The Covid-19 pandemic has radically changed many facets of our lives, some of them permanently. The automobile industry has also suffered its fair share of turmoil, mostly in the production of cars which saw severe disruption to supply chains of parts from China. On the customer-facing side, showrooms were closed and new car launches movedonline as motor shows and in-person launches were cancelled. But as rules have gradually been relaxed, showrooms have reopened and car launches can now be done offline, although with social restrictions. But some car brands are sticking with online launches nevertheless. So, I decided to embrace this new normal and attend the launch of a new Mercedes-Benz online and experience a virtual test drive too. Of course, I prefer to be in the car physically but
at the time of writing it had not been delivered to Singapore yet. So, I was getting a sneak preview online ahead of the physical launch.
even more — because that’s what we know our drivers want,” says Philipp Hagenburger, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Singapore. The new GLA started out life as a slightly elevated hatchback but has morphed into its current form as a rather cute-looking compact SUV. In fact, it could now give the BMW X1
(its German rival’s smallest SUV) a run for its money. While it has increased its mass (not just its height but width too) the new GLA feels more spacious from the front seats all the way into the bigger boot. While quite a few features have been upsized, one thing that crucially has not been is the engine. That remains a 1.3-litre power plant which might sound on the small size for this car, and the proof will be in the pudding when I get to test drive it. But I have a sneaky suspicion that engine size will be more than enough to give this GLA the power it needs, when it
needs it. It is very rare to discover an under-powered German premium car, be it a Merc, BMW or an Audi. See: Power and sophistication There is an abundance of technology in the cabin with a long list of driver assistance functions and packages. These include the turning manoeuvre function, the emergency corridor function and the exit warning function which alerts the driver to approaching cyclists or cars. In other words, the GLA is easily able to react when the driver does not. Included as standard is the smart MBUX infotainment system (Mercedes-Benz User Experience). This can be activated by intelligent voice control using natural speech recognition, using the keyword “Hey Mercedes” to start your command. You’ll be surprised what this onboard computer can actually understand. There is also plenty of technology you can touch with two 10.25-inch displays taking centre stage on the dashboard. These twin widescreens are also in the A-Class and offer the same razor-sharp graphics and slick interface. Overall, the cabin looks modern and ultra-futuristic, and the turbine-like air-con vents change colour when you adjust the temperature. Gimmicky yes, but still very cool. Dual-zone climate
control is optional instead of standard along with satellite navigation. But Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard with the car.
