A-CLASS REBOOTED

Four-door saloon version to join newly launched premium hatchback

Hot on the heels of the new A-class hatchback, Mercedes has announced the addition of a saloon to the model line-up.

Due towards the end of this year, the A-class Sedan is a response to market demand for a compact executive, says Mercedes. It will go up against the fourdoor Audi A3 and comes in the wake of the longwheelbase A-class L Sedan sold exclusively in China. Aside from the obvious physical changes, which only take hold from the B pillar backwards, the saloon is largely the same as the recently launched five-door hatch.

When it goes on sale it will be offered with two engines - either the 161bhp 1.3-litre petrol or the 114bhp 1.5-litre diesel. Both will come with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission driving the front wheels. The petrol offers official economy of 54.3mpg while the diesel claims up to 70.6mpg thanks, in part, to the saloon’s record-breaking aerodynamic properties.

As with the hatchback, the saloon gets the full version of Mercedes’ Ai-powered MBUX infotainment system and a suite of safety features such as active braking assist and active lane keeping assist. Options including adaptive suspension, up to 19-inch alloys and many of the advanced driver assistance systems from the flagship S-class will also be available.

The first models are expected to be in UK showrooms by the end of the year with prices and full specifications still to be confirmed.