By Staff Reporter

There is no rest in Affalterbach and expect that to be the case for the next 12 months as the brand tries to reclaim the title of most high-performance cars sold from BMW’s M-Division which pipped the German turner to the title in 2019. The latest Benz to get touched by AMG is the AMG GLA 45 which gets a whopping 285 kW (310 kW on the GLA 45s).

Exterior looks and Interior

In terms of looks, the GLA 45 is distinguishable from the rest of the range with a panamericana AMG grille that features vertical strakes. The stance of the GLA 45 appears wide thanks to flared fenders, strong shoulder lines, larger roof spoiler and wheels that range from 19-inc (standard) to 12-inch. LED lights are standard and the back look is finished off with tasteful two 3.2-inch exhaust pipes.

Inside, the two screens housing the infotainment and instrument cluster feature prominently. So does AMG lettering and an AMG steering wheel adorned in nappa leather. You will also not miss the carbon fiber finish on the passenger side of the dash as well as the black piano finish on the center console. You can also choose between the three AMG display styles “Classic”, “Sport” and “Supersport” for the instrument cluster and added ambience. For comfort and more performance orientated driving, front seats with larger bolsters come as standard but AMG Performance sports seats are optional. Yellow highlights feature throughout the interior on the S-Model, emphasizing the motor racing character of the more powerful models.

Engine and power

The GLA 45 draws power from an M139 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine which is found in the A45 and CLA 45. The four potter mill kicks out 285 kW of power and 480 Nm of torque and is paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission that sends power to all for wheels via Merc’s 4Matic + all-wheel drive system, is capable of sending the GLA 45 from standstill to 100 km/h in just 4.4 (4.3 on the GLA 45s) seconds before reaching a governed top speed of 250 km/h (270 km/h in the GLA 45s). Combined fuel consumption sits at a claimed 9.2-9.1 l/100 km (9.3-9.2 l/100 km for GLA 45s)

Local availability is yet to be announced.