2014 Mercedes Benz GLA Crossover unveiled at Frankfurt

The 2014 Mercedes Benz GLA crossover, the German luxury car maker's answer to the likes of the Audi Q3 and the BMW X1 has been unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany. Mercedes Benz India's managing director Mr Eberhard Kern has hinted that the GLA crossover could be launched in India next year, making this unveil all the more interesting from an Indian perspective.

From the released official imagery of the GLA, and also its dimensions, it is clear that the crossover is a butch and jacked up version of the A-Class hatchback. Like the A-Class hatchback, the GLA crossover is based on the MFA platform. The GLA crossover comes with dimensions (length x width x height: 4,414 mm x 1,804 mm x 1,494 mm) that are larger than the A-Class hatchback.

These larger dimensions and the 4MATIC four wheel drive system means that the crossover also gets a more powerful turbo petrol and turbo diesel engine line up. The 1.6 liter turbo petrol engine outputs 156 Bhp-250 Nm (GLA 200) while the 2 liter turbo petrol engine is good for 211 Bhp-350 Nm (GLA 250).

The 2.2 liter turbo diesel engine is available with 136 Bhp-300 Nm (GLA 200 CDI) and 170 Bhp-350 Nm (GLA 220 CDI) states of tune. A 6 speed manual gearbox is standard on the GLA 200 and the GLA 200 CDI variants while the GLA 250 and GLA 220 CDI variants come with the 7 speed dual clutch gearbox as standard.

The styling of the GLA crossover is inspired heavily by the A-Class hatchback and so are the interiors, which are shared with the hatchback model, albeit with detailing changes. Such parts sharing is the cornerstone of the MFA platform, which forms the basis of entry-level affordable luxury cars from the car brand with the three pointed star. 

Orders for the GLA crossover will be taken from November 2013 with deliveries to commence in early 2014. The crossover is expected to follow the CLA sedan into the Indian car market sometime late next year. CKD assembly at Mercedes Benz India's Chakan factory is likely for all MFA platform cars including the GLA and CLA models.