Mercedes-Benz GLA45 AMG caught track testing
Tue, 20 Aug 2013
Last week's reveal of the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class wasn't a huge shock. We knew the crossover, which shares its platform with the CLA sedan, was coming, and we had suspicions it'd show up online before its official debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show. We also knew, because we're talking about Mercedes, that there'd eventually be a hot AMG variant. Much like your friend that enjoys a bit too much Red Bull, Mercedes feels the need to take all of its vehicles up to 11, offering AMG variants of virtually everything it makes.
The new GLA will be no different, as evidenced by this disguised AMG model circling the Nürburgring. Let's ignore the cladding and camouflage for the time being, and focus on what we think we know. The crossover will likely carry the GLA45 designation, and be powered by the same 2.0-liter, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine found in the CLA45 AMG. Expect 4Matic all-wheel drive and the seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission to be donated from the GLA's sedan counterpart. Power should be similar, with around 360 ponies on tap.
As for all that cladding and camo, expect the normal batch of AMG aesthetic and aerodynamic enhancements, along with a set of meaty wheels, as seen on this tester. This is corroborated by our spies, who report that bigger intakes can be seen up front as well as quad exhausts and a diffuser in back. Those AMG wheels are also shielding uprated brakes.
We'll have more on the GLA45 AMG as it becomes available. As it's looking quite far along, though, we're gambling that it will debut before the end of 2014, but no earlier than the next Geneva Motor Show.
By Brandon Turkus