Mercedes unleashes all-new-A-class
The premium compact hatchback gets a fancy interior, plus upgraded platform and four- cylinder engines, but it ’s the pending sedan that matters more to Thais.
Its face looks like that of the CLS …
The fourth- generation A- class is the second MercedesBenz to feature the brand’s new design language, following the just-unveiled CLS. The angular grille and headlights of the A- class lend themselves to a shark- face appearance. Note the styling of the air vents, also in line with other Mercs like the E-class. But it’s the interior that’s making headlines. Widescreen technology has been inherited from the E-class and comes in three sizes to choose from. It can be operated via touchscreen, touchpad or touch control buttons. The last one is fitted to a three-spoke steering wheel that first appeared in the S-class. Mercedes is seemingly trying to give the new A-class, code- named W177, a posher cabin ambience than that of the outgoing W176 model by including higher- quality trim and configurable lighting. The MFA pl atform, designe d for Mercedes’s entire range of small cars and featuring transversely laid- out engines coupled to either frontor four- wheel dr ive, has been upgraded to be more rigid and bigger than ever, promising more space for rear occupants and the boot. The new A- class has grown in all dimensions : it’s 127mm longer, 16mm wider and 7mm taller. The 2,729mm wheelbase, in particular, is 30mm lengthier than before. As ide from the A- cl ass hatchback, Me rced e s- Benz ha s already confirmed a brandnew sedan featuring four proper doors due later this year ; today’s CLA has frameless door windows for a sportier coupe-like profile.
What is the engine line-up like?
All petrol and diesel engines are new, feature no more than four cylinders and are equipped with seven-speed dualclutch automatic transmission and particulate filters to deal with NOx emissions. Mercedes has announced three engines at first. The A200 comes with a 163hp 1.4-litre motor known as the M282, replacing the older M270 unit. Equipped with cylinder deactivation, the A200 can achieve 17.9kpl. The A250, meanwhile, now produces a higher 224hp for a quicker 0-100kph time of 6.2 seconds. The sole diesel is the A180d, which has a 1.5-litre block called the OM608. It generates 116hp and is capable of 24.4kpl. Although not announced yet, the successor to the AMGbadged 45 version should see power rising from 381hp to at least 400hp, according to sources. Containing all those mad ponies to the tarmac is the brand’s 4Matic all-wheel drive. A new variant that has never existed before is rumoured to be the A35, which aims to plug the gap between the A250 and the A45. With around 300hp, the A35 goes head-to-head with the Audi S3 and the BMW M140i. For the first time, the A-class comes with semi-autonomous driving technologies, courtesy of the S-class. These include the ability to accelerate, brake and change lanes when required.
Will the Thai office sell the A-class?
Mercedes- Benz Thailand only sold the W176-coded A-class for the first three years of its life cycle, so the W177 successor may not be imported to satisfy fans of premium hatchbacks. But the real seller, which would eventually be bolted on Thai assembly lines, is the aforementioned sedan. Because Thais generally favour sedans over hatchbacks, the four-door could become a crucial model for Mercedes in Thailand, as it sits below the C-class with lower prices to match. And, yes, we’re talking about a sub-2-million-baht starting price when specified with a 163hp engine in the name of A200. There’s also a good chance that the A-class sedan will come with plug- in hybrid tech.