The new GLA is the entry-level model in the successful Mercedes-Benz SUV range, and the eighth model in the compact-car family. Hallmark off-road design features include the upright front section, short overhangs at the front and rear, and protective cladding all round. 4MATIC models feature the Off-Road Engineering Package as standard. This comprises an additional driving program, a downhill driving assist function and an off-road animation in the media display, along with, in combination with MULTIBEAM LED headlamps, a special light function for off-road driving.

Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 digitalweiß; Leder zweifarbig – classicrot/schwarz;Kraftstoffverbrauch kombiniert: 6,7-6,5 l/100 km; CO2-Emissionen kombiniert: 153-148 g/km
Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 digital white; Leather, two-tone – classic red/black;Fuel consumption combined: 6.7-6.5 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 153-148 g/km

More space:

With a height of 1611 millimetres (1616 with roof rails), the new GLA is more than ten centimetres higher than its predecessor. The higher seating position typical of an SUV makes more headroom available on the front seats. Legroom in the rear is likewise much more generous – even though the GLA is now one-and-a-half centimetres shorter. The rear seats can be optionally adjusted by 14 centimetres and the rear seat backrest set to a steeper rake, making room for such items as bulky boxes.

More safety:

The new GLA makes a further step in terms of safety courtesy of its driving assistance systems with cooperative driver support. The enhanced functions of the Driving Assistance Package include, for example, the turning manoeuvre function, the emergency corridor function, the exit warning function alerting the driver to approaching cyclists or vehicles, and a warning when pedestrians are detected near zebra crossings. The GLA is able to react when the driver doesn’t. In many situations the function of Active Brake Assist is to apply autonomous braking to avoid a collision or to reduce its severity. At typical city speeds the system is also able to brake for stationary vehicles and crossing pedestrians, and avoid collisions depending on the situation.

More family virtues:

With powerful and efficient four-cylinder engines, the latest driving assistance systems with cooperative driver support, the MBUX infotainment system with intuitive operation as well as the comprehensive ENERGIZING comfort control, the GLA has all the strengths of the current generation of compacts from Mercedes-Benz.

More electrification:

An EQ Power model with third-generation hybrid drive will already be available in the first half of this year. And the EQA, a fully electric model, will follow by the end of the year.

After impressive updates to its small sedans and larger SUVs, Mercedes-Benz has finally gotten around to redesigning its extra-small SUV, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA. If you squint and ignore the swirly disguise stickers, the next-generation GLA is taller and more SUV-like than the crossover we’re familiar with. That’s very deliberate, and now that the GLA is no longer an off-road-stanced hatchback masquerading as a crossover, it’s a more convincing SUV in both shape and market positioning.

While the design direction has changed, the new GLA will still borrow heavily from its A-Class relation. Indeed, nobody could accuse Mercedes-Benz of not making the most of its platforms. The new GLA is actually the eighth compact model Mercedes-Benz has spun off its MFA2 (Modular Front Architecture 2) — not all of which come to the USA — and the second “tall” model after the recently launched GLB.

The GLA will be built at Mercedes’ compact cars factory in Rastatt, Germany, where we had a sneak peek at some pre-production examples. Even partly assembled, without the disguise the GLA looks to share its proportions with the European B-Class, Mercedes-Benz’s not-for-USA compact minivan, which is taller and more space-efficient than both the A-Class and the outgoing GLA.

2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA Interior

Why does it matter?
SUVs matter for Mercedes-Benz’s profitability everywhere. And here in the USA, the GLA gives Mercedes-Benz presence in the competitive subcompact SUV marketplace. Subcompact SUVs are increasingly the entry point for buyers making their first foray into the luxury market. And they are becoming more popular with older buyers downsizing after their need for a larger family vehicle has passed. Translating the strengths of the new A-Class sedan into an SUV will make the GLA more competitive with both groups.

Being more of a true SUV, with the added practicalities that come with that, should help sales, too. Mercedes underlined that push with the demonstration it gave us of its prototypes’ capabilities, which was exclusively undertaken on a testing area that incorporated a fairly tough off-road course.

2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA Off-road

How does it drive?
Full disclosure, we never sat in the driver’s seat, not when the vehicle was moving at least. Our early look at Mercedes-Benz’s new subcompact luxury SUV was limited to sitting shotgun around a test track, a good portion of which was off-road. Being in Europe, we were driven in both a turbodiesel-powered example as well as a GLA with the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder gas engine that will be sold in the U.S.

Both early prototypes were fitted with 4Matic four-wheel drive, using a torque-on-demand system with a new electronic clutch — the previous GLA had a mechanical one — for greater control of the drivetrain. In regular driving, it’s predominantly front-wheel-drive, with the 4Matic system diverting power to the rear axle when it’s needed. We’re told the system can divert 100% of available power to the rear if necessary. As with the previous GLA, 4Matic will be an option, with the entry-level GLA being front-wheel-drive.

All 4Matic-equipped GLAs will additionally feature Mercedes-Benz’s off-road package, which brings a raised suspension, as well as additional functionality, including downhill speed control, an off-road-tuned engine and gearbox map, and off-road-specific information such as inclinometers in the instrumentation. Those displays can read some fairly impressive numbers, too, with the GLA able to tackle 30-degree side slopes, 60% inclines and descents of as much as 70%. That’s more capability than any buyer is likely to need or, indeed, want, but it’s impressive should your GLA ever be required to do something more demanding than the daily grocery run.

What’s obvious even from the passenger seat is the improved refinement: The cabin is nicely isolated from sound, the gas four-cylinder engine particularly hushed, and road noise, even in prototypes with Bridgestone winter tires, largely absent. Ride comfort, too, is nicely judged, while the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission shifts imperceptibly. Beyond that, we’ll need to wait until we get some time in the correct seat on a wider variety of roads for detailed driving impressions. But extrapolating from what we’ve experienced with the GLA’s closely related A-Class and B-Class models, we can be sure the GLA will offer a finely tuned driving experience, a sure-footed chassis with exceptional body control, and Mercedes-Benz’s usual suite of well-integrated active safety systems.

What’s the interior like?
With its current range of compact models, Mercedes-Benz has moved its interior game ahead remarkably. Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) screens dominate the interior. They can be as small as two 7-inch displays, but few GLAs are likely to leave the factory without the optional 10.3-inch displays that span a sizable portion of the dashboard in front of the driver. All the MBUX functionality is controlled by small touch buttons on the steering wheel, a transmission tunnel-mounted touchpad via the central touchscreen itself, or by saying “Hey Mercedes” and speaking commands. In terms of user interfaces, it’s all very clear and easy to use. MBUX doesn’t just look superb, but it operates with the sort of slickness we’ve come to expect from smart devices at home and work.

MBUX might dominate the driving environment, but elsewhere the cabin is significantly improved over the existing GLA, both in its materials quality and space. If you’ve sat in an A-Class sedan, you’ll be familiar with the smart finishes on things such as the air vents, the buttons in the center console, and even areas where traditionally (and quite noticeably in the old GLA) you could come across some lower-grade materials. That’s not evident here. The GLA feels like the premium product its badge signals, whatever surface you’re touching. Since Mercedes-Benz introduced its new compact models, rivals have been playing catch-up in regards to interior quality and user-friendliness, and that is still very much the case with the 2021 GLA.

How practical is it?
We don’t have exact numbers yet to qualify our impressions, but the GLA’s cabin feels far roomier inside than the sometimes-compromised space of its predecessor. With its more clearly defined SUV shape, there’s an increase in overall height in excess of 4 inches, and that’s transformational inside. You sit higher, with a better view through the taller and less severely raked windscreen. Similarly, the side glass and bodywork are more upright, which translates to a far more spacious, airy and practical cabin. The trunk offers good space and a wide opening. It, as with the rest of the interior, benefits from the GLA’s greater height.

The 2021 GLA is notably more comfortable inside as a result of the dimensional revisions. That is most obvious in the rear seat. For one, there’s a significant improvement in leg- and headroom. But also the larger glazed area around you — the rear roof pillars are glazed, though that’s not immediately obvious due to the camouflage tape on the prototypes — removes the claustrophobic feel in the back that was problematic with the old GLA. It now feels very much a genuine rival for its SUV competition in relation to its practicality, which is where the old model was lacking.

What does it compete with?
With the new GLB above it set to fight with the BMW X1 and the Audi Q3, the GLA can focus on the BMW X2, Cadillac XT4, Lexus UX and Volvo XC40 as well as innumerable SUV/compact crossover models without premium badges or the elevated pricing that comes with them. (Audi isn’t offering its Q2 rival in the U.S.) The market is not short of choices, but the GLA has proved a good seller in the luxury subcompact SUV class despite its shortcomings relating to passenger and trunk space.

