SPY PICS: Lowdown on next A-Class
Spy photos of new five-door Benz A-Class on test in Germany indicate it will closely replicate the three-door Concept A prototype recently shown in Shanghai and New YorkCarparazzi's astute spy photographers lurking around Stuttgart streets have captured the first shots of the next generation Mercedes-Benz A-Class. And it appears to be nothing like its narrow, upright predecessor.
The car spotted patiently waiting at a set of Stuttgart lights has a wide, low-slung look not unlike that of most other contenders in the small car class. And it looks less like an MPV than the next generation B-Class also recently snapped by the Carparazzi team.
The five-door A-Class hatch appears similar in proportions to the Concept A three-door hatch that appeared at the Shanghai and New York motor shows this year and fits with speculation there will be three versions of the next small Benz; three-door hatch, five-door hatch and a four-door sedan.
In effect the car pictured here is an A-Class by name only. The original was notable for its trail-blazing sandwich floor design that played a part both in accident protection and the provision of under-floor space for future battery powered models.
With a hip point 15 to 20cm lower than current A-Class, the next-generation model reverts to conventional architecture, similar to other front-drive small cars from the likes of Audi and Volkswagen.
An imaginary peeling-away of the front disguise suggests a shape very like that of the Concept A, from grille to A-pillars, and in the curving crease running from above the front wheel arches through to the doors. The rear end, replete with deliberately ugly plastic disguise is less easy to imagine, although the high-set location of the tail lights looks a certainty.
The dual tailpipes are either a decoy, or indicate there might be a hot Audi RS3 type variant.
What is clear is that Benz will be directly targeting the next A-Class at other prestige hatchbacks, including Audi A3 and Volkswagen Golf front-drivers, and BMW’s rear-drive 1 Series (for now – it is expected to go front wheel drive sharing MINI technology in its next generation).
What is perhaps unexpected is that the A-Class will head off in a different direction to the forthcoming new B-Class which, although it has also dropped the sandwich floor construction, still presents a more upright, space-making look consistent with speculation it will form the basis for a new, small SUV from Benz to compete with BMW X1 and Audi Q3.
Likely drivetrains are the subject of pure speculation, but it’s probable they will replicate at least some of those on offer in the A-Class before it was axed in Australia. Engines include 1.7-litre and 2.0-litre petrol engines, a 2.0-litre petrol turbo and a 2.0-litre turbodiesel.
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