Mercedes-Benz GLA Crossover makes it Indian Debut

Mercedes-Benz was aggressive in 2013 and it launched a series of new products in the Indian car market. At the 2014 Auto Expo, the German luxury carmaker has unveiled the new GLA Crossover, which is likely to be launched by the end of this year or by early 2015. It will compete against the likes of Audi Q3 and BMW X1.

Based on the A-Class hatchback platform, and seems like a bigger or an elevated version of the hatch. It is based on the MFA platform, and looks more practical than the concept model, offering five standard seats. It has plastic sills and wheel arches to give the SUV a more rugged appearance.  The crossover is basically a soft-roader and it will be a front wheel drive car.  Mercedes-Benz GLA compact crossover is 125mm longer, 24mm wider and 61mm taller than the A-Class hatchback. Boot space of the crossover is also 80-litres more than the A-Class hatch at 421-litre.

It is being offered in both petrol and diesel guise. The diesel engine will be the 2.2-litre engine that also powers the A and B-Class, which will be mated to a 7-speed dual clutch automatic. The petrol mill is the same 1.6-litre engine.