Author: Ralph Morton
IF your idea of the Mercedes A-Class was of something cutesy but dumpy then this will change your mind.
The all-new Mercedes A-Class, which has been revealed at the Geneva Motor Show.
In fact it’s unrecognisable to the car it replaces – and wil give business car drivers a really credible alternative to the new Audi A3 (launched at Geneva), BMW 1 Series and Volvo’s new V40 (also launched at Geneva).
Here’s the head of Mercedes: “The A-Class is a clear statement of the new dynamism of the Mercedes-Benz brand. The A-Class is completely new, down to the last detail. In automotive development, it’s not often you get the chance to start with a clean sheet of paper. Our engineers and designers have made the very most of that opportunity.” That’s Dr Dieter Zetsche, who added: “A is for attack!”
And Mercedes is certainly going for it.
No other Mercedes before has emitted less than 100g/km CO2 – but not the new A-Class, which will feature a diesel engine with 99g/km CO2, which is equivalent on our company car tax calculator to a benefit in kind tax band of 13%.
The 99g/km diesel won’t be the only engine on offer. Business car drivers can choose from a range of 1.6 and 2.0 petrol engines, from the 115 hp A 180, the 156 hp A 200 to the 211 hp in the A 250.
On the diesel front there’s a 109 hp A 180 CDI, a 136 hp A 200 CDI and a 170 hp A 220 CDI.
All A-Class engines feature fuel-saving ECOstart/stop function as standard. The engines can be combined either with a new six-speed manual transmission or, as an option, with a 7G-DCT dual-clutch automatic transmission.
But it’s the new sporting character that will appeal to many SMEs. Mercedes’ performance arm has been heavily involved in the new A-Class design. So there’s a hot A-Class Sport “engineered by AMG”, which features exclusive 18-inch AMG five spoke design light-alloy wheels painted high-gloss black, together with red-painted brake callipers. The sporting A-Class will be available as the A 250 Sport and the A 220 CDI Sport.
Among the high level of safety kit, the new A-Class features Mercedes’ radar-based Collision Prevention Assist system as standard.
No word yet on price, but expect the new Mercedes compact to be around the £20,000 mark.
Read more on the Geneva debut cars
- Here’s our story on the new Audi A3: New Audi A3 debuts with tax-busting 99g/km engine
- And here’s the story on the new Volvo V40: Volvo takes on Audi A3 with new V40 hatch