Those will be addressed when this new model arrives in 2020, and so, too, will complaints about some low-rent interior trim materials. The possibility of a plug-in hybrid — Mercedes-Benz engineers neither deny nor confirm the option — could also add some appeal down the road.

What else should I know?
While Europe and elsewhere will have a choice of powerplants including turbocharged 1.6-liter gas and 2.1-liter turbodiesels, in the U.S. we’re only likely to see the regular GLAs powered by the 2.0-liter turbocharged gas engine that produces 224 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. That should bring a 0-62 mph time in the region of 7.0 seconds, which is in line with the last GLA 250 model.

Higher-performance AMG derivatives will be offered, as previously, with a GLA 45 flagship a possibility and the GLA 35 a certainty. The GLA 35 boosts output from an AMG-tweaked version of the 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder turbo unit, boosting output in excess of 300 hp. Elsewhere in the compact lineup, Mercedes-Benz offers an AMG 45 model, which sees outputs increase over 420 hp. But nobody is confirming whether that will be offered with this series of GLA.

What is more likely is the addition of a plug-in hybrid model option, as Mercedes-Benz already offers these elsewhere with its compact range. With its push to electrification, an EQ Power GLA is a distinct possibility. A 15.6-kWh battery and 75-kW electric motor are fitted within the eight-speed automatic transmission and joined with the 1.3-liter turbocharged gasoline engine for an output of about 215 hp. In the A- and B-Class, this hybrid system allows an electric-only range of around 40 miles, at speeds of up to 87 mph. It would be an easy fit in the GLA, though the battery pack positioning around the rear axle would preclude the use of 4Matic four-wheel drive. That’s likely to be a sacrifice most buyers would accept for the economy gains it would bring.\

Via: Edmunds

The Mercedes GLA-Class is not only the smallest SUV from the brand, but in the sports version and as the GLA 45 AMG sets some remarkably dynamic highlights. Expand on these talents, BRABUS has developed a tailor-made refinement program for the five-door car.

BRABUS Program for the Mercedes GLA-Class
with AMG bodystyling kit

The product range includes engine tuning for the various diesel- and gasoline-powered models culminating in the 294-kW / 400-horsepower version for the GLA 45, aerodynamic-enhancement components, and tailor-made BRABUS Monoblock wheels with diameters of up to 21 inches that give the crossover vehicle an even more athletic appearance.

BRABUS offers the PowerXtra B25 performance kit for the four-cylinder turbocharged engine of the GLA 250 with front- or all-wheel drive. The plug-and-play module is integrated into the engine electronics. The new parameters for the engine management system and boost pressure control bumps the power output from standard 155 kW / 211 horsepower to 180 kW / 245 horsepower (208 to 241 bhp). At the same time, peak torque jumps from 350 to 385 Nm (258 to 284 lb-ft). This results in noticeably improved driving dynamics and driving fun. The sprint time from rest to 100 km/h (62 mph) is shortened to 6.7 seconds, the top speed increases to 250 km/h (155 mph).

The array of engine tuning for the compact SUV is crowned by the BRABUS PowerXtra CGI B45 tuning kit for the GLA 45. After the conversion, the top-of-the-line GLA model churns out 294 kW / 400 horsepower (394 bhp) and produces a peak torque of 500 Nm (369 lb-ft). With this engine under the hood, the all-wheel-drive car sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 4.4 seconds. In conjunction with the BRABUS V/max unit, the power-SUV reaches a top speed of 270 km/h (168 mph).

BRABUS Program for the Mercedes GLA-Class
with AMG bodystyling kit

BRABUS ECO PowerXtra D3 is the name of particularly efficient performance tuning for the common-rail turbodiesel engine of the Mercedes GLA 220 CDI. The installation of this plug-and-play auxiliary control unit delivers an extra 30 kW / 40 horsepower (40 bhp). Propelled by 155 kW / 210 horsepower (208 bhp) and a peak torque of 410 Nm (302 lb-ft), the agile diesel model sprints from 0 – 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 8.0 seconds and reaches a new top speed of 220 km/h (137 mph).

The BRABUS sports stainless-steel quad exhaust is available for almost all GLA gasoline and diesel engines. The exhaust system produces a sportier but never obtrusive exhaust note. A BRABUS sports exhaust with actively controlled butterfly valve is optionally available for the GLA 250 4MATIC. It offers the driver an individual sound tuning between subtle and decidedly sporty at the push of a button in the cockpit.

A diffusor insert for the rear bumper of the sporty GLA models with AMG body styling matches the BRABUS sports exhaust system and features tailor-made cutouts for the four chrome tailpipes with hallmark design. The front of the AMG Line version can be upgraded with a BRABUS front spoiler and design elements for the air intakes in the front bumper. It goes without saying that the BRABUS product lineup also features body styling components for the other design and equipment lines of the Mercedes GLA-Class.

The BRABUS engineers and technicians have developed LED underfloor lighting for all versions to make getting in and out easier and safer in the dark. It is activated with the keyless remote or by pulling on a door handle. The BRABUS rear spoiler, which mounts to the liftgate, can likewise be used universally on all GLA models.

BRABUS alloy wheels in OEM quality play a crucial role in the exclusive looks of the GLA refined by BRABUS. The spectrum of tailor-made tire/wheel combinations ranges in diameter from 18 to 21 inches.

BRABUS Program for the Mercedes GLA-Class
with AMG bodystyling kit

The largest option for the compact SUV features forged BRABUS 9Jx21 “Platinum Edition” wheels in the two striking Monoblock F and R designs. BRABUS technology partners Continental, Pirelli and YOKOHAMA supply the matching high-performance tires up to size 255/30 R 21 front and back.

BRABUS sports springs lower the ride height of the GLA by about 25 millimeters (1 inch). The lower center of gravity results in even sportier handling. Customers looking for a lifted suspension in the interest of more comfortable ingress and egress as well as further optimized visibility will find a suspension solution specifically designed for them that raises the ride height of the GLA by about 30 millimeters (1.2 in.).

BRABUS also fulfills all kinds of individual requests when it comes to the interior. The lineup of exclusive accessories ranges from two-tone stainless-steel scuff plates with optionally backlit BRABUS logo to matt anodized pedals and door lock pins, to aluminum ‘Race’ shift paddles.

The BRABUS upholstery shop offers even more variety. In line with the customer’s requests the upholsterers can complete the ex-factory leather interior appointments or craft completely new and particularly exclusive BRABUS fine leather interiors for which they use especially soft yet extremely durable BRABUS Mastik leather and Alcantara in any desired color.

The new GLA-Class has successfully completed an endurance trial which, in addition to on-road testing, additionally takes in the stresses and strains typical of off-road all-wheel-drive use. In the course of this track & field endurance trial extending over some nine months, a vehicle’s entire subsequent lifespan in the customer’s hands is simulated at time-lapse speed to verify the GLA’s fitness for series production. In all, 24 GLA models completed this marathon and other endurance tests, racking up a total of over 1.1 million miles in the process.

The focus of the tests in this nine-month GLA marathon was on durability and the reliable operation of the new 4MATIC all-wheel drivetrain, the suspension and the electrical equipment such as the comfort, control and assistance systems. In addition, the track & field test ensures the strength and durability of the entire structure of the SUV bodyshell.

Mercedes-Benz GLA Off-Road Testing

Collection of comprehensive data provides detailed insights

Simulating the entire lifespan of a vehicle within nine months requires a defined load scenario which the test engineers realise with different “load collectives”. The track & field endurance test includes extensive drives on country roads, motorways or in inner-city stop-and-go traffic – disciplines familiar from the conventional road endurance testing programme covering 150,000 kilometres. In part, these stretches are covered by the GLA test vehicles towing a trailer with the maximum allowable towing capacity; this is intended to further intensify the structural loads on the body. But the distance of 1.8 million kilometres covered by the 24 GLA long-distance runners only partially reflects the scope of the test disciplines. In the track & field endurance test the test drivers also check all the controls and operating devices according to an exactly defined procedure.

Always on board with the test driver: the computer to record all the data. It continuously records 190 different measured variables for the standard-fit monitoring and control systems and some 50 variables for additionally installed sensors. In the course of testing, at the end of their shifts the test drivers either link up to specific Daimler in-house access points which transfer the data fully automatically to the Mercedes-Benz Technology Center (MTC) for safe storage and evaluation or, when no access points are available, they save the data on a mobile storage medium for evaluation at a later juncture. So-called pen tops are also used. These serve to provide the test drivers with precise details of the specified test programme. All the events occurring on the test drives are also documented in this system. In particular, subjective impressions of the experienced drivers help to further enhance production maturity.

