Say what you will about Mercedes-Benz’s new plans to revitalise their product range (think A-Class and CLA-Class) and produce cars with a more youthful and exuberant appeal, but when it comes to doing things boldly, the Stuttgart manufacturer never fails to impress. Think of every market Mercedes-Benz exists in, and you’ll realise, more often than not, they were theirs were the first cars to populate that market. Not surprising for a company that invented the motor car.
The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class is slightly different, however, because other less affluent, manufacturers have been doing small SUV/Crossover cars for years now, and they’ve started to get quite good at it. BMW also beat Mercedes-Benz to the punch with leaked images of the X4 Concept, but now Mercedes-Benz is planning on unveiling the upcoming new GLA-Class at the upcoming Shanghai Auto Show as well.
The GLA-Class Concept pictured here is endowed with the current family face, while interesting styling elements include twin tailpipes, bumper protection plates and 20-inch alloy wheels. Although the car is still clearly cloaked in Motor Show garb, the GLA Concept looks like it has styling immense potential going forward.
As expected, the compact crossover is based on the architecture of the A-Class and B-Class hatchbacks, and draws heavily on the look of its A-Class stable mate; simply adding attractive SUV beefier proportions into the mix. The GLA-Class is larger than the A-Class, measuring 4.38 m long and 1.57 m tall, with both models riding on the same 2.69 m wheelbase.
Notably from tech point of view, the GLA-Class also includes high-tech laser-beam headlamps. Mercedes-Benz says that they can be configured to project a photo or video to make any wall a drive-in movie theatre. In addition, the roof-mounted cameras can be removed and snapped onto a bicycle helmet. Mercedes-Benz also says the projectors could preview future technology that directs arrow-shaped light beams onto the road as part of the vehicle’s navigation system to allow drivers to literally follow a projected path that is guided by satellite. Crazy.
On the inside, the GLA’s leather-clad interior uses plexi-glass for the COMAND infotainment system’s control knobs, for that little bit of extra visual drama on its show car. Uniquely, LED lights mounted behind the air vents glow based on the selected air temperature with blue for cooler and red for warmer.
Engine options are expected to include the same 155 kW 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine featured in the A-Class 250 hatch and CLA-Class 250 sedan, along with less powerful petrol and diesel options. A GLA 45 AMG model could also headline, powered by the same 265 kW 2.0 litre turbo engine driving the new A 45 AMG performance flagship. This car is of course a concept, but the production car will reportedly arrive at the Frankfurt show in September.
