2014 Auto Expo: Mercedes-Benz GLA SUV showcased
Mercedes was on an offensive in India in 2013 and it saw them head back to the top of the market. The company plans to continue the offensive in 2014 and has a comprehensive plan in terms of launches. The company intends to launch up to nine  models and variants over the year and the compact GLA-Class SUV is one of them.
Design wise the GLA is a compact SUV that will be at home in the city. Space wise it's a comfortable fit but this is not a very spacious car by any stretch of imagination. What it does offer, like its smaller siblings is oodles of style thanks to an A-Class style face, low A pillar, pinched window line and muscular rear end.
The GLA is based on the same platform as the A, B and CLA-Class. It is a soft-roader in nature and will be front wheel drive. We expect both petrol and diesel options. The diesel engine will be a more powerful version of the 2.2-litre engine in the A and B-Class. Transmission duties will be handled by a 7-speed dual clutch automatic. Mercedes offers the GLA in AMG spec as the GLA 45 AMG which uses a similar powertrain to the CLA 45 AMG. However Mercedes-Benz has no plans to bring that SUV to India.
The company plans to bring the GLA down to India at a later stage in 2014. As usual the company is providing no no pricing details. However going by international standards and the fact that the GLA will come to India as a CBU we expect it to be priced along par with the higher variants of locally assembled rivals like the BMW X1.