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The high-performance compact SUV has been revealed online and is expected to go on sale in the UK in April with a price tag in the region of £53,000.

The 2020 Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 S 4Matic+ that was due to be revealed at the cancelled Geneva Motor Show this week, has been revealed online instead. It goes on sale in the UK in April and first deliveries for the high-performance compact SUV are expected in summer with a price tag in the region of £53,000.

Delivering 415hp on full whack from its 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, the GLA 45 S will be one of the fastest SUVs ever built. Aided by its sophisticated 4Matic+ all-wheel-drive system, it can reach 62mph from a dead start in just 4.3 seconds, topping out to an electronically limited 168mph – which should be scary enough for most drivers.

A lesser-powered 387hp Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 will be available in other countries, but not in the UK.

The engine in the GLA 45 S is currently the world's most powerful 2.0-litre and is also wedged into the Mercedes-AMG A45 S hatchback. An eight-speed automatic gearbox is fitted as standard. Interestingly, the engine has been turned around by 180-degrees, so the twin-scroll turbocharger is now at the back and the air intake towards the nose, improving efficiency and allowing for a lower-profiled bonnet. 'Two-stage' fuel injectors have been fitted to keep up with the engine's inevitable thirst for fuel in the higher rev range.

In addition to the omnipotent powerplant, the suspension, brakes and steering have also gone under AMG's knife. An adaptive suspension system dubbed ‘AMG Ride Control’ will be fitted with three settings aimed at comfort and fast driving. Six-piston front brakes should provide more stopping power and can be easily spotted thanks to red painted callipers and black AMG lettering, while the steering has settings for relaxed and ‘enthusiastic’ driving.

Using the infotainment screen, drivers will also be able to switch between different settings for the ESP system for the first time. Labelled 'Basic', 'Advanced', 'Pro' and 'Master', the extra layer of customisation will range from preventing skids in the Basic mode, to allowing some oversteer in Master, which is best left for track use.

Exterior changes include bloated wheel arches, 19-inch AMG alloy wheels, LED headlights and a motorsport-style rear bumper diffuser, while a large rear wing will be optional. Inside there's a Nappa leather sports steering wheel and sports seats with contrasting yellow stitching.

2020 Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 S 4Matic+ The world’s most powerful T2.0-litre!

More details have been released on the highly-anticipated Mercedes-Benz eVito, which offers 112hp of power, 300Nm of torque, a 92-mile average range and a six-hour charging time.

The front-wheel drive eVito has joined the current Vito range and offers a standard specification that mirrors the ‘Pure’ model line of the regular Vito, including a height and rake adjustable steering wheel, hill start assist, electrically adjustable heated exterior mirrors, sliding doors on both sides of the vehicle, wood flooring and an adaptive brake light.

In addition to the Pure specification, the eVito exclusively offers Mercedes ProConnect, heated driver’s seat, air conditioning, a charging cable and a CanTrack vehicle tracker, all as standard too. A sound generator produces an audible signal at speeds up to 20mph, which means the silent eVito can be detected by pedestrians, cyclists and other road users at low speed.

Available in two lengths and priced from £39,895 (ex VAT) for the eVito Pure L2 and £40,415 (ex VAT) for the eVito Pure L3, the van is also eligible for the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) Grant. This means that customers can benefit from a 20% reduction on the vehicle purchase price, up to a maximum of £8,000.

The L2 model offers 6.0m3 of cargo volume, a kerb weight of 2,277kg, a GVW of 3,200kg and a payload of 923kg. The longer L3 offers 6.6m3 cargo volume, a 2,302kg kerb weight, a 3,200kg GVW and a payload of 898kg.

In addition to the Pure trim grade, the eVito Progressive will also be available and includes the following additions; colour coded bumpers, full wheel covers, front fog lights, headlight assist, 75mph speed limiter, Audio 15, lumbar support and electrically foldable mirrors – all as standard. The eVito Progressive L2 will be available from £41,600 (ex VAT) and £42,120 (ex VAT) for the longer L3 variant.

