Currently reading: 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLA - latest spy shots
Concept's bold looks are dropped on Mercedes' Evoque rival

The Mercedes-Benz GLA has been spotted in a less disguised form ahead of its 2014 reveal.

Previously, a heavily camouflaged version of the car had been seen undergoing testing at the Nurburgring. Later, the car was spotted with less camouflage and clearly featured more subtle styling than the outlandish Concept GLA.

The Concept GLA was well received on its debut at the Shanghai motor show in April. But, at the time, insiders said the styling was “exaggerated” and it would be given a more conventional look inspired by the Mercedes-Benz A-Class. These latest shots further confirm that the styling has been altered.

Although the flared surfaces of the concept have been toned down, the production GLA does still sport a sleeker, more rounded body than other SUVs in the Mercedes line-up. The model is designed to be Mercedes’ answer to the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Range Rover Evoque.

The GLA is underpinned by the same front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive MFA architecture used by the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Mercedes-Benz B-Class and Mercedes-Benz CLA. The concept’s dimensions of 4383mm long, 1978mm wide and 1579mm high, with a wheelbase of 2699mm, are representative of the production car.

Four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines are likely to be cherry-picked from the A-class range, just as Mercedes UK has done with the Mercedes-Benz CLA. A GLA45 AMG model will crown the range, this all-wheel-drive version being powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine with 335bhp.

Find out more about the Concept GLA in our video here.

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Mark Tisshaw

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Title: Editor

Mark is a journalist with more than a decade of top-level experience in the automotive industry. He first joined Autocar in 2009, having previously worked in local newspapers. He has held several roles at Autocar, including news editor, deputy editor, digital editor and his current position of editor, one he has held since 2017.

From this position he oversees all of Autocar’s content across the print magazine, autocar.co.uk website, social media, video, and podcast channels, as well as our recent launch, Autocar Business. Mark regularly interviews the very top global executives in the automotive industry, telling their stories and holding them to account, meeting them at shows and events around the world.

Mark is a Car of the Year juror, a prestigious annual award that Autocar is one of the main sponsors of. He has made media appearances on the likes of the BBC, and contributed to titles including What Car?Move Electric and Pistonheads, and has written a column for The Sun.

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catnip 12 July 2013

This might just be the first

This might just be the first of the A-class models who's proportions actually suit the big A-class snout.

Suzuki QT 12 July 2013

Hmmm ...

Mercedes-Benz GLA = A-class designed for Britain's "3D" roads ...

Ray60 12 July 2013

Looks much nicer than the

Looks much nicer than the hideous and rubbish Evoque.