‘Hot’ Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 debuts with world's strongest I4

Mercedes has unveiled the second generation of the GLA 45 AMG in detail. Let us see what the newcomer has to offer.

The regular GLA 45 packs the company’s much-touted, industry-leading I4 2.0 engine churning out 387 horsepower (289 kilowatts). The S spec of the SUV boosts it even further to 421 hp (314 kW). Unlike the GLA 35 that debuted last December with only 306 hp (228 kW) under the hood, the 45 boasts a new AWD system with per-wheel torque control on the rear axle. The AMG Speedshift 8-G transmission stays the same.

The GLA 45 sprints 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 4.3 seconds, making it 0.7 s faster than the GLA 35, but hits the speed ceiling at 250 km/h (155 mph) like the rest of the lineup. The S version should prove even faster than that, but the specs aren’t here yet.

Mercedes claims that the new GLA 45 also performs better when cornering and rolls less. Normally, this would imply stiffer suspension, but the company claims the opposite is true. The new adaptive suspension has three operating modes and is advertised as being especially comfortable compared to the previous generation. Drivers can choose from seven available suspension presets, and opting for the AMG Dynamic Plus package adds the eighth mode called Racing.

Other than the points mentioned above, the range-topping SUV boasts new brakes, revised steering, special trim accents, and 19- or 21-inch wheels (your choice). Aerodynamic and Night packages are also available.

Actual shipments of the new Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 will begin towards the end of the year.