We had a Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG in our recent 4×4 Of The Year test (4×4, Winter 2013) and in many ways it split the judges. For some, the vehicle’s amazing bi-turbo V8 engine was such a phenomenal piece of kit, it was easy to ignore some of the vehicle’s idiosyncrasies. But at the end of the day, it’s not an off-roader and cannot match the offerings from Land Rover. It seems, however, that if you want a pure power Merc with all-wheel drive, you can now have the Concept GLA 45 AMG. Aimed at a younger target group, this sleek, low, compact SUV would certainly be a competitor to Porsche’s new Macan. Powered by a 2.0-litre turbo engine, producing 360bhp and a thumping 450Nm of torque, this machine has a claimed 0-62mph time of under five seconds. The drivetrain is the AMG 4MATIC all-wheel drive system and the transmission is the AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT seven-speed sports option. The design is certainly aggressive, and you have to wonder if it really needs the ‘TURBO AMG’ badging on the front wings. But then if a ridiculously powerful SUV is what you are after, then you are probably no shrinking violet!
