Mercedes Benz have revealed the new GLA. It is the smallest SUV offered by Mercedes. The car retains the butch looks of an SUV thanks to the thick single chrome strip across the totally exposed grille. The scuff plate adds to the SUV looks as does the flat front large wheels and cladding all around.
Though the most compact of the Mercedes SUVs, the car has gained in height and offers a more spacious and comfortable interior. The wheels are placed at the four corners and their are short overhangs front and rear to add to the off-road capability and more importantly to the SUV look. The 4-MATIC versions of the car are equipped with he Off-Road Engineering Package as standard. This includes, an additional driving program, a downhill driving assist function and an off-road animation in the media display. The car also comes with MULTIBEAM LED headlamps with a special light function for off-road driving.
To add to the safety of the occupants as well as other road users, the Mercedes GLA comes with driving assistance systems as well cooperative driver support. Such systems comprise, turning manoeuvre function and the emergency corridor function. The car comes equipped with ane exit warning function which alerts drivers to cyclists or other vehicles approaching unseen. The Mercedes GLA also provides a warning when pedestrians are detected near zebra crossings. In the case the driver fails to react, the car does. For example, the Active Brake Assist autonomously applies brakes to avoid a collision or to reduce its severity of a collision . At typical city speeds the system is capable of braking for stationary vehicles and crossing pedestrians.
The Mercedes GLA has MacPherson suspension with spring strut and transverse control arm, coil springs, twin-tube gas-filled shock absorbers and stabiliser bar at the front. At the rear, it has a multi-link, coil springs, gas-pressure shock absorbers and stabiliser. For stopping the car safely, the Mercedes GLA is fitted with Vented disc brakes at the front, electric parking brake, ABS, Brake Assist, ESP. Steering is assisted using electric motors.
The Mercedes GLA is 4,410 mm long, 1,834 mm wide and 1,611 mm tall. It has a wheel base of 2,729 mm. The car comes with a sufficient boot capacity of 435 litres which can be extended to 1,430 litres with the rear seats folded. Depending on the engine and transmission options offered, the car weighs in between 1,485 Kg and 1,670 Kg.
It also comes with various engine options like 1.3 litre petrol (GLA 200) generating 163 BHP of power and 250 N-m of torque. A 2.0 litre petrol engine (GLA 250) developing 224 BHP power and 350 N-m of torque. A 2.0 litre diesel (GLA 200d) generating 150 BHP of power and 320 N-m of torque and another 2.0 litre diesel engine (GLA 250d) generating 190 BHP of power and 400 N-m of torque.
Except for the GLA 200, the Mercedes GLA comes in two options, front wheel drive and the 4-MATIC all wheel drive. While the GLA 200 comes with a 7 speed dual clutch transmission, all other cars are fitted with an 8 speed dual clutch transmission.
The GLA 200 does a 0-100 km/h in 8.7 seconds and has a top speed of 210 km/h. On the other hand the GLA 250 does a 0-100 km/h in 6.9 seconds and has a top speed of 240 km/h. On the other hand the GLA 200d does a 0-100 km/h in 8.6 seconds, 0.1 seconds faster than the 2.0 litre petrol. This car has a top speed of 208 Km/h. The more powerful of the diesels, the GLA 220d is capable of doing a 0-100 Km/h in 7.4 seconds and will reach a top speed of 222 Km/h.
All the cars are offered with Euro 6 compliant engines.
The Transport Journal 