All information is managed with Daimler’s own development tool FINAS (Vehicle Information and Administration System). Here the complete vita of the GLA prototypes with all measured data and vehicle-specific information such as stage of development, equipment, chassis, tyres or engine are saved, and pending or performed service or repair work is entered.

In each GLA endurance trial the test engineers obtain around 1.8 gigabytes of measurement data, which they evaluate in detail in the course of the track & field endurance trial. This enables them to assess the state of the vehicle and to identify any signs of faults in good time. When faults are identified, a standardised task force procedure involving all the relevant departments comes into effect, ensuring precise diagnosis and reliable remedial action.

Mercedes-Benz GLA Mountain Testing

Aggravated conditions: Nürburgring, Alps, tank practice grounds

The notorious endurance runs on the world’s toughest race track – the Nürburgring Nordschleife – are well known. A one-kilometre sprint is equivalent to 20 kilometres in the real life of an automobile. And the GLA has to complete 240 laps or around 6000 kilometres here. This means the time spent at the Nürburgring adds up to the equivalent of 100,000 “real” kilometres. As these hot laps involve an element of danger, the endurance test vehicles are equipped with a roll-over cage. The endurance tests in an Alpine environment are similarly demanding. One stretch in the Italian Alps is a veritable helter-skelter ride, with one stage of the test along a distance of 154 kilometres taking in 9 Alpine passes and 450 bends. A difference in elevation of 4300 metres also has to be overcome, and the overall test distance on this track after 20 laps totals 3080 kilometres. The numerous winding bends impose a particular strain on both the chassis and the 4MATIC drivetrain as the vehicle accelerates out of the bends, and ensure that the dynamic handling control systems have their work cut out.

In view of its lineage, Mercedes-Benz requires the new compact SUV to prove its mettle off the beaten track too. After all, in deference to the G-Class – the grandfather of all SUVs and cross-country vehicles with the star – only those vehicles that also meet certain minimum requirements off-road may carry a “G” in their name. To ensure this, the track & field endurance test includes a run that very freely construes the term “primitive road” – the so-called tank ring road of a military training area of the German Armed Forces in southern Germany. Where giant chain-driven 62-tonne vehicles rated at 1103 kW (1500 hp) are normally to be found making their way to the various training areas, churning up the unpaved ground below them as they go, the GLA is required to demonstrate over 1000 kilometres that it is able to stand up to such adverse conditions on a sustained basis.

The sequence of tests plays an important role in the track & field endurance test, as it would make no sense to work successively through each test discipline in isolation. Rather, the track & field endurance test is aligned with the real-life demands placed on an SUV in the customer’s hands. The individual on and off-road disciplines are broken down into test cycles which are completed in varied patterns according to a defined distribution scheme. For instance, a drive over country roads may be followed by an off-road excursion, or a city drive may be followed by a long stretch of motorway, just like in real life.

To cover various load scenarios for a customer-owned vehicle, in addition a number of disciplines involve different loads. For this purpose, either steel bars are firmly screwed to the vehicle floor in the rear, or the test drivers are accompanied by “water boys”: water-filled plastic torsos weighing 82 kilograms, strapped to the seats with standard seat belts.

Mercedes-Benz GLA Testing

Grand finale with complete dismantling and detailed assessment

Before the various professional journals worldwide set about examining the solidity and reliability of the SUVs from Mercedes-Benz in endurance tests which generally cover over 100,000 kilometres, the test engineers have already performed this task a couple of dozen times – including complete dismantling. After completing track & field endurance testing, the GLA models are disassembled and their individual components are spread out like an automotive puzzle. Behind closed doors the development and test engineers of the specialist departments subsequently evaluate all vehicle components, focussing on those areas where any anomalies have been observed during the endurance tests and addressed by the above-mentioned task force. If no further nonconformances are found in these sections, their fitness for series production can be certified. However, if further problems, or previously undiscovered problems arise, the task force will go into action again until they find a perfect solution. If in doubt, GLA endurance test subjects are sent on their rounds again and the tests on devices such as the body testing facility or the road simulation test rig are intensified. After the closed-door meetings over the disassembled GLA, further assessments follow: in the appropriate development units the engine, transmission and 4MATIC drivetrain are then completely disassembled, measured and scrutinised.

Mercedes-Benz GLA Endurance Testing

Track & field endurance test: one of many

The track & field endurance test rounds off the extensive endurance testing programme carried out worldwide by Mercedes-Benz. This endurance testing programme differs fundamentally from the development and tuning runs performed on new models; these are done additionally. Whereas on these runs the characteristics laid down in the specifications book are verified, programmes like the track & field endurance test verify the reliability and durability of new models.

During the trials such as the road endurance test over 150,000 kilometres or the track & field endurance test over 80,000 kilometres, in which the focus is on the vehicle as a whole, the development engineers also carry out additional, specialised endurance tests:

• World endurance test: 50,000 km worldwide in extreme climatic and topographic conditions
• Trailer endurance test: 25,000 km with a special loaded trailer
• Rough road endurance test: 2000 km over extremely rough roads (“Heide” endurance test)
• Corrosion endurance test: 12-week testing in climate and corrosion chambers and on real-life routes
• Function tests: Checking of control systems and dynamic handling control systems on load-specific routes
• Hockenheim endurance test: 6000 km on the Grand Prix circuit at racing speed
• Full-load endurance tests over 30,000 or 50,000 km on cordoned-off high-speed tracks such as Nardo (southern Italy) or the Mercedes-Benz testing grounds in Papenburg, northern Germany
• Worldwide deployment: endurance testing in Europe, Asia and America verify fitness for series production.

GLA-Class Endurance Test

Sound basis for maximum stability

Nürburgring Nordschleife, Karussell section: The GLA prototype with 67,245 km on the clock drops at a speed of 120 km/h from the left into the high-bank curve which is interspersed with lateral joints, jolting chassis and driver to the limit. Despite the high levels of stress and strain, the compact SUV darts relatively unspectacularly through the 180-degree turn. “No jittering bodywork, high torsional or bending strength, no creaking noises – even after almost 5000 kilometres on the Nordschleife, the GLA body continues to impress me”, the experienced track & field test driver later wrote in his daily report.

Stetten military training site, Panzerringstrasse: On the rain-drenched unsurfaced road dotted with deep ruts, potholes, twists and turns, two GLA prototypes do their rounds at speed, throwing up plenty of mud and stones in the process. The track & field candidate from the Nürburgring endurance test is also in on the action here. With 73,290 km on the clock, it is nearing the end of its testing. The tormented body nevertheless bears up admirably, as confirmed by both the driver’s assessment and the recorded measurements. “The GLA’s body copes particularly effortlessly with winding stretches”, both test drivers confirm.

Just two test days, which serve to demonstrate the high levels of stress and strain to which the GLA’s body was subjected in the track & field endurance test. After completing the tortuous 80,000 kilometres of testing, the merits of the GLA’s chassis and body are established beyond doubt and confirm that this solid basis is built to last a vehicle’s lifetime in operation by the customer, even in the toughest service conditions. The GLA has an extremely rigid body, providing the basis for stable and safe handling characteristics both on and off the road, as well as best-in-class NVH comfort and outstanding passive safety. Weighing in at 400.3 kilograms, 73 percent of the bodyshell is comprised of high-strength and ultra-high-strength steels. In the area of the side roof frame and the new C-ring structure in the rear, hot-formed steels are used – ensuring the highest strength category possible for body steels.

It was decided at the beginning of the development phase that the new GLA was to have a number of features which would raise the vehicle to a class-leading position in terms of comfort, sense of spaciousness and practical attributes. Two aspects posed special challenges for the engineers with regard to the body: neither the very large roof opening nor the wide tailgate opening were to have any negative effect on stability and rigidity.

The GLA offers by far the largest glass roof in its class, with glass covering 64 percent of the roof surface area. As such, this feature guarantees a generous, light and airy feeling of spaciousness, thus enhancing comfort in both the front and rear.

As a result of this feature, the roof bows which are otherwise customary in this area had to be replaced by an appropriate construction in order to keep the torsional stiffness of the body at the same level as with a closed steel roof. This was achieved with a double-skinned roof frame to support the B-pillars, an enlargement of the cross-section at the D-ring, the mentioned heat-formed steels offering the highest possible strength and the use of an extremely sturdy glass sunroof frame firmly bolted to and bonded with the body structure.

