A day ahead of its first appearance in front of the public at the Auto Shanghai 2013, a trailer of the Mercedes GLA Concept has been released.
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The Mercedes GLA Concept is one sturdy crossover with a brawny stance. It's close relationship with the highly successful A Class is evident by the looks of the front fascia.
The GLA is characterized by an inflated nose and a prominent front grill which carries an XXL sized three pointed star logo. The shape of the headlamps closely resemble that of the A Class but has a blue tint.
The bumper has air intakes on either side while the foglamps are integrated into the chrome finished secondary air dam. And there are roof mounted lights and a scuff plate to enhance the offroading traits of the crossover.
The side profile shares nothing with Mercedes' previous SUVs. Steeply raked A-pillar, high waistline and strong creases are very untypical of Mercedes, but in a positive way. The tight roofline ends in an arching rear fascia which is vaguely similar to the Audi Q3. Black cladding for the side skirts and wheel arches is an interesting touch. The stylish 20" alloy wheels further add to the high riding stance.
The rear windshield diverges from the roofline to form a bulging hip. We would love to see the horseshoe shaped taillights to filter into the production version as well. A prominent diffuser houses dual rectangular exhaust tips.
The interior is dramatic to say the least. Every single element right from the detailing of aircon vents to the passenger side of dashboard looks futuristic. The dual tone brown and grey leather trim is sure to amuse most of the people. The rear passengers get dedicated AC vents and the rear seats can be folded flat.
The GLA is expected to be powered by a 2.0 litre turbo petrol engine which develops 211 bhp. The power goes to the 4MATIC all wheel drive system via a 7-speed DCT gearbox. The production version of the car is expected to share its powertrains with the A Class.
The production version of the Mercedes GLA is expected to be showcased at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
