Mercedes Unveils Sub-Crore Sports Car, Meet The CLA 45 AMG

Mercedes Benz, the German luxury car maker, launched its first sub-crore sports car on Tuesday, the CLA 45 AMG. Currently the AMG variant is priced at Rs 68.5 Lakhs, ex-showroom, in Delhi.

Mercedes Benz has expanded its sporty DNA of AMG cars, with the new CLA being the seventh such offering. Mercedes is banking heavily on its smallest sports car. It would be launching its regular motoring variant in the next 180 days and that is expected to debut at half the price.

“This is the first time Mercedes has launched an AMG variant before the regular production car. The CLA has the potential to become the highest-selling model, as the new generation of customers are going for these sports cars for sheer driving pleasure and may allow the CLA45 AMG steer ahead of our current top-sellers like the EClass and the C-Class,” Mercedes Benz India MD & CEO Eberhard Kern said during the launch at the F1 circuit in Delhi.

Based on specifications, when you look at what the CLA45 AMG offers, it’s hard not to be impressed by the numbers it generates. Essentially, the CLA is actually identical to the A45 AMG beneath the skin. But just like the A45 AMG, when you look at what the CLA45 AMG offers, it’s not hard to be blown away.

The steroid-enhanced version of Mercedes’ slinky CLA-class sedan comes with a potent 355-hp, 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, all-wheel drive, and a sport-tuned chassis.

It has the same crisp but direct electric power steering as the A45 AMG and the same seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. The spring rates for its new strut and multi-link suspension system make sure the car grips the track irrespective of the speed at which you attack the corners with.

The latest Merc offering would compete with other popular sports cars like the BMW Z4 and Audi S4 and RS5. The demand for these performance machines have been constantly growing with around 1,000 units sold annually in the luxury space. Analysts tracking the automotive market say that an increasing consumer base of passionate drivers who want an adrenaline-gushing experience from their machines is prompting manufacturers to debut such models in the Indian market.

The Germany luxury carmaker, which is growing the fastest in the domestic market, ahead of rivals like Audi, BMW and Jaguar and Land Rover, is targeting a doubledigit growth in 2014.The launch of the CLA 45 AMG in India is a significant step forward towards the evolution of performance driving in India. The guys at Mercedes Benz are confident that the CLA 45 will be a resounding success.

By Varun Mohan