Mercedes Concept GLA

New addition with ambitions.

By now the Auto Shanghai motor show is one of the biggest vehicle shows in general and a hub for global trends. It is the stage for Mercedes-Benz to present a new show car on 20 April 2013, the Concept GLA.

The compact SUV impresses with sporty character, a sophisticated and consistently implemented design as well as a multitude of technical highlights.

Much more than just
a strong shoulder.

The athletic profile of the show car is captivating from the moment you first see it: its strong shoulders rise protectively over the reduced glazed surfaces. The pronounced musculature and sinewy structures are pleasing to the eyes of any observer. A narrow greenhouse, the powerful coupé-like rear and a low windscreen round out the sophisticated design of the new addition and benefit its excellent aerodynamics. And because peak athletic performances always require the right breathing

technique, the former diamond grille was adapted to the tough requirements of the Concept GLA: rectangular soft cubes provide the engine with plenty of air. On the whole the materials used are through and through natural, of high quality and have a state-of-the-art aesthetic finish. As a perfectly trained high performer the concept vehicle stays true to its principle of success: use power where it is needed.

Born to be wild.

On the Concept GLA the tyre and rim form an inseparable union. The shape of the rims is inspired by a vision of excavator shovels. This lets them keep moving effortlessly and dynamically, but when need be they grab the ground like claws and despite difficult conditions “shovel on”. This basic idea is transformed into a sophisticated overall concept by the bucket teeth at the front of the vehicle borrowed from the off-road segment. And despite all the functionality the show car leaves nothing to be desired aesthetically: high-sheen bicolour rims and the interplay of matt and polished surfaces not only reflect the light when in motion – but also a consistent, dynamic-sporty design.

Where there is the show car, there is a way. And that is not least due to the tyres specifically designed for the Concept GLA. Their profile impresses with exceptional grip in any terrain, which consequently keeps the vehicle’s irrepressible urge to move forward safely on track at all times – regardless of whether it is on the road or in the wild.

Beware of cameras.

Life may write the best stories – the best road movies are written by the Concept GLA: two high-end cameras are integrated on the roof of the vehicle, which in keeping with the aesthetic aspirations of this show car perfectly blend into the vehicle’s curved roof railing. The roof railing itself was milled from a solid block of aluminium and consequently has a higher visual value appeal than conventional supports. It also protects, consisting with the protector principle of the Concept GLA,

the sensitive technology from wind and weather. The cameras can also be used independently of the vehicle, for example, as helmet cams. The recordings can be projected anywhere with high-tech megapixel resolution thanks to laser beamers integrated into the headlamps. With the Concept GLA you are not only at home in the great outdoors – you’re also in the best movie of your life.

Bright spots in the interior.

The interior also offers an ideal balance between safety and surprise. A Plexiglas cover provides a view of the support structures of the instrument panel. The three-dimensional embossed untreated saddle leather used for the seats impresses with the same in-your-face authenticity. The overall concept combines classic manual craftsmanship and state-of-the-art materials with virtuosity, and exterior styling elements also come to bear in the interior:

the massive grab handles and their interplay of polished and brushed aluminium echo the bicolour design of the rims and transport it skilfully to the interior. In addition, Plexiglas elements with atmospheric backlighting create a very special ambience as well. But in keeping with the principle of efficiency that characterises the concept car they only come on when you need them.

 

SIT BACK

Interface between human
and vehicle.

When it comes to the necessity of sitting down to drive from A to B, little has changed since the automobile was invented. However, the seat behind the steering wheel has a different status nowadays. In fact, it is no longer just a seat but a Human Machine Interface: a key factor in maximizing comfort for those on board, one that plays an active role in keeping the driver and passengers fresh during the journey. From 4-way lumbar support to head restraints that can be electrically adjusted both horizontally and vertically, those traveling in the new S-Class will want for nothing.

Indeed, once you’ve sampled the delights of the ENERGIZING massage function and climatised seat, you’ll never want to get out.

Stars behind
the scenes.

The position, length, height and angle of the seat, even the depth of the seat cushion, the height of the head restraints and the 4-way lumbar support, can be adjusted electrically as standard. But the really spectacular things takes place within the side bolsters: the optionally available dynamic variant

of the multicontour seat inflates the bolsters individually – and in a matter of seconds – in response to the car’s steering movement, to provide even better lateral support for the driver and front passenger.

High-tech in layers.

Comfort and lightweight design shared center stage in the development process for the new front seats. Their structure weighs under 20 kilograms (44 lb) – around 20 percent less than a conventional design – thanks, among other factors, to a sandwich construction based around steel shells with integrated plastic inlays.

Climatised seats.

At the touch of a button, four electric fans in the seat surface and two in the backrest suck cooler ambient air onto the seat’s perforated leather surface.

After four minutes, the fans automatically invert their direction of rotation to prevent drafts over longer journeys. The fans’ intensity can be adjusted through three stages.

ENERGIZING massage function.

The ENERGIZING massage function of the seats is a world's first, using the hot stone principle to deliver active relaxation. Six programs are available, two of them heat-assisted. Each program separately controls the 14 air chambers in each seat, some of which benefit from quick-responding seat heating. Heat and pressure are used to simulate the effect of traditionally applied hot stones, massaging and mobilizing the shoulder area, back and hips. The engineers also had something of a brainwave when it came to operating the ENERGIZING massage function. The central, 12.3-inch display of the COMAND Online infotainment system shows the individual massage zones in the seats. In addition, a rotary knob graphic appears on the screen displaying the desired program as a number. The menu for the seat functions can be called up directly using a button on the center console.

 

Mercedes Benz Atraction&Seduction

Vision Accomplished.

In a visual story of seduction between two unlikely aficionados, who better to create the setting for a power play that juxtaposes dark desire with a lightness of space and subtle sense of humour than fashion industry veteran Carine Roitfeld.
Creative director, stylist and designer, the irreverent former editor in chief of VOGUE Paris and current global fashion director at Harper’s BAZAAR and creator of biannual fashion book CR, teams up with art director and founder of iconic V Magazine, Stephen Gan, to create the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Key Visual Spring/Summer 2014 Vision Accomplished.

Fuel consumption (combined): 9.1-5.5 l/100km;
CO2 emission (combined): 213-146 g/km

 

 

World of Fashion and beauty.

Known for her edgy and fearless productions that capture the zeitgeist, Roitfeld used raw meat a fashion material years before Lady Gaga covered herself in it. “It’s a fantasy world and so I am a dreamer, I am a storyteller”, she explains between takes on set. The Parisian kick-started her career by working with the world’s possibly most famous photographer Mario Testino and, as his muse and stylist, shared Tom Ford’s success of bringing sexy back to Gucci in the 90s. Long-time collaborator Gan creates images that are as inspirational as they are beautiful, and with his avant-garde style has been on the forefront of the fashion scene for practically all his life. “Fashion and beauty – they are my world”, he reflects

Technology and Glamour.

Centre of attention however, is another icon: the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class in gleaming black. A grown-up attraction and chock-full with technological innovation that will spearhead automotive development, it has new features that appeal to all the senses. Effortlessly superior, it calls for a no-frills backdrop and a worthy opposite with equal amounts of seductive glamour and sensuality. Enter beautiful Sui He, one of China’s top models. Sui hails from Zhejiang and broke onto the international scene after being the first Asian model ever to open a Ralph Lauren show in the F/W 2011 season. In a black dress designed by Carine Roitfeld, she is drawn to the vehicle and aims to conquer it for herself.