Mercedes-Benz India recently teased a slew of new car and SUV launches for our market, these included the GLE SUV (to launch later this month), the GLE coupé, and the four-door AMG GT coupé. The company has now also confirmed India launches for the next-gen CLA four-door coupé and the recently-unveiled GLA SUV; both models are slated to hit the Indian showrooms around the 2020 festive season.
The second-gen CLA saw its world premiere exactly a year ago at the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The new four-door coupé is built on a re-engineered version of the previous car’s MFA platform and uses technology from the latest A-class hatchback that is yet to go on sale in our market. The new CLA is longer and wider than its predecessor and borrows quite a few styling cues from the A-class and the previous-gen CLA making the sedan seem more of an evolution than a revolution in terms of design. On the inside, it has more headroom and rear-seat legroom too along with better quality materials. It will also come with the Mercedes-Benz MBUX infotainment system which is offered as standard equipment internationally. The model will most likely come with petrol as well as diesel engine options at launch.
The new GLA will also see an India launch this year, the second-gen SUV was recently unveiled. The new model builds on the foundations of its predecessor as far as looks go, albeit with ground clearance raised by 9mm, to 143mm. It looks smoother yet more rugged detailing than earlier, thanks to wider fender flares and additional cladding. The SUV is 4,410mm long, 2,020mm wide and 1,611mm high, making it 14mm shorter and 2mm narrower, but 104mm higher than the old model.
What community is saying on the GLA?
It's based on the second-generation version of Mercedes' MFA platform, with a transverse engine mounting, and has its wheelbase extended by 30mm to 2,729mm. Inside, the new GLA is similar to other recent Mercedes models, featuring a dashboard with a free-standing digital display panel. This contains two 7.0-inch screens for the instruments and infotainment functions as standard, with an optional widescreen version using two 10.3-inch screens. Like the newer Mercedes models, the second-gen GLA will also come with the MBUX system. The SUV will also get an optional off-road package that comes with an off-road headlight function and an additional off-road driving mode called Downhill Speed Regulation.
Further on, Mercedes-Benz is likely to expand the MFA2 platform line-up in India that could see more models like the GLB SUV and the A-class based sedan.
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Suraj Viswanathan
Hormazd Sorabjee