For both specification levels, Mercedes ProConnect comes as standard and is subscription-free for the first three years, with benefits including remote access, digital driver’s log, drive style monitoring, real-time variable servicing monitoring, parking time monitor and geo-fence options. In addition for the eVito, the vehicle benefits from pre-conditioning of the heaters and highlights vehicle charging options nearby.

The capacity of the underfloor battery is 41kWh and can be charged from 0 to 100% in approximately 6 hours, via a wall-box or at a charging station using the appropriate cable.

Thanks to the spiral shape of the four-metre charging cable provided, it is easy to handle when distances are different between the vehicle and a wall-box or charging station. The cable comes with a handy zipped bag to store it between uses.

In addition to the three driving modes on the new eVito, there are four energy-recovery levels to optimise the power consumption.

Mercedes-Benz Vans UK is committed to offering battery electric vehicles (BEVs) alongside conventional fuel types across the entire product range, starting with the eVito and continuing with the all-electric eSprinter panel van later in 2020.

New Mercedes-Benz eVito: Specs, Techs and Pricing

2019 was a fantastic year for car safety, and Euro NCAP has highlighted the Best of the Best in class for 2019

Safest cars revealed by Euro NCAP - Best of the Best in class 2019

Each year, Euro NCAP publishes a list of those cars that have performed best in their respective categories during the past 12 months.  	 
Euro NCAP last week published its annual Best in Class for 2019. Fifty-five cars were assessed, of which forty-one achieved the top accolade of a full five stars, which makes 2019 one of the most impressive years on record since Euro NCAP started to evaluate consumer safety of cars on the European market.

Mercedes-Benz regained its crown in the best performing Small Family Car category – this time with the CLA – a sporty alternative to the A-Class Sedan, which won last year’s Best in Class. The CLA achieved a score of more than 90% in three of the four areas of safety and delivered the best overall rating of the year. Mercedes-Benz went on to launch five more five-star vehicles in 2019, all with outstanding crash protection and driver assistance technology.

Tesla also made a strong appearance during 2019 with its Model X declared the winner in the Large Off-Road category, followed by the SEAT Tarraco in second place. The Tesla Model 3 topped the Electric and Hybrid vehicle class and, together with BMW’s 3 Series, shares top spot in the ‘Large Family’ category. The two cars concluded their respective tests with identical overall scores, with the BMW scoring better in pedestrian protection, and the Tesla edging it in Safety Assist. Skoda’s new Octavia was the runner-up in this category.

In the combined Small Off-road/Small MPV class, Subaru won with the new Forester, with excellent all-round performance during testing. Mazda’s new CX-30 and Volkswagen’s T-Cross were close followers in the category. Despite missing out on the top spot, Mazda had a good year, with the new Mazda 3 turning in a creditable performance in adult occupant protection and pipped to second place by the Mercedes-Benz CLA in the ‘Small Family Car’ category.

There was a tie in the Supermini class with the sporty Audi A1 and top-selling Renault Clio, both of which have been among Europe’s most popular and desirable hatchbacks for years. Their latest generations arrived in 2019 and fared equally well in testing. Newcomer Ford Puma was the runner-up in the category. The Supermini segment continues to be the most competitive in the market and the winners deserve credit for their uncompromising stance on safety.

Finally, a special mention went to BMW’s Z4, the only roadster tested in 2019, but set a new safety benchmark for the segment.

Best Large Family Car Hybrid and Electric: Tesla Model 3

Read our exclusive review of the Tesla Model 3!

Best Small Off-Road / MPV: Subaru Forester

Tag: Mercedes-Benz

2020 Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 S 4Matic+ The world’s most powerful T2.0-litre!

New Mercedes-Benz eVito: Specs, Techs and Pricing

Safest cars revealed by Euro NCAP - Best of the Best in class 2019

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