Mercedes-Benz GLA Class Compact Crossover Sketch Revealed

By Ganesh

Updated: Thursday, January 30, 2014, 11:32 [IST]

The GLA Class compact SUV/Crossover, revealed as a concept earlier this year at the 2013 Shanghai Auto Show, can be described as a B Class with a raised ride height. Mercedes-Benz has now released a couple of sketches of the vehicle through its official Facebook page.

The sketches portray a beefy and tough look for the GLA Class, but production versions of vehicles are never as they seem in initial sketches and concept form. The production version, that is expected to be revealed this year, probably in September at the Frankfurt Auto Show, would be toned down quite a bit. Even if the real deal is anywhere close to these sketches it would be an impressive vehicle.

Like its smaller brethren, the A Class and B Class, as well as the CLA sedan, the GLA Class will be built on the front/all-wheel drive MFA platform. While the wheelbase would remain the same as the smaller hatchbacks, rest of GLA Class's dimensions will measure larger.

We cannot yet be sure about which engine Mercedes will choose to fit inside the GLA Class, but a tuned version of the A Class's engine, with more torque, is what we speculate. The GLA Class will be made available in both front wheel and all-wheel drive configurations, with the latter making use of Mercedes 4-Matic system. Seven speed dual clutch automatic would be part of the package.

Having said all that, the most exciting of all would be the AMG version of the GLA Class, which is still quite some time away considering the vehicle has not even been launched yet. Mercedes Benz is likely to introduce the GLA Class in India by late 2014 or early 2015. It would be placed in the same range as the BMW X1 and the top spec Audi Q3.

Article Published On: Tuesday, August 13, 2013, 10:02 [IST]

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