Mercedes is a full-line manufacturer whose portfolio spans from large, commercial trucks to sub-compact city cars. In the US, Mercedes sells only a fraction of its global portfolio; mainly those models that fit the carefully crafted image of upscale luxury. Products that don’t fit that image include commercial utility vehicles, trucks, minivans and subcompacts.
One of those subcompacts, the A-Class, has been radically redesigned and was displayed at the Geneva Motor Show. Unlike the prior version, which looked somewhat similar to the Mazda 5 (think small minivan), the new model morphed into a luxurious hot hatch.
As Mercedes moves into this space, it will compete directly with Audi’s A3, BMW’s Mini and 1-Series. These models tend to be hatchbacks, including the BMW 1-series which is far more popular in hatchback variant than sedan, even though the sedan is the only available model in the US market.
In the past, Mercedes has kept the A-Class from US shores, fearing that an odd-looking, tiny semi-minivan would hurt the brand. This was probably a good call. The new A-Class, however, has been slated for the US market, which is good news for anyone who wants a stylish and sporty (looking) entry-level luxury car.
Personally, I think this is one of the best looking new models from Stuttgart in quite some time.
Courtesy of Daimler
Courtesy of Daimler
P.S. Notice the lack of a physical gearshift on the center console. The rotary knob could either operate the COMMAND system, or the transmission or both.
Recent Comments