Mercedes is set to reveal this, the Concept A-Class, at the Shanghai motor show next week, giving the closest indication yet to the look of the next A-Class.
Mercedes-Benz says it is "presenting a car that might have come from another planet: its expressive design symbolises concentrated dynamism."
We say: umm, okay, it looks quite nice and quite different, with distinct overtones of the CLS, but it's definitely more Stuttgart than Saturn.
Still, there's plenty of clever tech on hand, with a new, turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, a dual-clutch transmission and a radar-based collision warning system (a world-first for the class) and adaptive Brake Assist.
This front-wheel drive model is powered by a four-cylinder petrol engine from the new M270 series, designed specifically for a transverse installation. More interestingly, the 2.0-litre turbo version with which the Concept A-Class is equipped develops a fairly impressive 210 hp.
Inside, the dashboard has the shape of an aircraft wing and a translucent, stretchable textile lining. This, apparently, enables the bionic, cellular structure of the component to remain visible, while the shape of the air vents in the dashboard is reminiscent of a jet aircraft engine. The central control unit is designed as a modern flight panel, with the shift lever taking the form of a "reverse thrust control". All of which, we presume, you'll see in a much more toned-down form on the final production version of the car.