Mercedes Concept GLA to debut in Shanghai

"The Concept GLA marks a new approach for us in the compact SUV segment - this is a sporty and more coupé-like evolution of this category of vehicle", commented Dr Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Mercedes-Benz Cars, Sales and Marketing.

"The Concept GLA is a compact SUV that combines its sporting spirit with the all-round qualities of a tough, leisure-time companion. 'Escape the everyday' is the message that this car conveys to its driver. It also makes clear the further potential of our compact vehicle architecture, which provides the basis for the A-Class and B-Class models that led the German market in their respective segments in the first quarter of 2013."

With the aim of capturing a slice of the smaller premium SUV market currently dominated by Range Rover's Evoque, the Concept GLA features compact dimensions (4383x1978x1579mm LxWxH) and a turbocharged 2.0lt four cylinder petrol engine rated at 155kW. The 7G-DCT dual clutch auto transmission feeds to Mercedes' 4MATIC all-wheel drive system.

EXTERIOR
The high waistline, chunky wheelarches and squat appearance of the Concept GLA reflect the Evoque's styling, but with signature silver Alubeam Mercedes-Benz paint finish and distinctive features, including "powerdomes" on the bonnet, and a sporty radiator grille with new "softcubes": soft, raised pads that give definition to the radiator grille and are also found on the side sill panels and alongside the exhaust tailpipes.

Door mirrors on the Concept GLA feature twin supporting struts, fitted with a protective grille. This, like the underride guard at the front, is very much a typical SUV feature. The striking appearance of the Concept GLA is also, not least, the result of its silver Alubeam paint finish.

Seen from the side, the Concept GLA has a "dropping line" that extends from the headlamp to the rear wheel arch. Door handles are fully recessed, and side windows are frameless to give the coupé a pillarless hardtop look.

20-inch wheels feature a distinctive five-spoke turbine design, and are shod in 255/45 R 20 tyres specifically created for the Concept GLA with unique tread patterns.

Rear styling emphasises the broad stance of the tail end. Standout features include chunky exhaust tips incorporated into the rear valance, wrapround window, and solid high-mount spoiler, which incorporates a brake light.

Opening the tailgate with its integrated rear light cluster reveals supplementary lights to warn approaching vehicles of the open tailgate. Further light clusters are housed in the rear cross member between the roof rails.

At the front, the headlights of the Concept GLA are each fitted with a laser-beam projector. These not only provide light to drive by, but are also capable of projecting pictures or films onto a screen or other surface. Any format that can be operated through COMAND Online can serve as a source: pictures or films from a smartphone, the internet, or from a hard drive.

Two cameras, housed in the front roof rail, can be used to capture images as the Concept GLA drives; or removed for fitting to a pushbike, motorcycle or helmet.

While they seem fanciful, the Concept GLA's laser-beam projectors represent far more than simply an academic exercise, according to Mercedes-Benz. The technology could be used, Mercedes says, to project the directional instructions from the navigation system onto the road in the form of arrows - to show other road users where a driver is heading.

INTERIOR
Inside, the Concept GLA features four individual seats in dark galvanised aluminium and leather (more than 20 metres of cowhide), with chunky hand-stitched seams. Mercedes say the design, colour and finish of the leather seats and centre console is supposed to evoke a saddle. The seat cushions, which feature canvas central inlay panels, display an embossed pattern that continues the saddle theme. An illuminated insert is set into the integrated head restraint of each of the four sports seats. Grey leather with a graphically-applied grain is used on the backs of the front seats.

The leather-topped, multi-level instrument panel is finished in in a combination of matt and polished aluminium, with a plexiglass centre section. Buttons for the COMAND Online control system have also been crafted from plexiglas and painted from the back in black. Pictograms are then etched into the black, also from the back, before being filled in.

The chunky air vents air vents in the instrument panel and at the rear of the centre console are standout interior features. A further stylistic development of the vents used in the Concept A-CLASS and Concept Style Coupé, the LED-illuminated vents change colour according to the interior temperature set by the occupants: at 22 degrees Celsius, they light up in white, turning to blue if a cooler temperature is selected, while an influx of warm air switches the illumination to red.

The rear load compartment features a rectangle of fibre-optic ambient lighting inset into the load compartment floor, while luggage can be secured firmly with a spring-loaded four-point harness.

Auto Shanghai runs from April 21 -to 29, 2013.