The wide tailgate opening, which facilitates easy loading even with bulky objects, required a substantially more complex solution. The engineers at the Mercedes-Benz Technology Center (MTC) developed totally new body structures here. In addition to the D-ring familiar from other models, which forms the rear end of the body, a C-ring is also employed. These two closed ring structures form an extremely stable unit and ensure excellent torsional stiffness. In addition, the two rear shock-absorber strut fixtures are supported by the C-ring. This decisively improves the resistance to forces transmitted from the rear axle connection and thus the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) characteristics in general.

At the same time, the developers compensated the loads in the rear area of the body by means of the new spindle-type actuator of the optionally available automatic tailgate. Very high forces arise here particularly at the beginning of the automatic opening process. These are reliably absorbed by the highly robust combination of C and D-ring.

The outstanding stability of the GLA’s body-in-white will also be highlighted by the Mercedes-Benz GLA 45 AMG which is to be launched in due course. This high-power SUV with a 2.0-litre turbo engine offers an output of 265 kW (360 hp), maximum torque of 450 Newton metres and does not require any reinforcement of its body, despite its vast power.

GLA-Class Endurance Test

All set for any operating conditions: 4MATIC and 7G-DCT

The new 4MATIC from Mercedes-Benz is featuring for the first time in an SUV. This permanent all-wheel drive with fully variable torque distribution is tailor-made for the compact SUV GLA, as the off-road variant of the new 4MATIC all-wheel drive based on the front-wheel-drive architecture formed an integral part of the system development process. The engineers accorded due consideration to deployment in off-road vehicles right from the earliest phases of development. On the GLA 4MATIC models and with larger wheels, higher wheel torques apply in particular in off-road use, for example. The drive shafts require to be specially adapted to the optional raised off-road comfort suspension and the resultant articulation angle in the compensating joints. Both on and off-road, the new 4MATIC harmonises outstandingly with the 7G-DCT automated dual clutch transmission.

Looking smart off the beaten track with off-road control features

Vehicles with 4MATIC feature additional off-road control functions and Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR) as standard. DSR is activated via a control button in the centre console to assist the driver on steep and demanding downhill stretches. The vehicle speed which was previously set using the cruise control lever on the steering column and is shown on the central display is maintained automatically, as far as the physical limits allow. This is done with the help of the engine and transmission control systems, and by targeted brake intervention. Conversely, the start-off assist system and the HOLD function assist the driver when starting off uphill.

As a result of the off-road functions, the transmission shift points, accelerator pedal characteristics and thresholds of the dynamic handling control systems are adapted accordingly, resulting in substantially enhanced off-road capabilities. Another useful off-road option is the off-road comfort suspension (front +30 millimetres, rear +22 millimetres). This raising of the suspension yields several advantages. The resultant increase in spring travel provides the GLA’s wheels with longer ground contact and subsequent improved traction on heavily contoured terrain. Comfort is also enhanced, and the raised seat position provides better all-round visibility, both off and on-road.

GLA-Class Endurance Test

All-round view: off-road display and off-road lights

In combination with the Audio 20 CD (standard) and COMAND Online (optional extra), an on and off-road display can also be activated on the CENTRAL MEDIA DISPLAY. The steering angle and a compass are shown in this mode. The roll angle in degrees, the gradient in percent and activation of Downhill Speed Regulation DSR are also indicated. All 4MATIC models equipped with the Intelligent Light System (ILS) also feature off-road lights, which provide for improved visibility during night-time off-road driving. When travelling at low speeds in confusing off-road terrain, the broadest and brightest possible illumination of the area in front of the vehicle is expedient to enable more effective and faster recognition of obstacles. The off-road lights go on automatically when the driver activates the off-road drive programme while the headlamps are on. To this end, the bi-xenon headlamp modules pan outwards by 6 degrees, the luminous power of the xenon burner is increased by 3 W and a symmetrical light distribution is set. In addition, the LED cornering lights on both sides are switched to permanently lit mode, while dynamic curve illumination and range adjustment are deactivated. These settings ensure broader and brighter illumination of the area directly in front of the vehicle compared with ILS, which is optimised for on-road use. This helps the driver to find their way in off-road terrain substantially more effectively and enables any obstacles to be recognised more quickly. Off-road lights are active up to a speed of 50 km/h. Once the driver exceeds this threshold, ILS automatically switches back to the light functions optimised for road use.

GLA-Class Endurance Test

The “Heide” test – the mother of all car endurance trials

Anyone motoring around the Lüneburg Heath at the beginning of the 1950s needed to be brave, unflinching and able to shrug off the knocks that beckoned along the way. The routes around Hollenstedt and Moisburg had very little to do with what we generally understand by the term “road”. Asphalted surfaces were extremely rare and for the most part traffic had to make do with unsurfaced roads abounding in potholes and bumps or rough cobblestones that took their toll on body, suspension and occupants alike. Reports on the state of the roads here also filtered through to Stuttgart, where the development engineers at Mercedes-Benz were always on the look-out for suitable stretches on which to test new models. Following an extensive scouting expedition to the north of the young republic, the “Heide test” became a firmly established element of the Mercedes test programme. After completing a few drives at the “Heide”, it was clear that they had chanced upon an ideal testing area. The terrain proved such a trial for body, chassis and suspension that a degree of stress and strain corresponding to a car’s entire lifespan became apparent in the space of a few weeks.

So as to avoid the successive modernisation of the Lüneburg Heide infrastructure putting an end to the test drives, the stretches were duly duplicated, giving rise to authentic copies first of all at the Mercedes test site in Untertürkheim in the mid-1960s and later also at other test locations such as Sindelfingen or Papenburg. This was no simple matter, as a report from 1967 on the extended test site in Untertürkheim reveals:

“….In transferring particularly difficult stretches to the new site, the original profile was sampled with geodetic precision using iron wheels in two lanes and then plotted on graph paper. A wooden template was then produced, from which the concrete mix was removed in a final step. In this way, a test site with an endlessly diverse range of different stretches was painstakingly created. Half of the test sections totalling 15,460 m in length were provided with decidedly awful surfaces….”

The “Heide” test thus laid the foundation of today’s extensive endurance trials in which around 350 prototypes each year are required to demonstrate their resistance to extreme stress and strain. Close synchronisation between the real-life on and off-road endurance tests throughout the world and the numerous tests carried out on test rigs such as the body testing rig guarantees even more meaningful results. While roads such as those in the Lüneburg Heide around 1950 are very rarely to be found in central Europe today, the GLA is an SUV with off-road capabilities. This means that it is still required to stand up to test runs in conditions corresponding to those in the Lüneburg Heide shortly after the Second World War. In keeping with Mercedes-Benz’s philosophy on SUVs, even though only a small number of customers actually venture off road, cars with off-road capability such as the GLA are among the most robust and high-performance models within their market segment.

The new GLA-Class has successfully completed an endurance trial which, in addition to on-road testing, also takes in the stresses and strains typical of off-road all-wheel drive use. In the course of this track & field endurance trial extending over some nine months, a vehicle’s entire subsequent lifespan in the customer’s hands is simulated at time-lapse speed to verify the GLA’s fitness for series production.

GLA-Class 4MATIC

Like the undisputedly robust GLK-Class before it, the GLA-Class has also mastered a special endurance trial in the form of the track & field endurance test. Covering some 80,000 kilometres, this test is based on the “standard” road endurance tests and is supplemented by a number of special sections far off paved roads, a sprint programme at the Nürburgring Nordschleife and intensive trials in an Alpine environment. Following on from the GLA and GLK, the track & field endurance test extending over around nine months is set to remain the acid test for all vehicles belonging to the Mercedes-Benz small and compact SUV range.

Simulating the entire lifespan of a vehicle within nine months requires a defined load scenario which the test engineers realise with different “load collectives”. The track & field endurance test includes extensive drives on country roads, motorways or in inner-city stop-and-go traffic – disciplines familiar from the conventional road endurance testing programme covering 150,000 kilometres.

The track & field endurance test rounds off the extensive endurance testing programme carried out worldwide by Mercedes-Benz. This endurance testing programme differs fundamentally from the development and tuning runs performed on new models; these are done additionally. Whereas on these runs the characteristics laid down in the specifications book are verified, programmes like the track & field endurance test verify the reliability and durability of new models, thus ensuring their fitness for series production.

Endurance Testing at Mercedes-Benz

Aggravated conditions: Nürburgring, Alps, tank practice grounds

The notorious endurance runs on the world’s toughest race track – the Nürburgring Nordschleife – are well known. A one-kilometre sprint is equivalent to 20 kilometres in the real life of an automobile. And the GLA has to complete 240 laps or around 6000 kilometres here. This means the time spent at the Nürburgring adds up to the equivalent of 100,000 “real” kilometres. The endurance tests in an Alpine environment are similarly demanding. One stretch in the Italian Alps is a veritable helter-skelter ride, with one stage of the test along a distance of 154 kilometres taking in 9 Alpine passes and 450 bends. A difference in elevation of 4300 metres also has to be overcome, and the overall test distance on this track after 20 laps totals 3080 kilometres. The numerous winding bends impose a particular strain on both the chassis and the 4MATIC drivetrain as the vehicle accelerates out of the bends, and ensure that the dynamic handling control systems have their work cut out.

