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It was only a week or so ago that we saw the first spy photos showcasing a heavily-camouflaged 2012 A-Class prototype. Recently, spy photographers met the car in Stuttgart, near the Mercedes-Benz R&D Centre. The test car reveals mere clues on the looks of the hatchback, but that's hardly a surprise now after everybody saw a set of leaked patent sketches in May. Designers were in charge to create a crisp and youthful theme for the new model, as this is company's first 5-door vehicle attempt. The boring MPV shape is gone forever now that it was solely reserved for the new B-Class, which, as earlier stated, is indeed more elegant and stylish than in the past.
The new A-Class will closely follow the aesthetic footsteps of the concept car presented in April at Shanghai. That means we'll see the intricately-pampered LED headlights and the arched side windows panel make it onto the serial production model. The dashboard, although different from that of the B-Class, won't feature many of the futuristic materials found on the Concept A-Class, but will preserve some the airplane wing visual effect - mind those aircon vents that look like jet engines, because there's a chance they will be kept for the series car.
Other than that, the underpinnings and the entire technologycal package will be shared with the new B-Class, scheduled for the official reveal at the IAA Frankfurt. So, expect the same level of efficiency and almost the same equipments (depending on the variants). Rumors claim a hardcore, 350-hp version AMG version for the A-Class is also said to be under secret development by the Affalterbach-based tuner and it should hit streets in 2013 if the project gets fully greenlighted.
I expect the new A-Class to be slightly more expensive than its fellow brother - the base price should start at around 23,000-24,000 euros for the most countries in Europe. Mercedes-Benz announced that it will also start selling the car state-side, where it is prone to arrive by early 2013.
Photo source: Motor Authority
Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
This evening marks a premiere, as spy photographers were able to get the first shots of a massively-camouflaged 2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class prototype running on a private test track. Although they share the same platform, the two flagships of the upcoming compact range of the German constructor haven't begun the usual testing phase at the same time. Whereas the B-Class has already covered thousands and thousands of kilometers since 2009, engineers sent the new A-Class on streets just one year ahead of its scheduled unveiling. However, this doesn't automatically mean the car has not been developed behind closed doors, in the Merc's secret R&D labs. Seeing the Concept A-Class in April, the test model bears a lot of resemblance to the show vehicle revealed in Shanghai, at least in what the overall form is concerned. The first variant in the new lineup is a five-door hatchback, as the one in the scoop pics, but a more sports-oriented, three-door version similar to the concept is also in cards. Losing the bulky, rather unattractive MPV shape of the outgoing model means the new A-Class will gun for the BMW 1er and the Audi A3. The main artilery of the car for the fight is the spectacular MFA platform, which promises to be a trendsetter in the segment in areas such as modularity, efficiency and ride behaviour. Along with the A-Class, a new range of low-displacement Renault engines will debut, as part of the partnership signed last year. Mercedes-Benz will be in charge of supplying the high-end powerplants: the A 250 BlueEFFICIENCY and the A 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY, both capable of delivering 204 hp of peak output. The official tuner of the Stuttgart-based carmaker, AMG, is reportedly working on a super A-Class: the A 25 AMG, packing a new supercharged, 4-cylinder engine boasting 350 hp and an all-wheel-drive platform.
Hit the break and see more spy photos!
Source: WorldCarFans
Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
