Mercedes Benz wishes to rewrite the history of technology in small cars, with the launch of the new A-class in India. This class transfers the superiority of German engineering from a sedan to a smaller and more responsive vehicle. It is certainly a huge step forward in terms of design and quality of materials used.
The company has attacked every segment of the car market without letting go of its premium brand positioning, ever since the 1920s. The A-class gives customers an example of premium features in a hatchback, which would definitely appeal to the young and the restless. Visual appeal and modern technology are the major selling points for the A-class vehicles/
The A Class is a fresh package which reflects the global turnaround towards small and fuel efficient vehicles. Big sedans have commonly seen various manifestations of design and engineering in the past seven to eight years, but not much in hatchbacks. Design of the A class also showcases a sure footed way of handling change in the international auto market.
In the interiors, one has the option between choosing carbon or maple and chrome treatment, based on the model and trim of the A-class vehicle. Aviation-styled air vents on the dashboard stand out in the interiors, and so does the Apple Ipad-like TFT for infotainment.
Seats are very comfortable and supportive for thighs. The steering wheel has been designed in a new way, and controls mounted at just the right places to provide a wonderful driving experience. Leg room in the A-class is greater than its predecessor, sufficient even for persons above the height of 6 ft. In this aspect, the A-class scores even above the fairly large VW Golf. Despite a sloping roofline, there is a great amount of headroom and boot space at 341 litres is sufficient for a vehicle of this size. Space can also be increased to 1157 litres by folding the rear seat.
The A200 CDI with gets a 6-speed manual gearbox, propelling the vehicle from 0-100 kmph in 9.3 seconds. This vehicle has a top speed of 210 kmph, which is excellent for a hatchback. The motor pushes ahead wonderfully, with a smoothness and refinement characteristic of every Merc. Steering in the vehicle is precise, and torque is always available from the low 1600rpm right up to 3000rpm.
By creating the new A-Class, Mercedes-Benz is bound to write a new chapter in the history of hatchback design and performance. This would make for interesting competition in the international premium hatch market, with vehicles powered between 109bhp to 211bhp. Emissions would also be low, and each vehicle would provide a high fuel efficiency figure. In India, the A-Class can be expected to be available by mid-2013. What would be worth seeing is how well Merc can price A-Class vehicles, to appeal to its young target group.