In view of its lineage, Mercedes-Benz requires the new compact SUV to prove its mettle off the beaten track too. After all, in deference to the G-Class – the grandfather of all SUVs and cross-country vehicles with the star – only those vehicles that also meet certain minimum requirements off-road may carry a “G” in their name. To ensure this, the track & field endurance test includes a run that very freely construes the term “primitive road” – the so-called tank ring road of a military training area of the German Armed Forces in southern Germany. Where giant chain-driven 62-tonne vehicles rated at 1103 kW (1500 hp) are normally to be found making their way to the various training areas, churning up the unpaved ground below them as they go, the GLA is required to demonstrate over 1000 kilometres that it is able to stand up to such adverse conditions on a sustained basis.

GLA Testing – World map

Grand finale with complete dismantling and detailed assessment

Before the various professional journals set about examining the solidity and reliability of the SUVs from Mercedes-Benz in endurance tests which generally cover over 100,000 kilometres, the test engineers had already performed this task a couple of dozen times – including complete dismantling. In all, 24 different GLA models completed the track & field endurance test and other endurance runs, clocking up some 1.8 million kilometres in the process. After the completed track & field endurance testing, all the GLA marathon runners were disassembled and their individual components were spread out like an automotive puzzle. Behind closed doors, the development and test engineers of the specialist departments subsequently evaluated all the vehicle components with reference to the test results, defining measures for optimising components as necessary.

Sound basis for maximum stability

The outstanding results of the endurance tests place the merits of the GLA’s chassis and body beyond doubt and confirm that this solid basis is built to last a vehicle’s lifetime in operation by the customer, even in the toughest service conditions. The GLA has an extremely rigid body, providing the basis for stable and safe handling characteristics both on and off the road, as well as best-in-class NVH comfort and outstanding passive safety. Weighing in at 400.3 kilograms, 73 percent of the bodyshell is comprised of high-strength and ultra-high-strength steels. In the area of the side roof frame and the new C-ring structure in the rear, hot-formed steels are used – ensuring the highest strength category possible for body steels.

The outstanding stability of the GLA’s body-in-white will also be highlighted by the Mercedes-Benz GLA 45 AMG which is to be launched in due course. This high-power SUV with a 2.0-litre turbo engine offers an output of 265 kW (360 hp), maximum torque of 450 Newton metres and does not require any reinforcement of its body, despite its vast power.

GLA-Class 4MATIC

All set for any operating conditions: 4MATIC and 7G-DCT

The new 4MATIC from Mercedes-Benz is featuring for the first time in an SUV. This permanent all-wheel drive with fully variable torque distribution is tailor-made for the compact GLA SUV, as the off-road variant of the new 4MATIC all-wheel drive based on the front-wheel-drive architecture formed an integral part of the system development process. The engineers accorded due consideration to deployment in off-road vehicles right from the earliest phases of development. Both on and off-road, the new 4MATIC harmonises outstandingly with the 7G-DCT automated dual clutch transmission.

Vehicles with 4MATIC feature additional off-road control functions and the corresponding presentation of off-road-related data on the CENTRAL MEDIA DISPLAY. In off-road transmission mode, the transmission shift points, accelerator pedal characteristics and thresholds of the dynamic handling control systems are adapted accordingly, resulting in substantially enhanced off-road capabilities. An off-road comfort suspension (front +30 millimetres, rear +22 millimetres) further broadens the scope of equipment on offer. DSR (Downhill Speed Regulation) is activated via a control button in the centre console to assist the driver on steep and demanding downhill stretches.

Mercedes-Benz officially unveiled the GLA 45 AMG concept SUV at the Los Angeles Auto Show Tuesday to a crowd of excited onlookers.

Mercedes engineers designed the GLA 45 AMG concept as a way to preview the upcoming production model, though we’re hoping quite a bit carries over.  The concept GLA has an aggressive exterior fitted with modified bumpers and a far more distinguished rear wing. The crossover SUV has also been fitted with a rear diffuser, four-tailpipe sports exhaust system as well as exterior side graphics, high-performance brakes and 21-inch forged alloy wheels.

Check out the photo gallery, video and press release below for an in-depth look at the Mercedes GLA 45 AMG Concept.

Official Press Release

At the Los Angeles International Auto Show (20 November to 1 December 2013), Mercedes-AMG will be presenting its outlook on a compact, high-performance SUV. The Concept GLA 45 AMG features an excitingly bold, distinctive design and is powered by the most muscular four-cylinder engine in series production anywhere in the world: its AMG 2.0-litre turbocharged engine with an output of 265 kW (360 hp) and maximum torque of 450 newton metres offers unrivalled performance in conjunction with low fuel consumption.

Tobias Moers, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH: “With the Concept GLA 45 AMG, we are setting a stake firmly in the ground of the strongly growing market segment of compact SUVs. Our customers – a young target group who set great store by styling, dynamism and independence – can now start looking forward to a dynamic high-performance car. The most powerful four-cylinder engine in the world and the AMG Performance 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system add up to make the Concept GLA 45 AMG a unique proposition.”

A seven in front of the comma in terms of fuel consumption per 100 kilometres (NEDC combined) and compliance with the EU 6 emissions standard go to show that superb performance at Mercedes-AMG does not come at the expense of environmental compatibility. Acceleration from zero to 100 km/h in under five seconds demonstrates the dynamism that is so typical of the brand. Thanks to a combination of the performance-oriented AMG 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system and the AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports transmission, the drive configuration of the Concept GLA 45 AMG impresses with its sporty yet also efficient performance.

Powerful and muscular: breathtaking design

Stunning engineering is combined with some breathtaking styling features by Mercedes-AMG: the Concept GLA 45 AMG has a powerful and muscular presence on the road. This is due in considerable part to the AMG forged wheels in a cross-spoke design with 255/35 R 21 tyres. Painted matt black with a red rim flange, they certainly attract attention. They are complemented by the AMG wheel hub covers with centre lock-look, plus an AMG high-performance braking system with red brake callipers.

The large front splitter in high-gloss black on the AMG front apron, the black flics (air deflectors) with additional flics, together with the large cooling air intakes, serve to underline the long tradition of motorsport at Mercedes-AMG. The motor racing look is further reinforced by the start number “45” on the doors and the distinctive AMG logo at the upper edge of the windscreen. Further design elements exclusive to AMG include the “twin-blade” radiator grille in silver chrome, the side sill panels with high-gloss black inserts, the “TURBO AMG” lettering on the front wings, the high-gloss black roof rails and the large rear aerofoil.

Sporty wraps and red highlights

The sporty silver grey/red foil wrap on the bonnet, vehicle sides, C-pillar and rear end makes a memorable impression and is complemented by the red highlights on the radiator grille, exterior mirrors, diffuser insert and AMG rear aerofoil. The rear view is dominated by the diffuser insert with black trim element and by the twin-tailpipe design of the two rectangular, high-gloss black tailpipe trims of the AMG sports exhaust system with exhaust flap.

When the all-new Mercedes-Benz GLA premiered in Frankfurt, it was welcomed with excitement and , for us, a boxful of emails with comments and reader requests for more information. Now the excitement is beginning again. Mercedes has revealed that at the time of the compact SUV’s market launch in March 2014, there will also be an exclusive Edition 1 GLA variant. The Mercedes GLA Edition 1 will be available to order from the end of November for approximately one year after market launch.

“With the new GLA we are opening up the compact SUV segment for Mercedes-Benz,” said Ola Källenius, Member of the Divisional Board Mercedes‑Benz Cars Marketing & Sales. “The GLA adds a new emotional variant to the comprehensive SUV range from Mercedes-Benz with which we aim to win over numerous new customers to our brand. Our exclusive Edition 1 is a particularly alluring proposition to boost the market launch.”

Mercedes-Benz GLA Edition 1

The Edition 1 of the GLA impresses with exclusive details both inside and out. The exterior is based on the Urban line with simulated underguard and roof rails in chrome. Further features include bi-xenon headlamps, 19-inch AMG light-alloy wheels finished in high-gloss black, a black radiator grille louvre with chrome inserts, black-painted exterior mirrors, black waistline trim strips and dark-tinted glass starting from the B-pillars. The Edition 1 will be available exclusively in the paint finishes cirrus white, orient brown metallic, mountain grey metallic and designo magno mountain grey (from autumn 2014). The special model is recognisable thanks to the “Edition 1” lettering on the front wings.

