Three-door hatchback variant of the next generation GLA crossover could be a popular entry-level Benz.
The GLA is the least expensive option for someone shopping for a Mercedes-Benz crossover and while the current model has done well, the next generation should be sportier. While speaking with Top Gear, Daimler boss Dieter Zetsche offered some insight into the future of the next generation A-Class platform, focusing on the future of the GLA.
The Next Generation
During his discussion with Top Gear, Zetsche talked about the next generation A-Class platform, the new GLA, the larger GLB and something between the A-Class and the GLA. That would likely be a “coupe,” or a three-door hatchback crossover with a sporty form and a slightly smaller footprint than the tradition crossover.
“We’ll have two interpretations. So the GLA will be more in the SUV direction, and that will expand our scope” Zetsche said. “It gives us the possibility of doing something between the A-Class and the GLA,” Zetsche said.
This smaller GLA coupe would offer the functional advantages of the larger model, with the power and versatility of a crossover while having smaller overall dimensions than the current form. Of course, the coupe would likely have a lower starting price, so it would appeal to a single guy or a young couple shopping for a small, capable crossover on a budget.
Mechanically, the coupe would likely have the same features as the crossover, so we can expect all-wheel-drive and a variety of four-cylinder engines. More importantly, we could see a new GLA coupe with the AMG upgrades.
Imagining the AMG Coupe
The current crossover is offered in AMG form with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder mill that sends 375 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels via an advanced all-wheel-drive system and a seven-speed dual clutch transmission. When combined with the sport tuned suspension and the performance braking package, the AMG GLA45 is an awesome little machine.
Now, imagine the next generation of that drivetrain in a smaller, lighter coupe. If the engineers could squeeze a little more horsepower and a few more pounds of twist from the boosted engine, we could see figures in the range of 400 horsepower and 375 lb-ft of torque. In a lighter-weight vehicle with a shorter wheelbase, this could be one of the most engaging performance options in the compact crossover segment.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
