Mercedes-Benz South Africa has added the new, second-generation GLA to its configurator, confirming local pricing in the process.

At launch in the second quarter of 2020, the new GLA range will comprise just a pair of front-driven variants: one petrol and one diesel. No word yet on when the GLA35 and 310 kW GLA45 S are due to touch down locally.

The GLA200 employs a turbocharged 1,3-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine offering 120 kW and 250 N.m to the front axle via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Priced from R579 518, this variant will hit 100 km/h from standstill in a claimed 8,7 seconds before topping out at 210 km/h.

Then there’s the GLA200d (starting at R609 506), which makes use of a 2,0-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel powerplant generating 110 kW and 320 N.m, sent to the front wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The Stuttgart-based firm says this is enough for an 8,6-second sprint to three figures and a top speed of 208 km/h.

Of course, various options are offered for both derivatives, including a R125 000 Edition 1 package, along with Style (R16 000), Progressive (R25 000) and AMG Line (R50 175) equipment packs. Other extras include wheels measuring up to 20 inches in diameter, a panoramic sliding sunroof (R19 400), climatised front seats (R15 100), a fully digital instrument cluster (R7 650), a 10,25-inch display (R11 100) and adaptive dampers (R16 800).

As a reminder, the new GLA stands some 100 mm taller than the original at 1 611 mm, which Mercedes-Benz says translates to both a loftier seating position (some 140 mm higher than in the A-Class hatchback, in fact) and more headroom. The firm claims legroom in the rear is also “much more generous” than before, despite the GLA measuring 15 mm shorter nose to tail (it’s now 4 410 mm long).

The wheelbase, meanwhile, has grown some 30 mm to 2 729 mm and the claimed capacity of the luggage compartment (with its height-adjustable load floor) has increased by 14 units to 435 litres. Ground clearance has been hiked by nine units to 143 mm; there are MacPherson struts up front and a four-link axle at the rear.

Original article from Car