell

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