New Mercedes A-Class saloon revealed

No stranger to exploiting a niche, MercedesBenz has revealed its latest compact machine – the A-Class saloon.

Revealed ahead of the Beijing Motor Show, which opens tomorrow, the A-Class saloon is based on the latest version of the hatchback that will be coming to UK showrooms in the coming months but with an extended tailgate.

Looks-wise it remains near-identical to its hatchback sibling with the front indistinguishable and, although the rear gains a slightly revised tail light design, its roots are clear to see.

The similarities continue through to the inside of the car. The centrepiece of the A-Class Saloon is the new MBUX (MercedesBenz User Experience) infotainment system – including a cloud-based ‘Mercedes Me’ artificial intelligence system and augmented reality features for satellite navigation.

For the Chinese market – where Mercedes-Benz sold 590,000 vehicles in 2017 – the A-Class ‘L’ saloon will have a 60mm longer wheelbase than its hatchback counterpart in an effort to increase legroom for passengers, bringing its total length to 2,789mm.

It’ll also boast 420 litres of boot space in the ‘Middle Kingdom’, although European specifications have yet to be confirmed.

The choice of engines available in this part of the world will be released at a later date, although expect it to reflect that of the upcoming A-Class hatchback that is launching with the choice of 1.3-litre and 1.2-litre petrol engines, along with a 1.5-litre diesel.

The Mercedes A-Class saloon will launch globally in the second half of 2018. Full pricing and specifications will be revealed closer to its introduction, although the hatchback version is priced from £25,800.

The A-Class Saloon is the latest addition to the Mercedes compact car range.

The firm plans to offer eight by the end of 2020, and currently sits alongside the B-Class, GLA, CLA and CLA shooting brake along with its hatchback sibling.