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Riding high on the sales record it set in 2013, Mercedes-Benz India is set to showcase a range of cars at the 2014 Delhi Auto Expo. Prominent among these will be the 2014 CLA45 AMG, which when launched, will be the most affordable AMG in the line-up. With the C63, E63, SLK55, G63 and SLS already being sold in India, Mercedes-Benz will eventually bring its entire AMG range here.
Talking about their plans for the Auto Expo, in a press release, Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director & CEO, Eberhard Kern said, “Auto Expo 2014 is a much awaited event in the Indian Automotive Industry and we are all set to bedazzle our customers with excellence. The Mercedes-Benz pavilion will be a perfect embodiment of modern luxury, high performance, innovative design and exemplary safety which are synonymous with our brand promise ‘Best or Nothing’.” Along with the CLA45, Mercedes-Benz also confirmed the inclusion of Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 car, the GLA concept and M Guard, an M based special edition SUV, in their display line-up at the Expo.
The CLA45 AMG is the pumped-up version of the CLA saloon and is based on the same platform as the A-Class and B-Class hatchbacks. The car shares many of its design cues with the A-Class like the floating dots grille, massively sculpted air intakes and a chin spoiler. AMG has reworked the suspension with stiffer springs and dampers. There are larger anti-roll bars and bigger brake discs. Propelling the car will be AMG’s most powerful four-cylinder motor, a 2.0-litre, direct-injection turbo-petrol. The engine will be mated to a SpeedShift DCT seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission and will produce 355bhp and 450Nm of torque. The car will also employ Mercedes’ 4Matic all-wheel-drive system.
Expected to be priced in the Rs 60-65 lakh range, the CLA45 will undercut the cheapest AMG car in India, the C63 AMG, by Rs 35 lakh. The car is expected to be launched later this year and will be followed by the regular CLA saloon.
