When the Shanghai Auto Show opens this weekend, a whole slew of automakers will be on hand to present their latest wares. BMW, Honda, Acura, Citroen and MG will unveil new concepts there; Maserati and Porsche will showcase their new sports sedans; and Bugatti has a new special-edition Veyron to present. Some of them we've already seen and some have only been teased, but the latest announcement comes from Mercedes-Benz, which will unveil its new GLA concept at the Chinese expo.

Slotting below the GLK, the new GLA will serve as the crossover member of the same family that already includes the new CLA and A-Class. As such it will utilize Daimler's new front-drive platform, inline-four engines and 4Matic all-wheel-drive system. Revealed here in concept form, the GLA concept cuts a more rugged profile than its platform-mates, with a higher ride height, beefed-up lower body cladding and big 20-inch wheels with knobby tires. The photos also reveal a pretty slick interior that will likely bear the brunt of the changes as the GLA speeds towards production sometime next year. Expect a few more details before that, though.