Mercedes-Benz GLA Edition 1 details revealed

The Mercedes Benz  GLA crossover, which was unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show held in September, is set for a market launch in March 2014. Merc has now announced that it will be selling the GLA Edition 1 variant for a limited one year period after the market launch. The Edition 1, however, will be available for pre-booking from November end this year. Deliveries will begin from March 2014.

The exclusive Edition 1 variant

"With the new GLA, we are opening up the compact SUV segment for Mercedes-Benz. The GLA adds a new emotional variant to the comprehensive SUV range from Mercedes-Benz with which we aim to win over numerous new customers to our brand. Our exclusive Edition 1 is a particularly alluring proposition to boost the market launch," said Ola Källenius, member of divisional board - sales, Mercedes?Benz.

It will be available to order from the end of November this year for approximately a year after its market launch in March 2014

It will have two petrol and diesel engine options. Mercedes-Benz says that initially the 1.6-litre GLA 200 petrol will make 156PS max power, while the 2.0-litre GLA 250 petrol will be good for 211PS.

On the diesel front, the GLA will have a single 2.2-litre engine with two power output options. The 2.2-litre engine in the GLA 200 CDI develops 136PS of power and 300Nm of max torque, while the 2.2-litre GLA 220 CDI gets 170PS power and 350Nm max torque. It also gets the new generation of 4MATIC permanent AWD with fully variable torque distribution as an option.

The seats are upholstered in nut brown leather and Alvorado fabric with moccasin stictching

The Edition 1's exteriors get bi-xenon headlamps, chromed skid plates and rails, 19-inch blackened AMG alloys, blackened waistline strips and "Edition 1" lettering on the front wings. On the inside, the Edition 1 gets steel pedals, aluminium inserts, special floor mats, door sill illumination, auto wipers and a 3-spoke multifunction sports steering wheel. The seats are upholstered in nut brown leather and Alvorada fabric with moccasin stitching exclusively for the Edition 1.

The Edition 1 gets a 3-spoke multifunction sports steering wheel

The GLA crossover measures 4417mm x 1804mm x 1894mm (length x width x height). It comes in four body paints, namely cirrus white, orient brown metallic, mountain grey metallic and designo magno mountain grey.

Expect Merc to showcase the GLA at the 2014 Indian Auto Expo.