Yahoo Autos 2018 Mercedes-AMG GLA45: Here It Is
Back in the 1980s, Mercedes tuner AMG became well-known for offering wickedly fast versions of the E-Class that more-or-less maintained the car's subtle looks. AMG will still sell you a sleeper E-Class, but it also offers cars on the opposite end of the spectrum. The–deep breath–Mercedes-AMG GLA45 equipped with AMG Performance Studio Package is nothing like the old AMG E-Class in a glorious way.
And yes, that's its full name.
This black-and-yellow mega hatch comes as part of Mercedes' facelift of the GLA for the 2018 model year. Other than the crazy paint scheme on this particular model, the changes for the GLA are fairly subtle.
Mechanically, the 2018 GLA250 and GLA45 are almost identical to their predecessors. The GLA250 now gets an optional off-road suspension that raises ride height by 20mm, while the GLA45 gets shorter ratios for gears three through seven in its dual-clutch transmission.
Neither model gets a power increase, but for the GLA45, that's not much of a surprise. Its 2.0-liter engine is essentially maxed out at 375 horsepower, but the next-generation GLA45 should produce over 400 horsepower thanks to a new motor.
The biggest changes for the GLA are its exterior and interior styling, though again, the upgrades are subtle. Both the GLA250 and GLA45 get revised front and rear fascias, while the latter gets some new aerodynamic components. Inside, there's a new gauge cluster, a standard eight-inch infotainment screen and optional Android Auto. The GLA250 also comes in a new color, a rather pleasant shade called Canyon Beige.
Both the GLA250 and GLA45 will arrive in U.S. dealers this summer. We recommend the crazy black-and-yellow model.
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