The Mercedes-Benz GLA is getting a makeover, and new spy photos capture the compact crossover testing in Germany. This model is in the second generation, which Mercedes introduced in late 2019. It’s not very old, which means that we may have to wait for the redesigned version to go on sale.
Spy shots captured the car rocketing around the Nurburgring race track and near the company’s facilities in Stuttgart. Unlike recent photos that captured the two AMG variants, the new photo shows the base model. The crossover wears very little camouflage, hiding the minor styling changes that come to the front and rear fascia.
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The front end should receive a revised headlight design, tweaked bumper, and a more distinct grille. The Camo hides the lower bumper changes, but some new styling should be underneath. The rear of the car wears less camouflage, hiding the taillights and part of the hatch. There will be no significant changes here, with the vehicle receiving a revised taillight design.
The same particular approach to exterior redesign will likely leak into the powertrains. We don’t expect any changes, with the current engine pieces carried over to the redesigned model, including the AMG. We’ve already seen this variant, with the GLA 45 expected to produce the same 416 horsepower (310 kilowatts) and 369 pound-feet (500 Newton-meters) of torque. The GLA 35 produces a modest 302 hp (222 kW) and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm).
Like the base GLA, the AMG version will also receive minor styling changes at the front and rear. Both will be sportier than the regular variant, with a unique front fascia and other features. We haven’t spied on the GLA’s interior yet, so it’s unclear how much Mercedes will update.
The second-generation GLA arrives in the US for the 2021 model year, so we don’t expect the updated crossover to debut anytime soon. Mercedes hasn’t said when it will reveal it, with some rumors suggesting the introduction of the 2024 for the 2025 model year. That’s more than a year away, and Mercedes usually delays revealing the hotter version until sometime after launching the base model.
