Official – Mercedes Benz GLA Crossover’s India launch confirmed for 30th September

Mercedes Benz India will officially launch the GLA luxury crossover on the 30th of September, 2014. Pre-Bookings for the 2015 GLA will commence shortly. The crossover is Mercedes Benz answer to the likes of the Audi Q3, the BMW X1 ans the Volvo V40. The GLA crossover is based on Mercedes Benz’s Modular Front Architecture (MFA), a trait it shares with the likes of the A-Class and B-Class hatchbacks, and the upcoming CLA sedan.

The GLA crossover sold in India will get petrol and diesel power. Internationally, the GLA crossover is sold with two petrol engines, both turbocharged units with 1.6 liter and 2.0 liter capacities. The 1.6 liter motor (GLA 200) outputs 156 Bhp-250 Nm while the 2 liter motor (GLA 250) makes 211 Bhp-350 Nm. The diesel powered GLA comes with the 2.2 liter turbo diesel engine which produces 136 Bhp-300 Nm in the GLA 200 CDI, and 170 Bhp-350 Nm in the GLA 220 CDI.

All engines of the GLA use the 7 speed dual clutch automatic gearbox as standard fare. This gearbox drives the front wheels of the crossover in standard guise, but is also capable of supporting the all wheel drive layout, a feature that is available on the top-end variants of the GLA sold internationally. Coming to the engine options that Mercedes Benz will offer in India, the GLA 200 and GLA 220 CDI seem most likely given the kind of engines the competition has on offer. The GLA range is expected to be priced at par with the Audi Q3 crossover line up, with prices starting from below the 30 lakh rupee mark.

Mercedes Benz has also imported a high performance, GLA 45 AMG variant into India for homologation, which suggests that the hopped up crossover is also due for a launch in the next few months. For now though, Mercedes Benz India’s focus will be on making the GLA crossover, and the upcoming CLA sedan, a big success in India. The GLA and CLA will join the A-Class and B-Class hatchbacks, taking Mercedes Benz India’s count of affordable luxury cars to four, making the three pointed star brand the largest purveyor of affordable luxury cars in the country.