Mercedes-Benz GLA Edition 1 2013, cirrus white, nut brown leather / Alvorada fabric, interior

Interior highlights include the DESERT DUST interior with

• seats which are only available in the Edition 1 upholstered in nut brown leather and Alvorada fabric with striking moccasin stitching
• 3-spoke multifunction sports steering wheel in leather, with perforated grip area and flattened bottom section
• sports pedals in brushed stainless steel with rubber studs
• aluminium trim with trapezoidal grain
• air vents with nozzle ring and cross element in silver chrome
• cover over the stowage compartment in the centre console
• cord floor mats with stitching in the appointments colour
• black roof liner and

Light and Sight package (single-tone ambient lighting; illumination of the stowage compartment in the centre console; illuminated make-up mirror for driver and front passenger; illuminated front door sill panels with Mercedes lettering; front and rear footwell lighting; interior mirror with additional lighting; rear lighting with integral reading lamps and locator lighting; windscreen wipers with rain sensor, courtesy and warning lights for driver and front passenger doors).

With its exclusive appointments, the GLA Edition 1 underscores the strengths of the first compact SUV from Mercedes-Benz: progressive in design, serene in day-to-day motoring and with an off-road capability – as a wanderer between automotive worlds, the Mercedes-Benz GLA impressively reinterprets the compact SUV segment. It lightfootedly masters all day-to-day challenges and is also robust enough for off-road excursions.

The first Mercedes-Benz in the fast-growing compact SUV segment is highly manoeuvrable around town (length x width x height: 4417 x 1804 x 1494 mm), lively on country and pass roads and dynamic and efficient on the motorway (Cd figure 0.29).

The GLA is available with the new generation of 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive with fully variable torque distribution as an option.

As a serene day-to-day companion the GLA has a flexible and variable interior. The rear seat backrests can not only be folded down completely, but are also adjustable for angle if required. The large luggage compartment (421 – 1235 litres) is well-presented and can be loaded without difficulty thanks to the low loading sill and the wide tailgate, which opens automatically as an option.

The particularly rigid body structure provides a reliable basis for a wide range of applications. Initially the power range of the 1.6 and 2.0-litre petrol engines will extend from 115 kW (156 hp) in the GLA 200 to 155 kW (211 hp) in the GLA 250.

The two diesel engines excel with dynamic torque and outstanding efficiency: The GLA 200 CDI develops 100 kW (136 hp), has a displacement of 2.2 litres and maximum torque of 300 Nm. It emits only 114 g of CO2 per kilometre. The GLA 220 CDI likewise has a displacement of 2.2 litres and develops 125 kW (170 hp) and 350 Nm.

As of late, Mercedes seems to have an answer to all of it’s competitor’s models.  But one model we’ve yet to see Mercedes announce is a three-door crossover to do battle with the Range Rover Evoque.  Best filling the gap for Mercedes-Benz would be a three-door variant of the all-new GLA and thanks to master rendering artist, Theophilus Chin, we have a good idea of what a three-door GLA would look like.

Like the Range Rover Evoque, which is available in five or three door models, the three-door GLA would be shorter than the five-door model with a significantly more sloped roofline to create a more coupe like appearance unlike the more boxy Evoque.

Check out the photo gallery below for the Mercedes-Benz GLA three-door renderings and click here for more information on the Mercedes GLA.

The newest model from Mercedes-Benz – the 2015 GLA-Class – will make its world premiere in just two weeks at the Frankfurt International Motor Show. Scheduled to hit showrooms in the fall of 2014, the new GLA will compete with cars like the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and the Range Rover Evoque. But how will it fair against such worthy competitors?

First let’s look at it’s size.  Measuring in at 173.9 inches long, 71 inches wide and 58.8 inches tall, the 2015 GLA is larger than its sleek design reveals, and similar in size to its closest competitors in the luxury compact SUV segment.  One thing that’s not similar, however is the GLA’s fuel efficiency, with the new compact Mercedes boasting performance as high as 37 mpg, whereas the Range Rover Evoque tops out at 28, the BMW X1 at 34 and the Audi Q3 at nearly 27 mpg.  As such, the 2015 GLA is the ideal choice for commuters and virtually anyone that would rather spend their money on something other than gas.

At it’s core, the GLA is a Mercedes, full of premium features we’ve come to expect from a Mercedes-Benz. But the GLA is more than just a luxury vehicle, it’s a true SUV, youthful and perfectly suited to fit all your weekend getaway gear:  bikes, surfboards, etc. The GLA is a Mercedes that’s been designed with the active buyer in mind.  In terms of performance, one key thing to note is that the 4MATIC GLA has been fitted with DSR or Downhill Speed Regulation as well as an off-road transmission mode. So while you may not be doing IRON-Schöckl along side the G-Class, you’ll have no problem in everyday off-road situations.

Another key area that makes the 2015 Mercedes GLA stand ahead of its competitors is in the immense amount of tech Mercedes has packed into it, starting with the Mercedes mbrace2 system. Mbrace2 allows users to stay connected at all times, whether it be for online, concierge services, smartphone connection, etc.  Users are able to take advantage of the newest cloud technology in order to access your personal content.

And while it may not be the first thing on a buyer’s mind, the GLA is packed full of safety features that until recently were only found on the top of the line Mercedes models. These include Attention Assist, to make sure you stay alert while driving; Collision Prevention Assist, a brake assist system that activates at only 4 mph; and Distronic Plus, which when combined with Collision Prevention Assist, will automatically brake the car for you in the event it detects an impending crash situation. Then there’s the Blind Spot and Lane Keeping Assist, Park Assist, and the list goes on.

All of this adds up to the fact that when the new GLA hits the market next Fall, it will will without question be the leader in its respective segment.

Stay tuned as we bring you coverage from the Frankfurt Motor Show with more photos and information on the all-new 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA.

After teasing us with sketches and videos, Mercedes-Benz has officially unveiled the all-new 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA ahead of its world premier next month at the International Motor Show.  Featuring progressive design that allows for comfortable day-to-day driving as well as rugged off-road capability – the 2015 GLA redefines the compact SUV segment.

2015 Mercedes GLA SUV

The first Mercedes-Benz to enter the rapidly expanding compact SUV segment is exceptionally manageable around town (length 173.9″ x width 71″ x height 58.8″), speedy and comfortable on country roads and athletic and efficient on the highway. The highquality appointments, developed with much attention to detail, and the versatile interior clearly position the GLA as a premium compact SUV.

The 2015 GLA-Class is the first Mercedes-Benz SUV to be available with the new-generation permanent all-wheel drive system 4MATIC, with fully variable torque distribution.

2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA

The new GLA rounds off the extensive SUV portfolio of Mercedes-Benz. With five model series (GLA, GLK, ML, GL and G), the company offers the widest range of any European premium manufacturer, and meets all the individual mobility wishes of its customers.

“With the compact GLA we add a fifth attractive SUV variant to the Mercedes-Benz model portfolio in this constantly growing segment. The GLA impresses mainly with its progressive character and agile handling,” says Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars. “So I am very confident that the GLA with its fascinating design and high everyday practicality will fill many new customers with enthusiasm for the Mercedes-Benz brand.”

2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA Compact SUV

As an everyday vehicle, the GLA has a flexible and variable interior. The rear seat backrests fold down completely, and the generous luggage compartment is well laid-out and can be loaded without difficulty thanks to the low loading sill and the wide tailgate, which can open automatically as an option. The especially rigid body structure provides a reliable basis for the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 208 hp and 258 lb.-ft. of torque.

As an SUV, the all-new GLA combines the design values of Progression and Tradition, and is the SUV of the future. It is a utility player with hallmark Mercedes-Benz SUV genes, but more youthful, sculptural and full of subtle drama.

The 2015 GLA has an upright front end with a central star

The prominent and self-assured, upright front end with a central star lends a muscular and superior impression to the GLA. Powerdomes grace the hood as sporty highlights, and the twin-louver grille accentuates the vehicle’s width. An impressive front face is ensured by the headlamps and available LED daytime running lamps. This iconic Mercedes-Benz design feature was developed further using tri-functional fiber-optics, and gives the vehicle its characteristic light signature. The front bumper features diamond-pattern grilles in front of the cooling air intakes. The standard fog lamps are integrated into the front bumper. A simulated skid plate and contrasting dark-grey sill panels all-around emphasize the SUV characteristics of the GLA. The panels begin low down at the front bumper and provide protection against stone impact.

