Mercedes’ New GLA Breaks Cover July 29, But Spy Shots Got There First

Mercedes has been gradually peeling back the layers on its next-generation GLA, and now it’s put a date on the full unveiling. . The company has confirmed the small crossover will break cover on July 29, releasing a teaser of the sheet-draped car to mark the occasion. The lineup follows the same multi-fuel approach as the new GLB: combustion versions keep the GLA name, while an electric model called the GLA Electric takes over from the outgoing EQA. These latest spy shots, meanwhile, finally give us a much clearer look at its shape. While the front and rear remain disguised, the sides have largely stepped out of witness protection.Related: Mercedes EV Sales Jumped 28% While The Rest Of The Brand ShrankCompared with the heavily camouflaged prototypes we spotted earlier this year, this latest tester reveals its doors, glasshouse, and much of its body surfacing. The result is a cleaner and more sophisticated design that looks noticeably more aerodynamic than today’s GLA.The newly exposed profile confirms several styling details we could previously only guess at. Flush-mounted door handles are present, helping to reduce drag, while a rising window line injects a little visual drama into an otherwise smooth-sided body. Combined with the gently sloping roofline, the overall effect is once again more sleek crossover than upright SUV. If it’s boxy you want, you need the new GLB that’s already on sale.The GLA’s nose remains hidden behind camouflage, but Mercedes has already shown us the direction it’s heading. Expect a scaled-down interpretation of the retro-futuristic grille treatment introduced on the larger GLC EQ.Stars-Shaped DRLsThe rear end is similarly concealed, though there are still clues hiding beneath the camouflage. Look closely and you can just make out the signature star-shaped lighting graphics that Mercedes has been rolling out across its latest EVs. Expect those illuminated three-pointed stars to feature prominently at both ends of the production GLA.Up To Three Screens AvailableUnfortunately, these photos don’t provide a fresh look inside, but that’s not a huge problem because we’ve already seen the goodies in a previous spy shot haul (below). Like the CLA and GLB, the GLA EQ should offer an optional MBUX Superscreen setup combining a 10.25-inch digital cluster with dual 14-inch displays stretching across the dashboard. Underneath, the newcomer shares its platform and powertrains with its compact Mercedes brothers. That likely means a rear-drive version producing 268 hp (272 PS / 200 kW) and an all-wheel-drive model generating 349 hp (354 PS / 260 kW). Both should draw energy from an 85 kWh battery and benefit from an 800-volt electrical architecture capable of ultra-fast charging.And for anyone worried the GLA EQ might be too sensible, don’t forget we’ve already caught an electric AMG version testing. If it borrows the hardware from the upcoming AMG CLA, this compact crossover could eventually pack as much as 671 hp (680 PS /500 kW).Of course not everyone wants an EV, so Mercedes has ICE fans covered too, or it will have. The EV arrives this fall but combustion versions of the new GLA fitted with 1.5-litre hybrid engines will follow in spring 2027.