Mercedes-Benz has revealed its refreshed GLA subcompact crossover ahead of this year’s Detroit Motor Show. First introduced in 2013, the GLA helped define the tiny utility vehicle segment with what amounts to a lift kit on an A-Class hatchback.
In the U.S., the GLA is the only way we kinda sorta get the A-Class, as Mercedes-Benz prefers to sell us the CLA subcompact sedan. No one’s really complaining though — the GLA is quirky and the automotive world always needs more of that.
For the 2018 model year, Mercedes focused on exterior and interior tweaks to keep the GLA appealing among a broadening group of competitors. Redesigned front and rear bumpers, new standard and optional wheel designs, the addition of Canyon Beige paint, and full LED headlights round out the exterior modifications. Inside, an 8.0-inch center display and rearview camera are standard, the instrument cluster has been updated, Android Auto has been added, and a new Black Ash wood trim replaces Burl Walnut.
As for the GLA45 AMG, the same 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine pumps out more power than any other 2.0-liter turbo on the market: 375 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission transfers grunt to all four wheels for a blistering 0 to 60 mph spring of 4.3 seconds.
The 2018 GLA45 and CLA45 AMG cars are now available with an AMG Performance Studio Package (a.k.a “Yellow Night”). Included in the special edition is matte graphite gray paint with yellow accents, AMG sport seats with microfiber inserts and yellow trim, unique sill plates and floor mats, and AMG’s performance steering wheel. Nothing says sporty like neon yellow accents.
Pricing for the Yellow Night edition and all other 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA models will be revealed closer to their on-sale date this summer.
BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.
What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?
Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.
General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.