2015 Mercedes GLA Side View

The side view of the GLA likewise conveys power and serenity. Following the design philosophy, the “dropping line” emerges at the headlamp and extends to the rear wheel arch. The line of the beltline trim gradually rises from the rear door to the C-pillar. Together the light-catching contour on the curvature and the counter-line to the dropping line at side sill height create an interplay of lines that lends the car flowing power and subtle drama. The side panel has depressions shaped like an excavator’s teeth to accentuate the SUV character. Chrome roof rails complete the side profile at the top as standard, and as an optional extra roof rails in high-gloss black are available. The GLA features 18-inch wheels as standard equipment, with 19-inch wheels available as an option.

The muscular shoulders over the rear axle are emphasized even further by the inward taper of the C-pillars. In combination with the divided tail lights, this emphasizes the width of the rear end. Its shape is both dramatic and visually unified.

Mercedes GLA Rear View

This impression is heightened by the curved rear window and the sweeping chrome handle between the tail lights. Thanks to the divided tail lights, the cargo opening is conveniently wide. The large roof spoiler is another eyecatching feature. It shares the structure of the rear roof trim and accommodates the third brake light. In the area of the rear bumper trim there are other SUV-specific features such as a robust external loading sill guard and a skid plate available in silver-metallic.

Aerodynamics: goodbye to box-shaped

With the GLA, yet another model series becomes the leader in its segment with respect to aerodynamic efficiency. At 0.66 m2 the frontal area Cd x A, which greatly impacts fuel consumption from around 37 mph, is a top figure.

The good air flow characteristics, which are a major factor in the vehicle’s low fuel consumption in everyday conditions, result from numerous aerodynamic optimization measures. These include a low A-pillar step with suitable geometry and aerodynamically optimized exterior mirror housings. The rear end is also streamlined. The measures here include the roof spoiler lip and the aerodynamically shaped tail lights. Rear spoilers at the sides ensure that the airflow breaks off for optimal aerodynamic efficiency. Seals in the front bumper (radiator area incl. around the headlamps) round off the aerodynamic measures.

2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

Extensive underbody paneling, additional paneling in the middle area of the rear axle and an aerodynamically optimized rear silencer followed by a diffuser improve the flow of air beneath the underbody.

Numerous measures have also been taken to reduce wind noise in the GLA. These include a multi-level door sealing concept, additional sealing of the joint between the tailgate and the roof and side seals on the tailgate. Especially rigid window frames prevent the airflow from pulling on the doors at higher speeds, and reduce vibrations. External noise has also been minimized by the low Apillar and exterior mirrors connected to the body by a stem.

For more information on the 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA, we have an overview here and interior information here.

The muscular and imposing appearance of the exterior is systematically continued into the interior. This has an especially high-quality feel that is achieved by the contours, choice and combinations of high-grade materials. All trim surfaces are galvanized in silver-shadow for material authenticity, resulting in a metallic finish with a “cool-touch” effect. The impression is one of perfect detail. The heavy emphasis on horizontals, the dynamic design and the highly attractive design features are other high-quality attributes. The same applies to the great precision of joints and gap dimensions.

2015 Mercedes GLA Interior dashboard

The dashboard consists of an upper and lower section, allowing surface structures that are different in look and feel. Matte and glossy 3D geometries (graining) create an attractive light effect. The three-dimensional trim section of aluminum or wood lends a new, modern touch to the interior. The available matte satin finish of the wood trim is a further enhancement to the modernity, and makes the surface especially pleasant to the touch.

Five round air vents are integrated into the dashboard. As an exclusive GLA feature, the galvanized bezels around these circular vents echo the SUV-look of the skid plate and side sill panels. The direction of the airflow can be varied by butterfly-shaped inserts.

GLA Inteiror

The large, free-standing display has a high-gloss facing in piano-black and a flush-fitting surround in silver-shadow. This gives the display an especially high-quality look. A 3-spoke steering wheel with 12 function keys and a galvanized chrome clasp is standard equipment. When at rest the needles are in the 6 o’clock position. The needle inlays are always in silver.

The choice of seat upholsteries (standard MB-Tex or optional leather) and color combinations allows plenty of scope for individualization. Sports seats with integrated head restraints are available as part of the optional Interior Package.

2015 Mercedes GLA Interior

The premium quality of the sports seats is emphasized by the opening in the lower section of the head restraint. On the rear of the front seats this space is framed by silver-shadow trim, and can have ambient lighting on request.

Set into a galvanized surround, the controls for the standard power driver’s seat adjustment with memory are arranged on the interior door panels in typical Mercedes style – a unique feature in this segment. The interior door panels are likewise of extremely high quality. The soft, matte surfaces extend right from the beltline to the door pocket. In combination with the equipment packages the door armrests have a high-quality chrome trim strip and standard ambient lighting.

For more information on the 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA, we have an overview here and exterior information here.

Mercedes-Benz released the first official video of the 2014 GLA that is scheduled to make its world premier at next month’s International Motor Show in Frankfurt. Watch the video below for the first video preview of Mercedes’ new compact SUV.

Also, skip down to the gallery for a look at the Mercedes GLA design sketches, spy photos and the concept model that was revealed earlier this year at the Shanghai Auto Show.

We’ve already brought you numerous spy photos of the forthcoming 2014 Mercedes GLA, but up until today they’ve showed almost exclusively the exterior.  Today, however, we have a virtually undisguised interior shot showing exactly what to expect from the new baby SUV.

As you’ll see, the interior largely resembles the A-Class hatchback, include the circular air vents, COMAND display and metallic accents.  This doesn’t come as much of a shock, however, as the GLA is based on the A-Class.  Engine wise, look for options again similar to that of the A-Class, with power topping out at the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbo with 360 HP (265 kW) currently found in the A45 AMG.

Look for the 2014 Mercedes GLA to makes its debut in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show.  Until then, see more of the 2014 GLA in the gallery below.

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLA has once again been spied testing, this time with a bit less camo showing off more of it’s body ahead of its Frankfurt Motor Show debut this September.  The last few times we saw the GLA testing, it was in Dubai, on the Nürburgring dressed up as a taxi and as a concept in Shanghai.

The newest photos reveal the GLA crossover’s optional panoramic roof as well as the standard, bits of the taillights and uncovered external side mirrors. The focal point of the GLA is the pronounced grille and sweeping headlights.  As for the inside of the Mercedes GLA, it will likely mimic interior of the MFA platform sharing A-Class.

The GLA’s engine range will include multiple four-cylinder gas and diesel engines as well as a possible 354 HP 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder turbo for an AMG variant.

HT: Andrus via GMotors

Mercedes-Benz showed off it’s brand new compact premium-class SUV concept at the “Auto Shanghai” motor show in April and now we are seeing more and more spy photos of the Mercedes GLA in production form emerge as it’s September debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show draws near.

The most recent spy photos and video show Mercedes’ answer to the BMW X1, testing under the sun on the streets of Dubai.  The last time we saw the compact crossover, it was sporting taxi gear and winding it’s way around the Nürburgring.

Beneath the not so flattering black camouflage, it looks as though the GLA may have lost some of the sleeker, sporty compact crossover  styling and lines that we originally saw from the concept and so hoped we would see in production – we will likely see the lines of the GLA concept come back on the AMG model.

The GLA’s engine range will be similar to that of the A-Class which means we will see several 4-cylinder units with outputs of up to 211 HP (155 kW) with an AMG model that will likely be powered by a direct-injected 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder gasoline engine that will produce around 354 HP (260 kW).

Check out the photo gallery below for a compilation of GLA spy photos as well as the GLA Concept photos for comparison sake.

Photos via AutoCar.

What looks to be a Mercedes-Benz GLA taxi was recently spied testing on the Nürburgring. Mercedes has yet to break into the huge U.S. taxi market and with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announcing the Nissan NV200 as the New York Taxicab of Tomorrow, replacing New York’s 13,000 yellow cabs, Mercedes is not likely to be seen donning the classic yellow hue anytime soon.  But, around the rest of the world, Mercedes, specifically the E-Class and B-Class, taxicabs are among the most popular.

The new Mercedes GLA concept debuted in April at the Shanghai Auto Show with a production model expected at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September sporting a wider range of 4-cylinder petrol and diesel engines.

HT: Andrus via GMotors

Mercedes-Benz will be showing off a brand new compact premium-class SUV at the “Auto Shanghai” motor show, beginning on Sunday, April 21 and running through April 29, in the form of its all-new Concept GLA. With the Concept GLA, Mercedes combines dynamic styling with recreational purpose. Under the hood of the new GLA concept, measureing length/width/height: 4383/1978/1579 millimetres, sits a four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine rated at 155 kW (211 hp) with a displacement of 1991 cc. Its power is transmitted to the road via the 7G-DCT dual clutch automatic transmission and 4MATIC all-wheel drive. A new approach is taken here in the form of headlamps featuring laser technology: these not only shine more light on the road, but also function as projectors.

