A-Class offers safety, technology, compact size
By Alexander Corne
MERCEDES-BENZ chose Geneva to unveil the worst-kept secret in motoring, the new A-Class.
The remarkably short Mercedes, just 3.57m long, will revolutionize the brand across Europe, and possibly Asia.
The company has tried to pack its core values into the smallest possible space, retaining high levels of safety, equipment, technical innovation and style.
Mercedes will build 200,000 A-Class cars a year in a new factory in Germany, while at another new factory, in Brazil, South America, another 70,000 cars will be produced.
Apart from the radical size and shape, the A-Class was developed in a record-breaking time of just 960 days from the design freeze. Previously, Mercedes has taken up to five years to produce a new model.
Such speedy production engineering is just one example of how the world's first car company has reinvented itself in the past six years.
With the launch of the SLK sports coupe, the M-Class all- activity vehicle and the new A-Class, Mercedes-Benz is now active in all the fashionable growing market niches around the world.
It's new S-Class due next year will push the boundaries of technical advancement even further when it introduces voice activated controls for ventilation, radio and other minor in-car tasks.
The upright styling, reverse slant C pillar and large three pointed star on the snout are a mixture of old and new Mercedes styling cues.
At just 3.57m long, the A-Class is the smallest Benz since Otto Benz wheeled out his first single-cylinder effort more than 100 years ago.
The A-Class will cost up to US$30,000 when it goes on sale in Europe later this year, powered by a choice of 1.4-liter and 1.6- liter extremely frugal new-generation Mercedes engines.
In Europe, new-generation common-rail diesel engines are also on offer, while fuel cell technology and zero-emission electric power plants are in the pipeline.
While the A-Class is small on the outside, it is quite large inside. It is just 4mm shorter inside than a C-Class sedan.
The flat floor and radically angled engine and gearbox prevent intrusion into the passenger compartment in a frontal smash, prompting Mercedes to claim E-Class-like levels of crash worthiness.
The A-Class seats five and all but the driver's seat can be removed when you need to transport a surfboard, a month's shopping or a pair of mountain bikes.
With five seats in place, luggage capacity is a reasonable 350 liters. With only the driver's pew in place this rises to a massive 1,700 liters.
The A140 model has a 44kW motor which uses about 6.8-liters per 100km in mixed urban and interurban driving, while the turbo- diesel cars offer consumption as low as 4.5l/100km.
Petrol-engine emissions are said to be 40 percent below the existing Euro 2 limits.
The A160's 1.6-liter engine produces 75kW, and Mercedes has promised an even more powerful 1.9-liter engine soon.
The A-Class might be small but it has a long equipment list, which includes dual front air bags, antilock brakes, front electric windows, power steering and central locking.
The technical options list reads almost like that of the S- Class with antiskid and traction control, cruise control and parking assistance.
Highlighting the lifestyle approach Mercedes has adopted, there are 23 color options for the interior.
The new dashboard blends traditional Benz clarity with softer, friendlier forms, with an oversized speedometer and rev counter housed in a sweeping arc.