Mercedes Benz GLA crossover spotted in India

Mercedes Benz has been the most aggressive luxury car manufacturer in 2014 in India. The automaker has been launching one new model after the other in quick succession. It was only days ago that the S-Class S350 CDI diesel was launched in India and now the GLA compact crossover has been caught on candid camera. Mercedes Benz had already made its intentions clear of launching the compact crossover in India later this year and the latest pictures indicate that it is right on track to do so.

The dealers have opened the bookings for the GLA and you can book one for yourself too by paying Rs. 1 lakh. The deliveries are expected to commence in September/October this year. Underpinning the compact crossover is the Mercedes Benz MFA Front Wheel Architecture that also forms the basis for the least priced Mercedes Benz ever, the A-Class. The upcoming CLA also has the same platform underpinning it.

The GLA is expected initially be brought into the country via the CBU route with the local assembly beginning at a later stage. Also, Mercedes Benz might just surprise us by launching it in CKD guise right from the start which would help it achieve a considerably lower price tag. It will be available only in the diesel powered, GLA 220 CDI variant initially.

The crossover will feature a 2.2 liter turbo diesel motor, which also powers the A-Class. In the GLA though, this engine develops 167 Bhp of peak power and 350 Nm  of peak torque, instead of the puny 107 Bhp – 250 Nm in makes in the A-Class. The motor is paired to a 7 speed dual clutch automatic gearbox. It borrows a lot of design cues on the inside from the A-Class and looks like a A-Class on steroids rather than a full blown SUV. It will be going up against the likes of the BMW X1, the Audi Q3 and Volvo V40 in India.

Pricing will be the key in determining the success of the GLA in India. Its AMG variant will be launched later as well in the country and the AMG spec has already touched base here for homologation. Expect the GLA 220 CDI to be priced between Rs 25-30 lakhs.

Spyshots courtesy IndianAutosBlog