Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG coming to India
Mercedes have been mulling expanding the reach of the AMG brand in India and here it is. Estimated to be priced at around Rs 50 lakh, the CLA 45 AMG will be the most affordable German performance car; AMGs thus far have been priced well north of Rs 1 crore. Essentially an AMG version of the CLA compact luxury sedan, the CLA 45 AMG looks stunning with its subtle AMG undertones executed in brushed aluminium, a compact yet desirable car. The interiors retain the sporty theme with all-black interiors and red stitching. The heavily bolstered AMG sports seats use a mix of perforated and natural leather stitched together in red, coupled with thick red piping. The sports steering wheel is wrapped in black leather and Alcantara with aluminium accents and the beautifully sculpted aluminium gear lever is a joy to hold.
When it comes to India, the CLA 45 AMG will be the fastest car in its segment. Powered by the world’s most powerful production four-cylinder engine, the 2-litre AMG-tuned turbocharged mill generates a whopping 355bhp of power and 450Nm of torque. Mated to a 4MATIC four-wheel drive system and seven-speed AMG SPEEDSHIFT dual-clutch gearbox, this one promises to be a scorcher.
And it’s not just the engine; the suspension has been reworked too. The AMG gets bigger ventilated discs, stiffer springs, new dampers and bushings, larger stabiliser bars, among other revisions required to handle the power.
Mercedes-Benz claims that the Sports Coupe accelerates from 0 to 100kmph in 4.6 seconds and hits an electronically limited top speed of 250kmph. The CLA 45 AMG is a classic example of the Mercedes-Benz top-down approach, as the hot AMG version will be followed by the much milder (and volume generating) CLA 180. Slated for a June 2014 launch, this one promises explosive performance in a compact, dynamically engaging and affordable package.
