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NEWS
SPY PICS: Mercedes-Benz GLA 45 AMG
Stove-hot baby SUV set to shake up compact crossover segment is tipped for Frankfurt motor show unveilingMercedes-Benz’s burgeoning product portfolio is set to further expand with the launch of the GLA baby SUV that will take on the likes of the BMW X1/X2 and Audi Q3/Q4. It’s believed the vehicle will be unveiled at this September’s Frankfurt motor show.
Pictured alongside is the high-performance GLA 45 AMG variant, captured in prototype form by the eagle-eyed Carparazzi lenses.
Packing the same 258kW/450Nm 2.0-litre turbo four-pot as the AMG derivatives of the A-Class and CLA, it promises searing performance in a compact and practical package.
Going on the accompanying images, it’s clear the GLA’s tapered profile has far more in common with the A-Class than the bluff and boxy GLK, M-Class and GL that sit higher up in the Benz line-up.
The face appears to be adorned by essentially the same grille and headlights as the A-Class, but the front spoiler is unique to the GLA, affording greater ground clearance than that of its hatchback sibling.
The prototype captured here features two spindly tailpipes protruding from beneath the rear bumper, but we’d expect to see far more substantial exhaust tips on the final production version.
Underpinned by Merc’s MFA architecture (used by the A-Class and B-Class), the GLA is likely to be offered in both front-drive and all-wheel-drive formats, the latter equipped with a 4Matic Haldex clutch.
Specially tailored for transverse-mounted engines, the system integrates the power take-off unit (which sends power to the rear wheels) into the standard 7G Tronic automatic transmission housing, which allegedly brings packaging benefits as well as minimising drivetrain losses.
It’s believed the GLA’s new 4Matic system is also 25 per cent lighter than the set-ups used in the likes of the ML and GL.
Boosting efficiency, the electrohydraulic clutch can vary the torque distribution between the front and rear axles, as well as to each individual wheel.
In addition to the stove-hot GLA 45 AMG, the GLA line-up will comprise a range of less potent powertrains, including three petrol units (a 1.6, 2.0 and a 2.2) and a pair of diesels (a 1.6 or 2.2) in various states of tune.
Measuring just 4440mm from bumper to bumper, 1800mm wide and 1500mm tall, the GLA is more compact and sporty than its rivals, and this may be reflected in the baby SUV’s driving dynamics.
Time will tell...
– with Carparazzi
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Written byGautam Sharma
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