Mon-Fri 9am to 5.30pm
Last week, at the Los Angeles International Auto Show, Mercedes-AMG showed off the Concept GLA 45 AMG, an idea for a brand new compact, high-performance SUV, powered by the most muscular four-cylinder engine in series production anywhere in the world – an AMG 2.0-litre turbocharged engine with an output of 360 hp and maximum torque of 450 nM.
So it’s aimed at a young crowd, hence the acceleration from 0-62 mph in under five seconds, and this is further exemplified by the addition of both an AMG 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system and an AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports transmission. The Sports kids will be very interested, as will those of an older age with a thirst for their youth!
AS you can see from the pictures here, the Concept GLA 45 AMG is not only a stunning piece of technical engineering, but also has the looks to turn heads – not easy in the SUV market. Painted black AMG forged wheels in a cross-spoke design with 255/35 R 21 tyres give it a presence on the road that can only be described as ‘muscular’, and add in the AMG wheel hub covers with centre lock-look, that’s a look that people are going to do twice, whether they really want to or not!
You’ll also see a "twin-blade" radiator grille in silver chrome, hi-gloss black inserts on the side sill panels, front wing lettering that reads "TURBO AMG", and a large rear aerofoil.
The rear view - taking into consideration that 0-62mph, this may be the first view that many people see of the car – loses the red and is dominated by the diffuser insert with black trim element and by the twin-tailpipe design of the two rectangular, high-gloss black tailpipe trims of the AMG sports exhaust system with exhaust flap.
Mercedes-AMG seem to have thought long and hard about who this motor will be aimed at and the personal preferences of that target market – and it may well be that with the Concept GLA 45 AMG they have got it right.