Facelifted 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA Seen Loaded on a Trailer
Giancarlo Perlas December 21, 2016Since the Mercedes-Benz GLA compact crossover was introduced in 2013, no major changes came into the design of the auto. The only significant upgrade was in the engine of the crossover. Earlier, spy shots indicated that the auto will finally get a facelift. A new video showed the vehicle being transported by a trailer truck too for a battery of tests before it is officially out.
Hit play in the video below to see the redesigned Mercedes GLA:
The GLA in the spy video above appears with some of its portions wrapped in black camouflage. The hidden areas hint the locations of the updates in the crossover, except in the logo area in the middle of the grille of course. So from the looks of it, the design upgrades will likely occur in the bumpers, radiator grille, and lights.
The facelifted GLA is expected to retain its predecessor’s engine that Mercedes updated for the 2016 model year. The 2.0-liter inline-four power unit found in the existing GLA 250 can produce 208 hp. On the other hand, the range-topping Mercedes-AMG GLA 45’s 2.0-liter inline-four turbo engine of the crossover can deliver 381 hp. With the benefit of the other signature elements of AMG, The AMG GLA 45 can achieve a zero to 100 km/h acceleration in just 4.4 seconds.
The facelifted GLA is expected to arrive in the first half of 2017. According to a a source, Mercedes might be prioritizing the development the rumored GLB class. That is probably the reason why the facelifted GLA took so long to come.
