Frankfurt 2013: Mercedes GLA
Merc to build CLA-based Evoque-fighter
By Imthishan Giado
Trust Mercedes to join the party late. Compact premium SUVs are amongst the hottest segments in the industry right now: Audi’s got two entries in the Q3, Q5 and the upcoming Q1, while BMW touts the X1 and X3. And of course, there’s the current segment champ, the Range Rover Evoque.
It’s the last one that Merc has turned to for inspiration for its entry, the GLA, a four-cylinder turbocharged compact crossover based on the A-Class platform and the CLA. The front end certainly shows plenty of A-Class influence with the creased hood and snouty front fascia that flows into taut character lines along its flanks.
Erm…honestly speaking, it looks a lot like a slightly jacked-up A-Class (not helped by having exactly the same interior as an A-Class) or one that’s been on the photopier with 125% zoom.
Expect it to launch with that car’s powertrain as well, a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 208bhp and 184lb ft of torque with a seven speed dual clutch hooked to Stuttgart’s trademark 4MATIC four-wheel drive system.
Merc says the GLA250 will do 0-100 in 6.4 seconds, pretty quick, but we’d wait for when they inevitably plonk the CLA45’s mad 360bhp drivetrain under the hood.
