New A-Class for Shanghai; B-Class latest

Mercedes-Benz will give the world a sneak peek at one version of its next-generation small car in Shanghai next month. Ending several years of speculation as to the form the new car will take, the German carmaker plans to give its all-new A-Class its first public airing in a lightly disguised "concept" form at the China Auto event.

Built on Mercedes' new MFA (Mercedes Front-wheel [drive] Architecture) platform, insiders say the new car will have more conventional proportions than the outgoing generation. Gone will be the mini-MPV proportions, replaced by more conventional passenger car lines.

At Geneva motor show last week, Mercedes-Benz product and development boss, Dr Thomas Weber confirmed the carmaker would launch a number of vehicles off the new MFA platform.

The new B-Class, Weber confirmed, would retain the current vehicle's familiar one-box proportions, however, the A-Class will be built in three body styles -- all of which would be more typical of conventional front-wheel drive vehicles.

A senior Mercedes insider confirmed the identity of the Shanghai car at last week's new generation C-Class launch in Tenerife.

"No, no... It [the Shanghai show car] won't be the B-Class -- that will look to many people the same or at least too much like the current car. It will be the other [front-wheel drive] car.

"It is very different and will attract a lot of attention we hope," the executive told the Carsales Network.

The new MFA platform has the flexibility to be built in both sandwich-style high-floor versions -- suitable for B-Class and also alternative powertrain packaging -- and low (conventional) floor variants. The latter will suit conventional hatch and sedan applications. It will also allow the development of sportier variants.

The changes should mean the upcoming A-Class will be better placed to take on vehicles like BMW's 1 Series and Audi A1 and A3 as well as the upper-end of mass market hatches such as Golf.

Dr Weber told the Carsales Network that the current A and B-Class models are too similar in concept.

"The A and B-class are [now] quite similar -- so we compete sometimes with each other. In the future we will have available four completely different vehicles -- one similar to the current B-Class and the three other vehicles will address three completely different market segments that we don't have in our [current] portfolio," he said.

All variants will share a common wheelbase, Weber stated.

"We know quite well from customer reaction what is the optimal wheelbase and based on this experience in the third generation we will keep one wheelbase that will help us to reduce complexity and also address the cost topic," Weber explained.

"In this segment innovation, design, alternative drivetrains, safety features [are all important, but] in the end it is the price point at which you can offer the products [that determines sales volumes]," he warned.

The MFA platform will be used exclusively for Mercedes, he confirmed. The platform will not be leveraged by the Smart brand.

Production of the next-generation of A/B-Class vehicles will take place in both Germany and Hungary. Dr Weber stated Mercedes was taking measures to improve the capacity of its Rastatt plant, while a new plant would come on stream in Hungary to build front-wheel drive Benz models.

Mercedes is seeking to substantially increase its A and B-Class volumes with the new cars. Indeed, growth in this segment is a strong opportunity for the brand. Though Dr Weber was coy discussing targets he hinted that the company will seek to sell substantially more than its previous A/B-Class peak of around 270,000 units per annum.

"It's my feeling that doubling [volume] is possible... Why not," he commented.

Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at the carsales mobile site