Monday 11th April 2011

Mercedes Concept A-Class Hints At New Supermini...

...or 'compact premium hatch' as we're supposed to call 'em nowadays...

---

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.

 

[GTEYE]

Perhaps a few hints of Astra in there too...

[wab172uk]

Now that doesn't look to bad.

[JuniorJet]

Definately a HUGE step forward from the current design.

If this actually ends up looking anything like this when it hits the road I will be suprised to say the least.

I wish car company's would stop showing concept cars then launching something else...

JUST LAUNCH THE CONCEPT!

[[AJ]]

I rather like that. It's certainly a lot nicer than the 1 series.

[LuS1fer]

Rank. A Merc 1-Series....is Bangle back?

[Henry Fiddleton]

Looks great, but looks a lot like a VW Sc...

[red_slr]

How is 210bhp from 2000cc AND turbo impressive?
Or have I missed something here, like 90mpg...

[thinfourth2]

JuniorJet said:

Definately a HUGE step forward from the current design.

If this actually ends up looking anything like this when it hits the road I will be suprised to say the least.

I wish car company's would stop showing concept cars then launching something else...

JUST LAUNCH THE CONCEPT!

So going from the very clever twin floor designed spacious car that was designed from the ground up as an electric car to a bog standard FWD hatch rolled in glitter is a step forward.

When everyone else is starting to build electric cars i would say its about ten steps back.

[Ozzie Osmond]

LuS1fer said:

Rank. A Merc 1-Series....is Bangle back?

Yup, looks very much like it!

[mgtony]

A few more pics here:

http://mashable.com/2011/04/10/mercedes-a-class-co...

The interior pic

I like the comment that the steering wheel looks like a face.

[Fetchez la vache]

thinfourth2 said:

JuniorJet said:

Definately a HUGE step forward from the current design.

If this actually ends up looking anything like this when it hits the road I will be suprised to say the least.

I wish car company's would stop showing concept cars then launching something else...

JUST LAUNCH THE CONCEPT!

So going from the very clever twin floor designed spacious car that was designed from the ground up as an electric car to a bog standard FWD hatch rolled in glitter is a step forward.

When everyone else is starting to build electric cars i would say its about ten steps back.

My thoughts exactly. Until a friend bought one a year back I never had any intention in sitting in one, but it left me mightily impressed. The original A-class should really have been called the T-class for Tardis, with more space inside than you would think possible. Looks like they've thrown away the usp in order to join the samey rest of the class who seem to follow each other with only a few styling cues to differentiate one another.

[kambites]

thinfourth2 said:

So going from the very clever twin floor designed spacious car that was designed from the ground up as an electric car to a bog standard FWD hatch rolled in glitter is a step forward.

When everyone else is starting to build electric cars i would say its about ten steps back.

I suspect it will make it considerably cheaper to produce, though.

[Mermaid]

Fetchez la vache said:

. The original A-class should really have been called the T-class for Tardis, with more space inside than you would think possible. Looks like they've thrown away the usp in order to join the samey rest of the class who seem to follow each other with only a few styling cues to differentiate one another.

+1

Also the high seating position in an A Class was what endeared it to little old ladies & elderly fold generally.

[greygoose]

Henry Fiddleton said:

Looks great, but looks a lot like a VW Sc...

That was my first thought too.

[Kazlet]

Well it looks pretty good, the performance sounds rather average but the price will probably kill it.

[oilit]

i agree - the original lwb a class was more roomy than my range rover - in terms of rear leg room !

the current one is awful imho - although i have only ever ended up with rental ones with the crappy cvt gearbox!

I think merc needs to move away from the aged a class design (oh and scrap the daft b class - who buys that ?) and this could be a success...

[va1o]

I like it, but will be more interested to see the final version rather than this concept. Very different to the current model though! Don't think Merc are pitching this as a supermini, it will take on the forthcoming next gen A3 and 1-series.

[va1o]

red_slr said:

How is 210bhp from 2000cc AND turbo impressive?

Agreed, it's not a massive leap forward given the 2005 A200 Turbo managed just over 190bhp from its 2.0 unit.

[JumpinJack]

Mmmmmm that is very nice! I wish companies would make their production releases look how they make their concepts look. (and yes I know that isn't an option due to costs etc. before anyone gets on their high horse)

[Schmeeky]

If they don't tone it down too much in the production model I reckon it'll be a pretty damn good looking car. Vauxhall managed it with the current Astra, so it can be done.

I really like the interior - apart from all the red LEDs everywhere.