What's the point of taking a hatchback, raising it up to make it a crossover and then slamming it back down to make it a sportscar of sorts! It sounds like a crazy idea to begin with, but Mercedes has pulled it off and we applaud the end result without any hesitation.
This is the hotly anticipated GLA 45 AMG, revealed today after Mercedes had teased us with a concept version in Los Angeles last year. It's got the same engine and drivetrain as its sister models, the A 45 AMG and CLA 45 AMG, the M133 2-liter turbo making 360 hp and 450 Nm of torque, sent to all four wheels via Haldex all-wheel drive and a quick AMG Speedshift double-clutch box with seven speeds.
The GLA 45 AMG is not as sporty as the A45, taking 4.8 seconds to reach 100 km/h while the hatch needs only 4.6. However, it's much faster than its only rival, the Audi RS Q3, which requires 5.5 seconds to reach the same speed, despite having a bigger engine.
While taller cars can't be as sporty as lower ones, the GLA is the the 45 AMG model we'd go for due to its big boot, its more commanding driving position and capability to mount a speed hump with ease.
Only thing that's missing is a price tag, which is sure to come out after the GLA 45 AMG makes its official debut at the Detroit Auto Show.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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