The Mercedes GLA and CLA along with their AMG powered versions have been much-awaited by the Indian market after they were showcased by the German automaker at the 2014 Auto Expo. Now it has been learnt that dealers of Mercedes have started accepting bookings for the GLA while bookings for the CLA45 AMG will commence after a few months. All these new models from Mercedes-Benz look very promising and the automaker has high hopes of overtaking its other German rivals.
The GLA will be offered in two variants – 200 CDI and 200 Sport. The 200 CDI variant is powered by a 2.2-litre diesel engine producing 136 HP of power and 300 Nm of torque. The 200 Sport version will be powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine giving out 156 HP of power and 250 Nm of torque. Both the engines are mated to a 7-speed AT with paddle shifters. The vehicle will be loaded with seven airbags while front parking sensors and panoramic sunroof will remain exclusive to the petrol variant. The GLA will be positioned above the A-Class and B-Class and below the ML.
The Mercedes GLA will be launched in the festive season i.e. in November 2014. Bookings have already begun and a booking amount of Rs. 1 lakh is being accepted by dealers now. The exact pricing of the vehicle is not yet known but we are expecting it to be priced between Rs. 28-31 lakhs (ex-showroom). The GLA will mainly compete with the Audi Q3 and BMW X1.
The Audi Q3 is priced between Rs. 24.97-35.78 lakhs (ex-showroom, Mumbai) and is available in the following variants – S 2.0 TDI Standard, S 2.0 TDI quattro Premium and S 2.0 TDI Premium+ while the BMW X1 is priced from Rs. 30.75-36 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi) and is available in three variants – sDrive20d, sDrive20d Sportline and sDrive20d xLine. The X1 isn’t offered with a petrol engine.
