OFFICIAL: Mercedes-Benz brings the Cross Activity Vehicle to Auto Shanghai 2013

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This year, Mercedes-Benz will enlarge its fleet of premium compact models with a fourth vehicle - the GLA-Class. More of a city crossover than a thoroughbred SUV, the X 156 project will showcase in its series production suit during fall 2013, at the IAA Frankfurt.

To test waters, the Germans will apply the same recipe as for the A-Class and CLA-Class and thus offer the public a good teasing with a concept car, that previews the final model, scheduled to appear in April at the Auto Shanghai salon in China.

The Cross Activity Vehicle (CAV) will feature an impressive styling, very much close to the real GLA-Class. Expect the mindblowing diamond grille, the larger intakes and the intricate alloy wheels to make most of the vehicle's stance. The higher clearance, together with the evolved and sharper lights with LED technology, all harking mostly to the A-Class, will further complete the modern appearance of the Mercedes-Benz CAV.

The street-legal GLA-Class will very much resemble the rendering you see above, so the conclusion is simple: the same dynamic hatchback apperance a la W 176, doubled by extra ride height, more muscular styling details, a more spacious passenger shuttle and extra boot capacity. Sitting on the same MFA platform adapted to receive the all-wheel-drive 4MATIC, the new GLA will also be equipped with the same BlueEFFICIENCY as its brothers. From spring 2014, the hardcore GLA 45 AMG performance cranking 360 hp from the new AMG M133 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine will join the fleet.

The latest spy video arrives from Northern Scandinavia, where snow is still covering most of the landscape. Hit play and enjoy! :)


Image Credits: Autobild / Video Credits: WorldCarFans

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OFFICIAL: Concept GLA-Class comes at Shanghai, series model to bow at IAA Frankfurt 2013 in September

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During his speech at the Annual Press Conference held today, Dr. Dieter Zetsche, chairman of Daimler AG, confirmed company's brand new Mercedes-Benz GLA compact SUV will be officially previewed at the Auto Shanghai 2013 (21st to 29th April), when the German brand will unveil a near-series concept car.

The Concept GLA-Class (or, what ever might be the final title of the show vehicle) will be fairly in terms of design to the production model, as in the case of the A-Class, CLA-Class and their corresponding concept cars. The street-legal, serial GLA-Class (X 156 generation) will celebrate its world premiere five months after, in September this year, at the prestigious IAA Frankfurt.

The statement: "Two months from now, we will provide a first look at our compact SUV in Shanghai. The world premiere of the series version will follow at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September."

The document with the full speech can be found at --> http://bit.ly/XqQYY8

Illustration Credits: stern

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SPY: New 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class (X 156) and GLA 45 AMG scooped during winter testing

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The new GLA-Class will be Merc's fourth addition to the expanding portfolio of premium compact cars. The car is expected to make the official debut next year, around spring. The latest spy shots come from the Northern Scandinavia, where the German constructor deployed an entire fleet of compact crossover for the usual cold weather development programme.

Visually, the GLA-Class is nothing than an A-Class on steroids. Hardly resembling the G-Class (given the root of its name), the X 156 project is intended to be more of a lifestyle crossover than capable off-roader, even though most equipment variants feature 4x4 traction as standard. The bigger wheel arches, with pronounced edges, the higher ground clearance, the muscular shoulders and the more impressive front and rear fascias underline the car's natural dynamic character.

We expect the new GLA-Class to be quite as long as the new CLA, which got previewed last week at Detroit. The new crossover from Stuttgart should also be more spacious inside compared to the A-Class, given its exterior dimensions. Other than that, the GLA is technically identical to its brothers. The front-driven MFA platform will be standard on entry-level variants, while the newly developed, front-biased 4MATIC system will be available on high-end versions, such as the GLA 250 with 211 hp. Moreover, the entire package of technological solutions oriented to safety, telecommunications, comfort and ride dynamics will be borrowed from the A-Class and CLA-Class.

Given the success of the A-Class and the good reaction to the special AMG SPORT visual package, the new GLA-Class will also be available with the outstanding Diamond grille and the bespoke styling familiar from Affalterbach models until the new GLA 45 AMG arrives in late 2014. Like the soon-to-be-revealed A 45 AMG or the upcoming CLA 45 AMG, the high-performance version of the SUV will use the latest 2.0-litre gasoline engine with turbocharging rated at 354 hp, developing a massive torque of 450 Nm, and the PERFORMANCE 4MATIC all-wheel-drive sports traction specially engineered for remarkable dynamics.

