IAB Report - Festival season launch planned for Mercedes GLA

24/05/2014 - 11:20 | ,   | Shrawan Raja

Sources tell IndianAutosBlog.com that Mercedes-Benz India has planned the launch of the Mercedes GLA during the festival season, in the October-November period.

Mercedes GLA front three quarters right at Auto Expo 2014
The GLA was showcased for the first time at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year.

Matthias Lührs, Chairman of the Board of Management, Mercedes-Benz India and Vice-President-Global Sales, Mercedes-Benz, said at a media roundtable in December last year that either the GLA or the CLA will launch in India this year, not both.

The Auto Expo in February saw the Mercedes GLA (in production specification, LHD config) on display alongside the CLA 45 AMG.

Earlier this month, Mercedes India imported the GLA for testing and homologation. Variants that would form the lineup at the launch would be the GLA 200 CDI and the GLA 200 Sport.

Mercedes GLA dashboard at Auto Expo 2014
One example in the LHD layout was displayed at the Auto Expo this year.

The GLA 200 CDI uses a four-cylinder 2.2-liter diesel engine sending out 134 hp and 300 Nm of torque to the front wheels. Mated to either a 7-speed AT or a 6-speed manual gearbox (not offered on the India-spec A- and B-Class), the compact car can do the 0-100 kph sprint in 9.9 seconds and reach to a top speed of 205 kph.

The GLA 200 Sport employs a four-cylinder 1.6-liter petrol engine that develops 154 hp and 250 Nm of torque, mated to the same gearboxes. The 0-100 kph time in 8.8 seconds and its top speed is 215 kph. Note that figures quoted are of the German specification and may vary in India.

Mercedes GLA rear three quarters right at 2014 Bangkok Motor Show.JPG
The GLA shares its running gear with the A- and B-Class.

The GLA competes with the BMW X1 and the Audi Q3.

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