India-bound Mercedes-Benz GLA 45 AMG spied inside out

- The standard GLA is expected to break cover in coming weeks 

- GLA 45 will be powered by AMG’s most powerful four-cylinder engine 

Mercedes-AMG was recently caught testing a test mule of the upcoming GLA 45 in rain-drenched Southern Germany ahead of the official debut of the standard GLA. The standard GLA is expected to break cover in the coming few weeks before the end of this year. We may or may not see the AMG version alongside it at the official debut.  

The performance variant was hiding some aggressive styling and was sitting on the chunky 20-inch AMG alloy wheels. Interestingly, the images of the cabin revealed all the production-ready bits including Alcantara leather upholstery and sports seats. On the exterior, the AMG guise is hiding the aggressive Panamericana grille under the camo along with larger air intakes on the front bumper. Other equipment and features might be scrounged directly from the new-gen A45 AMG hatchback.  

Powering the new GLA45 will be Mercedes’ most powerful mass-produced four-cylinder petrol engine. This engine also does duty in the hot hatch where it puts out 415bhp and 500Nm in the S guise. There’s a 380bhp/480Nm version as well without the S suffix and that might also be seen in the baby SUV. The 45 AMG sends the power to all four wheels channelled through an eight-speed automatic gearbox.  

There’s no official word about the reveal date of the new GLA or its potent AMG versions. However, we don’t expect Mercedes-Benz to delay the souped-up version of the GLA once it breaks cover in a few weeks' time. It will be joined by a 35AMG variant as well.