The LA Motor Show is now in full swing in the US and Mercedes-AMG is just one of the manufacturers hoping to cause a stir with its brand new designs. The latest high-performance concept is an SUV, with Mercedes looking to broaden the power and scope it can provide consumers.
In particular, Mercedes-AMG has been boasting the power of the vehicle, with the four-cylinder engine supposed to be the ‘most muscular’ of any currently in series production anywhere in the world.
The 2.0-litre turbocharged engine comes with an output of 360hp, delivering torque of a magnificent 450 newton metres. Furthermore, it delivers unrivalled performance as well as low fuel consumption, the manufacturer has claimed.
So how does all this power translate to speed? Mercedes has said the car can achieve 62 mph from standing in just under five seconds, putting it in the ballpark of other sports performance vehicles. All this speed in an SUV-based vehicle is really quite staggering.
It is features like this that are hoping to catch the attention of a more youthful demographic. Mercedes-AMG says its customers are looking for a car that features styling, dynamism, and independence, and that’s what the concept GLA 45 AMG represents.
Tobias Moers, chairman of the board of management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH, said the car is setting itself firmly in the market of compact SUVs – an environment where the competition is becoming more fierce.
“The most powerful four-cylinder engine in the world and the AMG Performance 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system add up to make the Concept GLA 45 AMG a unique proposition,” he added.
The target audience has been catered to with the energetic aesthetic. The press pictures demonstrate a car that screams racing car, rather than sensible, reliable SUV.
Achieved with graphic stylings that mimic sports car design, with its own number 45 adorned on the side. A rear wind above the boot also accentuates the quick and fun image, all the while giving it that little bit of edge.
Twin tailpipes also make the idea of power even more prominent, with the GLA 45 AMG looking primed and ready to leave the starting blocks in super-quick time.
Matt black finish and a red rim flange are also incorporated into the design signature to command attention from passers by. If they don’t, the red brake calipers seem through the AMG wheel hub covers certainly will.
In order to increase performance further, the concept is equipped with the combination of AMG 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system and an AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports transmission.
The SUV market is certainly a hot-one to enter, but will the new Mercedes-AMG really cut the mustard?
If the car performs as well as it looks, it could really be a market player. It provides an athletic, more fun alternative to other SUV models such as the G-Class Cross-Country, the GL-Class and the M-Class, which could open Mercedes-AMG to a whole new customer base.
However, is the model a little too juvenile for it to transcend the age boundary quite so effortlessly?
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