(February 27, 2020) A brisk lap of the race circuit or a weekend trip to the mountains with your sports gear stowed in the back — the new GLA 45 is the ideal match for a multitude of adventures. Mercedes says that when required, these nimble all-rounders can unleash a level of dynamic performance to impress even sports car owners.

The 2.0-liter engine is the most powerful series-produced four-cylinder turbo engine in the world delivering 382 horsepower making it more powerful than its predecessor and offering performance above its class.

The active, fully-variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive distributes power to the rear axle wheel-selectively by AMG TORQUE CONTROL, providing the basis for top traction in any driving condition. This is made possible by a new rear axle differential featuring two multi-disc clutches – one for each rear wheel. The AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 8-speed dual clutch transmission apportions the power within a split second to suit the specific driving situation.



"The second generation of our very successful compact sports model is now complete. The GLA portfolio, in the form of the Mercedes-AMG GLA 45, now also includes our innovative four-cylinder turbo engine, setting the benchmark in this segment. In addition, the new GLA 45 is not only significantly more dynamic, but also more practical in everyday use than its predecessor, thereby ensuring its appeal to a dynamic, leisure-oriented target group," says Tobias Moers, chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

One new feature which makes a substantial contribution to the incomparable driving experience is the active, fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive offering selective power distribution to the wheels on the rear axle via AMG TORQUE CONTROL.

This means that the power is distributed to the left and right rear wheels flexibly and at different ratios, according to the current driving situation – resulting in optimized traction, whatever the road surface conditions and whatever the route. This is made possible by a redesigned rear axle differential featuring two multi-disc clutches, which selectively provide the flow of power to each individual rear wheel.

The GLA 45 is powered by the newly developed M139 2.0-liter engine, the world's most powerful turbocharged four-cylinder manufactured for series production. With 382 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque in the GLA 45, boasts more power than its predecessor. The new, highly efficient engine is handcrafted on an innovative production line in Affalterbach, according to the "One Man, One Engine" principle.

The new compact performance SUV completes the sprint from 0 to 60 mph in record time requiring just 4.3 seconds to complete. The top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph. The new engine also impresses with its quick responses. To this end, the torque curve was carefully balanced ("torque shaping") with peak torque of 354 lb-ft is available in a range of 4,750-5,000 rpm. With this setup the AMG engineers have achieved a power delivery similar to that of a naturally aspirated engine.

The new engine excels with numerous intelligent design features. In contrast to the transversely mounted four-cylinder in the 35-series AMG models, this new engine has been turned around its vertical axis by 180 degrees.

This change in position means that the turbocharger and the exhaust manifold are now positioned at the rear, on the side of the firewall when viewed from behind. The intake system is positioned at the front. This configuration allows the flattest possible and most aerodynamically advantageous front section design. Furthermore, the new arrangement allows for much improved air ducts with shorter distances and fewer diversions - both on the intake and exhaust side.

The new twin-scroll turbocharger combines optimized responsiveness at low engine speeds with high power in the upper rpm range. The shaft of the compressor and turbine wheel is mounted for the first time on anti-friction bearings, minimizing mechanical friction in the turbocharger.

For the first time, the new high-performance four-cylinder features two-stage fuel injection. In the first stage the particularly fast and precisely operating piezo injectors supply fuel to the combustion chambers at a pressure of up to 200 bar. This is controlled by the engine management system as required. In the second stage there is additional intake manifold injection using solenoid valves. This is needed to achieve the engine's high specific output. The electronically controlled fuel supply has an operating pressure of 6.7 bar.