“The Concept GLA marks a new approach for us in the compact SUV segment – this is a sporty and more coupé-like evolution of this category of vehicle”, commented Dr Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Mercedes-Benz Cars, Sales and Marketing. “The Concept GLA is a compact SUV that combines its sporting spirit with the all-round qualities of a tough, leisure-time companion. ‘Escape the everyday’ is the message that this car conveys to its driver. It also makes clear the further potential of our compact vehicle architecture, which provides the basis for the A- and B-Class models that led the German market in their respective segments in the first quarter of 2013.”

Clever use of SUV design cues: the exterior design

Clear evidence of the innovative thinking on the part of the designers that has gone into this concept vehicle is provided by a number of distinctive features. These include the powerful bonnet with its powerdomes and a sporty radiator grille with centrally positioned star. The new-style surround to the star merges elegantly into two horizontal bars. Likewise new are the so-called “softcubes”: these are soft, raised pads that help to give definition to the radiator grille and are also to be found on the side sill panels and alongside the exhaust tailpipes.

The distinctive door mirrors, with their twin supporting struts, are fitted with a protective grille. This, like the underride guard at the front, is very much a typical SUV feature. The striking appearance of the Concept GLA is also, not least, the result of its silver Alubeam paint finish.

Seen from the side, too, the Concept GLA conveys a sense of power and confidence. This reinforces the overall design philosophy behind the vehicle with a “dropping line” that extends from the headlamp to the rear wheel arch. The beltline trim rises slightly from the rear door towards the C-pillar. Together with the light-catching contour formed by the curvature of the vehicle flank and the line that rises from the level of the door sill towards the dropping line, this creates a unique interplay of lines that adds to the sense of elegant dynamism. The slim door handles of the five-door vehicle are fully recessed, emerging at the touch of a button. The frameless side windows also emphasise the coupé characteristics of this concept vehicle.

The 20-inch wheels, with their distinctive five-spoke turbine design, are shod in size 255/45 R 20 tyres. These have been specifically created for the Concept GLA: their tread pattern continues the lines of the spokes in an optical illusion that makes the latter appear longer.

The muscular haunches above the rear axle, accentuated by the way the C-pillar is pulled in slightly, extend to the rear over the light clusters, so also emphasising the broad stance of the tail end. The outcome is a powerfully taut arc that nevertheless avoids aggression. This impression is reinforced by the curvature of the rear window and the elegant chrome strip between the rear light clusters. The large roof spoiler is a further eye-catching feature. This follows through very neatly on the structure of the rear roof panelling and provides the housing for the additional brake light.

Further SUV references, such as a load sill guard and a concealing underride fascia panel, are to be found in the area of the rear bumper covering. The twin-pipe exhaust system is evidence of the car’s sporty aspirations.

The tailgate features a power closing system that allows it to be opened or closed at the touch of a button. Opening the tailgate with its integrated rear light cluster reveals supplementary lights to warn approaching vehicles of the open tailgate. Further light clusters are housed in the rear cross member between the roof rails.

Perfect craftsmanship: the interior

In terms of its design, the interior reflects a clear alignment with the interiors of the other new compact Mercedes models, reinterpreted here for a sophisticated and exceptionally high-quality SUV. It is dominated by an exciting juxtaposition of leather and dark galvanised aluminium. The four individual seats and the door centre panels are upholstered in natural leather in a rich shade of brown. Both colour and workmanship bring the image of a saddle to mind: all in all, the Concept GLA incorporates more than 20 metres of hand-stitched seams to hold the raw edges of the leather together. The seat cushions, which feature central inlay panels in a high-quality canvas material, display an embossed pattern that continues the saddle theme. An illuminated insert is set into the integrated head restraint of each of the four sports seats.

Grey leather with a graphically applied grain is used on the backs of the front seats, amongst other places, and continues the idea of patterns being continued over from other surfaces. The armrests and centre panels of the door linings are designed as a very clear structural unit.

The instrument panel is constructed in several layers. On top of a leather-upholstered surface sits a framework in a combination of matt and polished aluminium, which provides the necessary support for all the instruments. This is held in place by clearly visible screws, featuring a specially devised design. This unit is protected from dust and dirt by a plexiglas covering that is illuminated from behind, so adding to the impression that the different levels are free-floating. The control buttons for COMAND Online have also been crafted with meticulous technical precision. They are made of plexiglas and painted from the back in black. Pictograms are then etched into the black, also from the back, before being filled in.

The air vents in the instrument panel as well as in the rear represent a further stylistic development of the vents used in the Concept A-CLASS and Concept Style Coupé, and are likewise illuminated from behind. They change colour according to the interior temperature set by the occupants. At a temperature of 22 degrees Celsius they light up in white. If a cooler temperature is selected for the interior, they turn blue, while opting for an influx of warm air switches the illumination to red.

Fibre-optic ambient lighting in the load compartment visually extends the line drawn by the centre console all the way from the instrument panel through to the rear seats. A rectangle of lighting strip inset into the load compartment floor serves to highlight its level surface. Luggage can be secured firmly with a spring-loaded four-point harness, as used in helicopters. A simple handle is used to fold the backrests of the rear sports seats forward to create a level load compartment floor.

Laser light: new-style headlamps project light and images

Film time! The front headlamps of the Concept GLA are each fitted with a laser-beam projector. These not only provide the light to drive by, but are also capable of projecting pictures or films onto a screen or other surface. Any format that can be operated through COMAND Online can serve as a source: pictures or films from a smartphone, the internet, or from a hard drive.

Alternatively, the action can be produced live. The Concept GLA is fitted with two cameras, housed in the front roof rail. And these can be used for far more than just 3D images taken as the Concept GLA drives along: the HD cameras can be removed and, for example, fitted to a mountain bike helmet. An additional lamp unit in each camera ensures that the lighting is right, whatever the situation. As an alternative to the projection option, films may also be viewed inside the car on the COMAND Online screen.

The laser-beam projectors represent far more than simply an academic exercise on the part of the engineers and designers at Mercedes-Benz. As a further enhancement of the head-up display, they could also help to improve road safety: the technology could be used, for example, to project the directional instructions from the navigation system onto the road in the form of arrows – in this way other road users, too, would be able to see where a driver is heading.

Laser and LED technology: the headlamps

It is not only the laser-beam projectors and their visible cooling system provided by rotating vents that make the shimmering blue headlamps of the Concept GLA such an interesting feature. With the “Coming home” function, the blue light begins to pulsate to indicate that the vehicle is ready and waiting for its driver.

While the driving lights are produced here for the first time by a laser beam reflected off a mirror lens, the daytime running lamps, with their characteristic “torch” effect, as well as the indicator lights, consist of LEDs. The indicators take the form of digital chase lighting strips and, as such, represent a further development of the “Mexican wave” design used on the Concept Style Coupé.

Good morning everyone, we’re kicking things off with the first look at official photos of the all new Mercedes-Benz GLA model.  The compact Mercedes-Benz off-road GLA will premiere at the Shanghai Auto Show this Saturday and will surely steal the show.

The new GLA crossover measure in at 172.4 inches long, 77.6 inches wide and 61.8 inches tall, all set on a 106.3-inch wheelbase. The GLA’s power comes from an inline-four 2.0-liter turbo gas engine that has been taken from the Mercedes A250.  The engine outputs 211 HP (155 kW and is linked to a 7G-DCT dual-clutch gearbox sending power to its 4MATIC all-wheel drive system.

The production version will be revealed in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show and will be offered with an engine lineup  carried over from the hatchback, meaning it will be offered with a variety of 4-cylinder gas and diesel engines which produce up to 211 HP (155 kW). There is also an AMG variant rumored with a 4-cylinder, 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that is capable of generating around 354 HP (260 kW).

The Mercedes GLA 45 AMG is expected to make its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September and will likely be powered by the A45 AMG Engine.  In the mean time, we have the latest spy photos of the GLA 45 AMG testing near the Nürburgring this week.

If powered by the Mercedes A45 AMG’s engine, it will be a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder turbocharged engine delivering 360 HP (265 kW) and 332 lb-ft (450 Nm) of torque. An AMG SPEED SHIFT DCT seven-speed sports transmission with race start and double declutching functions, as well as three driving programs will send power to the 4MATIC system.

Additional upgrades of the standard GLA model will include a lowered suspension, more aggressive body kit and the standard AMG interior upgrades.

The standard GLA version will go on sale by the end of the year, while the AMG model will arrive early on in 2014.