Image Credits: Autoevolution / Gmotors.co.uk / Motor Authority

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SPY: The 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class (X 156) meets snowy roads in Scandinavia

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Winter is quickly spreading across Europe, so it's perfect time for cold weather testing in Northern Scandinavia. Mercedes-Benz is gradually moving its fleet of future models for some development in Sweden. The first model spotted by spy photographers is the upcoming GLA-Class (X 156), slated to appear towards the end of 2013.

The new GLA will be the fourth member of Mercedes-Benz's New Compact Car Generation (NCCG), after the B-Class, A-Class and CLA-Class. It will be assembled at the Rastatt facility, a well-known excellence center for the production of compact-sized models under the Three-Pointed Star.

The new premium compact SUV builds on the heritage of the G-Class, given its official title, and on the dynamic appearance of the new A-Class. Situated right below the GLK, the X 156 displays a modern and progressive exterior styling complete with some beefy rear shoulders, a prominent front fascia with a larger grille and a higher ground clearance to give it the desired all-terrain vehicles look.

The GLA will be offered in both 2WD and 4WD specification, at choice. The modular MFA platform will form a standard equipment for most of the lineup, while the 4MATIC will be available as an option for the high-end petrol and diesel variants. Specially for its new compact class cars, Mercedes-Benz has developed a new version of its versatile 4x4 traction system to suit the character of such models. Most of the time, it acts like a front-biased platform, with some torque also directed towards the rear axle via the 7G-DCT, whom the system works in conjuction with. At need, the system converts to a real 4x4 configuration and can transfer the entire torque to one wheel, to the front axle or to the rear one, given the most adequate grip.

The GLA portfolio will comprise up to seven different versions, four trim lines (Urban, Style, AMG Sport and the special GLA 250 SPORT variant) and unlimited customization possibilities:

- GLA 180 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY: 109 hp
- GLA 200 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY: 136 hp
- GLA 220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY: 170 hp
- GLA 180 BlueEFFICIENCY: 122 hp
- GLA 200 BlueEFFICIENCY: 156 hp
- GLA 250 BlueEFFICIENCY: 211 hp
- GLA 45 AMG 4MATIC: 354 hp

Related articles:

- Mercedes-Benz 4MATIC: All-wheel drive for all – in every class

- SPY: First encounter with the 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA 45 AMG (X 156)

Image Credits: GermanCarForum

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SPY: The 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class (X 156) spotted near R&D Center in Stuttgart

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In mid-2014, Mercedes-Benz will add a new contender in the compact class portfolio. The GLA-Class lifestyle crossover will join the current A-Class and B-Class as well as the upcoming CLA-Class executive four-door coupe. The X 156 project is intended as the SUV of the lineup and it will be offered in both 2WD front-driven and 4x4 4MATIC specification.

The latest scoops were snapped in Stuttgart, where the test prototype was spotted near company's R&D Center. The heavy exterior camouflage does not let many details to show up from beneath, but the general shape of the body tells us the GLA will bare much resemblance to the A-Class. In fact, given the height of the vehicle, you could easily entitle it a taller W 176.

However, some unique features will distinguish the compact SUV from its smaller sibling among which we mention: bigger headlights, with optional LED technology, a more prominent grille with two large slats, larger air intakes, a beefy front bumper, some muscular wheel arches and a more aggressively styled back end.

Inside, changes will be minor, but some inspiration from the rough style of the GLK and G-Class is expected, for a good dose of off-road authenticity. A comprehensive list of personalization features will be available for the GLA, so premium quality goes without saying. A lot of clever stuff from Merc's technology bin will be found, including the social network-optimized COMAND Online infotainment system, the Collision Prevention Assist, the DIRECT STEER advanced handling system or the complete passive safety package with up to nine airbags.

The entry-level models will get the standard MFA platform, while the high-end variants will come equipped with the 4MATIC system. Engine range will comprise efficient diesel and gasoline powerplants - from the 109 hp, 1.5-litre GLA 180 CDI up to the GLA 250 SPORT with 211 hp. A GLA 45 AMG performance version with 4x4 traction, over 400 Nm of torque and 354 hp of peak output might appear in early 2015.

The new Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class will rival the Audi Q3 and the BMW X1. The base model should stay under 30,000 euros in Germany, while the range-topping variants could go as high as 40,000 euros or even approach 50,000 euros in the case of the AMG version (if that ever gets greenlighted for serial production).

Image Credits: Motor Authority / Gmotors.co.uk

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