Mercedes GLA 45 AMG: OFFICIAL

The Mercedes GLA 45 AMG – Mercedes hot A-Class SUV – will debut at the Detroit Auto Show next week before going on sale in the UK in June.

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After the arrival of the Mercedes A 45 AMG – and its swoopy coupe sibling CLA 45 AMG – it was always more than likely that Mercedes would launch a GLA 45 AMG, and we saw the first evidence of that with the debut of the Mercedes GLA 45 AMG Concept at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

But now, Mercedes has the production version of the GLA 45 AMG ready to go and we get the first photos and details ahead of its debut at the Detroit Auto Show next month.

Powered by the same 355bhp 2.0 litre turbo as the A 45 AMG and CLA 45 AMG, the GLA 45 AMG manages to get to 62mph in 4.8 seconds (0.2 slower than the A 45 and CLA 45) and manages official economy fo 37.6mpg and 175g/km (but not in the real world).

The GLA 45 AMG also gets stiffer sports suspension – and sits lower – with beefier brakes, thicker anti-roll bars and tweaked steering. all designed to make the higher-riding GLA handle properly.

Cosmetically, the GLA 45 gets an AMG front grill, butch bumpers, sports seats, 19″ alloys, ‘Turbo AMG’ badging and AMG instruments.

You’ll also be able to spend a chunk more than the expected price of around £45,000 by opting for stuff like go-faster decals (like the Concept), carbon fibre back wing, carbon fibre vanes on the front bumper, Red Calipers, a Night Package (which swaps chrome trim for black) and a carbon fibre interior pack.

The Mercedes GLA 45 AMG debuts at the Detroit Auto Show next week and goes on sale in the UK in June 2014.