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Mercedes GLA Compact Crossover Spied From Up Close

Mercedes is milking its new front-wheel drive platform for all it’s got. The new A-Class is no longer a supermini with strange looks, it’s a proper family hatchback with luxury fittings. If you want a small, front-drive sedan, they’ll have that too next year for slightly more money, and a crossover is also on the way.
2014 Mercedes GLA 6 photos
Photo: CarPix
2014 Mercedes GLA2014 Mercedes GLA2014 Mercedes GLA2014 Mercedes GLA2014 Mercedes GLA
Yes, a Mercedes crossover smaller than the GLK will be introduced in the form of the GLA. This is it, wearing its production skin that’s hidden under thick layers of camo. Fortunately, our spy photographers were able to get so close to the car as it stropped at the traffic lights that it doesn’t really matter.

The GLA looks like the love child of the A-Class and GLK. It’s small, and just like the X1 looks a bit like an MPV. However, Mercedes have designed a Sports Activity Coupe rear end that slopes instead of being a more practical vertical shape.

The grille is imposing and to ensure it’s got attitude, the fenders are flared all the way to the bumpers. If you like understated designs, this isn’t for you. However, if you’re all about chrome grilles, huge Mercedes logos and a body you want to stroke, it’s perfect.

The engine range will of course be borrowed from the A-Class and will stop at the GLA 250, a 2-liter turbo with 211 PS. The boss of the AMG division said that if the marketing figures are right, it would be very easy for them to make a hot version with 350 horsepower as well.
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About the author: Mihnea Radu
Mihnea Radu profile photo

Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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