Detroit show: Mercedes-Benz teases updated GLA

MERCEDES-BENZ has revealed a single darkened teaser image of its facelifted GLA high-riding hatchback, ahead of its full reveal at the Detroit motor show next week.

Judging by the teaser image the mid-life refresh seems to only be a mild one, with the new model retaining the typically-Mercedes headlamp design of the current model, keeping the LED strip and dual-lamp headlight set-up, while the shape of the headlamps also seems to be the same.

There looks to be a small change to the lower half of the front fascia, with the small side air vents on the old model replaced with fog lamps, while the front bumper has been redesigned for a tougher, more off-road look and seems to mirror that of the recently-revealed E-Class All-Terrain.

The front grille also looks to have undergone a minor tweak, with the two horizontal strips running the grille now adorned with a series of square-shaped imprints, not unlike the front bumper.

While the teaser shot shows the front of the vehicle only, if the E-Class All-Terrain is anything to go by then the GLA could sport a tough silver rear bumper to go with the one up front.

Powertrain variants are yet to be announced, but the new GLA can be expected to carry over updated versions of its 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder units that power the 180, 250 and 45 AMG variants.

The 2.1-litre diesel 220d variant could be up for an engine transplant however, with Mercedes recently developing an all-new, all-aluminium 2.0-litre diesel unit that it plans to use to power all vans and passenger vehicles by 2019.

The new engine, codenamed OM 654, makes 143kW/400Nm when under the bonnet of the new E220d All-Terrain, and should the GLA receives the engine with the same level of tune, it would mean a power bump of 13kW/50Nm.

Mercedes’ diesel engine overhaul is part of a $A4.7b investment in the future of internal combustion for the German brand, and independent testing conducted in 2016 found that the new unit is capable of producing far fewer oxides of nitrogen than required for the 2017 Real Driving Emissions tests.

The GLA managed 3766 sales in 2016, up 25.1 per cent over its 2015 figure of 3011 units.

It trailed the BMW X1’s 2016 figure of 4090 sales, but trumped the Audi Q3 (3634), Mini Countryman (530) and Infiniti Q30/QX30 (157).

More details of the GLA will emerge when it is revealed in Detroit on January 9 (January 10 Australian time).