Mercedes-Benz GLA facelifted ahead of Detroit auto show

Mercedes-Benz has teased an image of a revised GLA ahead of the Detroit auto show.

The smallest SUV offering in the Mercedes lineup will be revealed at the show with a refreshed look. The changes have been made to fend off competition from rivals including the BMW X1, and Audi's Q2 and Q3.

A host of visual tweaks akin to those seen on the facelifted A-class, upon which the GLA is based, are identifiable from the image. The reworked, two-rung grill is lifted from the E-class All Terrain. A new front bumper design with larger air intakes and revamped headlights complete a more chiselled frontal look.

Previous spy shots show specific panels and and areas of the body camouflaged. These cloaked areas are likely to be addressed by the updates, include revised rear light clusters and the partnering bumper below. The pint-sized crossover’s suspension may be raised slightly to give a more recognisably 4x4 look, further differentiating it from the closely related A-Class hatchback.

The interior is expected to receive a once-over, too. Better materials are likely to result in more tactile surfaces, and the latest iteration of Mercedes COMAND infotainment system will be installed, featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality.

A large shakeup of engine lineup isn’t expected. The options will continue to mirror the A-class on the whole, receiving the associated engine upgrades underwent during the A-Class’s midlife facelift. Most noteworthy of these minor changes will be the 21bhp power inflation from the AMG GLA 45 model taking the total output to noteworthy 376bhp, sending power to all four wheels.

Keep an eye our Detroit auto show page for the latest news as it comes.