2017 Mercedes-Benz GLA Facelift Spied with New Front and Rear Bumpers

The decision makers at Mercedes-Benz had a bizarre approach towards these facelifts, choosing to introduce new engines, new technology, and visual alterations at different dates, completely dazzling anyone who tried to keep track of dates. But if the result is all that matters, then we guess everything is forgiven.

Launched in December 2013, the GLA is still rather young, but Mercedes is trying to keep its compact range as tightly knit as possible, so it can't afford to linger any longer before aligning the crossover with the rest of the bunch. Even though this clip doesn't show it - considering the quantity of wrapping used to camouflage the car -, that moment isn't too far away now.

Not that we needed confirmation, but the footage suggests the main points of focus for the designers will be the head- and taillights as well as the front and rear bumpers. It may seem surprising that this car is wearing more camouflage than the one spotted earlier this year in January, which only had its lights covered. The simple explanation is that Mercedes-Benz has just started testing the car with all the new features installed, as opposed to using the current bumpers as it did in January.

There isn't much we can deduce from the clip and you can blame that fence for it, but it's good to know the GLA will suffer a bit more changes than it was previously thought. There will also be some tinkering on the inside, but apart from a larger display of eight-inch in diagonal, the GLA is going to have to wait for the next generation for any major modifications.

The engine lineup should remain the same as well, as will the transmission (seven-speed dual clutch automatic) with the option for a front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive setup. The GLA is also set to gain the DYNAMIC SELECT feature that comes with adaptive suspension, a bit of a luxury for this segment. The new GLA is expected to debut later this year.