Mercedes Concept A revealed

Forgotten about the CLA in the Mercedes range expansion? Time for a facelift!

Ever since Mercedes ditched the original (in every sense of the word) A-Class, its popularity has soared. The Mercedes compact car range - the A-Class, CLA, CLA Shooting Brake, GLA and B-Class - has now achieved more than two million sales since 2012.

This car, the Concept A Sedan, is described by Mercedes as "providing an outlook of the next generation of compact vehicles and a potential new body type." What exactly Mercedes means by a new body type is an odd one - given this appears very much like another small four-door saloon - but let's see if more details are forthcoming.

As for the outlook, it's clear to see where this car incorporates some new Mercedes styling updates in the familiar CLA silhouette. There's strong influence from the AMG GT Geneva concept in the front of this car, with the Panamericana grille that's being rolled out across the range and styling that "expresses self-confidence". The rear is recognisable from the current CLA, albeit enhanced with the "evolved design philosophy" and new lights. Being a concept car, it carries big - 20-inch - wheels, broad rear arches and some glitzy paint. Sadly it carries regular wing mirrors, rather than the rear-view cameras required of true concept cars.

The Concept A is being shown at the Shanghai motor show, because China still really, really loves a saloon. With the CLA first arriving in 2013, and the A-Class the year before that, expect a production version of this car - plus the rest of that compact car range - in due course.