Through the wavy haze caused by the bright Californian sun radiating off the abandoned, concrete airstrip outside Newport Beach near Los Angeles, the Nissan Juke-R looked like a bat out of hell. We were there to drive this completely insane, but entirely lovable crossover about 18 months ago. You’d have to join a waiting list of fanboys with a million green bucks in hand to buy this over-the-top machine.

Somehow, we got the same feeling when we got behind the wheel of the new Mercedes-Benz GLA 45 AMG earlier this month. This one is not as rare and is certainly not as expensive, but seems to defy logic and reasoning in a somewhat similar fashion. Now, before all you fans of either of the two brands start getting worked up, allow us to reiterate that it is the emotion which we found to be similar not the cars themselves.

About five years ago, Mercedes’ management decided get the AMG division into ‘sports’ mode, and aggressively target performance car lovers across the entire price spectrum. Starting with and emboldened by the success of the SLS AMG, the performance division has picked out almost every single standard model from Merc’s stables for its special treatment. And that is in addition to the SLS and the AMG GT which are exclusive models from the performance division.

By now the standard production GLA is a fairly common sight on the roads and you must have read our review too in these pages. It is a compact crossover design that seems to be the kind of size that’ll be appreciated by a city-dweller. With its sloping, coupé-like roof, cramped second row and the stubby rear, the standard GLA is not exactly the most practical even amongst current day crossovers.

So, why would AMG engineers pick on the GLA? Getting behind the wheel of the GLA 45 AMG gave us some answers. Essentially, logic and reason have been traded in for a healthy dose of madness. But, madness never felt this good to drive.

Design and build The GLA 45 AMG sports about the same proportions as the standard GLA. But that doesn’t mean that it looks exactly the same way too. There are a number of obvious hints which point out the handiwork of the AMG division. If there were any doubts about the GLA looking like an overgrown hatch from the front, the squared-off wheel arches, the raised shoulder line and the prominent haunches would have settled the argument about it being a crossover.

With the GLA 45 AMG, the power bulge on the hood, the AMG bonnet grille, the oversized airdam and scoops in the front fender, the special 19-inch AMG alloys with red performance brake calipers and the dual twin exhaust at the rear are enough to convince your neighbours that ‘this is different’. And of course, there is always the exhaust burble as you drive past to let them ignoramuses know. Our test mule came stickered with decals too. The cabin of the GLA 45 AMG is again very much similar to the standard GLA, though there are a number of AMG touches such as the metal trim or carbon-fibre inserts, drilled metal pedals, the panoramic sunroof and the welcoming aroma of high quality leather which are enough to give you a taste of what is to come.

The other shared MFA platform cabin trim elements are all there too, including the floating 7-inch infotainment touchscreen display, the turbine style aircon vents etc. There is double-stitched leather with contrast red stitching and the short gear stick sports the Affalterbach logo. The best feature of the GLA 45 AMG’s cabin is the performance leather seat with designo seat belts in red.

Performance The engine of the GLA 45 AMG is the same 2-litre, 4-cylinder, bi-turbo petrol engine that we have also seen in the CLA 45 AMG. Claimed to be the most powerful series production 4-cylinder in the world, this engine produces 360 horses of power and a peak torque of 450Nm and propels this compact crossover to 100 kmph from standstill in just 4.8 seconds. With a power density of 181hp (per litre) this is not a puny four-pot engine. It is also said to be extremely efficient (Euro cycle 7.5litres per 100 kms) and low on emissions.

On the road, the engine and the dual-clutch AMG Speedshift DCT 7-speed sports transmission quickly prove their mettle. Acceleration is effortless, unrelenting and we ran out of road before we could fully exploit the GLA 45 AMG’s prowess. We would have liked the engine and exhaust to be a bit more raucous, though AMG engineers use an ingenious method to give the GLA 45 a special aural signature. An automatically controlled exhaust flap is adjusted according to the driver’s performance needs, load condition and engine speed. Under powerful acceleration the rectangular twin exhaust emit an addictive exhaust note. For fans of AMG’s more sonorous notes, there is the optional addition of a AMG performance exhaust system.

The GLA 45 AMG comes with variable 4-MATIC all-wheel drive as standard. The system ensures optimum traction is available at all times and at all the four wheels. 4-MATIC also elevates the driving dynamics of the GLA 45 and combined with the AMG sports suspension enables insanely confident cornering. A firm ride, however, meant that some of the bad patches of road were a bit jarring for the occupants in the cabin.

Bottomline The GLA 45 AMG is targeted, predictably, at younger buyers. Many of them probably wouldn’t have had a taste of AMG before. At about ₹ 70 lakhs, the GLA 45 AMG is all heart and no logic. We’d say go for it.

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