Mercedes is the latest victim of high gas prices and a slowing U.S. economy. Sales in USA went down in the past few months and big gas-guzzling cars can’t be sold. As already reported, Mercedes sees its future in small cars around the world, and now it seems the USA may be a part of the plan. This is why the company is considering bringing the A-Class and B-Class here, probably sometime in 2011.
The move may help give Mercedes a much needed sales boost. "We have had higher list-price increases than our competitors, and we will continue to go for pricing and lose some volume rather than see our contributions deteriorate," Dr. Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Mercedes Benz said in a conference call last week.
The new generation of the front-wheel-drive subcompacts, due in 2011, will include a small crossover and a coupe. Those models are expected to come to the United States to compete with BMW’s 1 series and a future BMW crossover dubbed the X1, as well as small SUVs from Volkswagen and Audi. An electric car also is expected.
As you know the Mercedes A-Class and B-Class will be dropped and replaced with something better. According to Autozeitung one of the models that will replace them is a four-dour coupe called CLA. And this is how it might look like!
What we know until now about the future models is that they will be built on a new layout, called MFA (Mercedes Front-wheel drive Architecture). It will feature a simpler, cheaper arrangement that will allow the next generation of vehicles to sit nearer to the ground.
Mercedes has confirmed that the next generations A-Class and B-Class will feature a new design and will adopt conventional engines: a new four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines that will make the car cheaper to build.
The future models will compete with models like Audi A3 and BMW 1-series and will go on sale at around £16,500 in the UK.
The company is also working on a new MPV, set to replace today’s B-class, that is expected to be of a similar size to the Volkswagen Touran and offer the choice between five and seven seats. Also planned is a new entry level off-roader based on the MPV, providing a rival for the upcoming Audi Q3 and BMW X1.
"Mercedes-Benz is going to offer a wider range of cars with the high levels of comfort, safety and quality that are characteristic for the brand - particularly in the fuel-efficient, compact-car segment," said Mercedes chairman Dieter Zetsche.
Mercedes already announced its intention of dropping the current A-Class platform and build the future A-Class on the same platform as the current C-Class. What does this mean for the future A-Class that will be launched most probably in 2011? It will be a sporty-coupe capable to compete with models like Audi A3, BMW 1-Series and upcoming Saab 9-2.
The future A-Class will be built on a new layout, called MFA (Mercedes Front-wheel drive Architecture), that has been conceived to support a much wider range of models and allows for four-wheel drive, paving the way for high-performance variants.
Even if Mercedes recently launched a facelift for the A-Class, the current model will be dropped and replaced with a new model, that - according to the latest internet rumors - is already in the concept version.
Updated 03/14/2011: A first sketch of the new generation Mercedes A-Class surfaced on the internet today next to the information that the car will make its world debut at the Shanghai Motor Show from April 20 to 28.
Hit the jump to read more about the 2012 Mercedes A-Class.
Full story
Mercedes has announced they will replace the A-Class and B-Class with more conventional front-wheel-drive hatchbacks. The future models will be joined by a three-door coupé, a cabrio, a 4x4 and an MPV: "We want to expand the line-ups to at least double that of today’s levels," said Rainer Schmueckle, Mercedes-Benz chief executive officer.
The future A-Class will be built on a new layout, called MFA (Mercedes Front-wheel drive Architecture), that has been conceived to support a much wider range of models and allows for four-wheel drive, paving the way for high-performance variants.
The future generation A-Class will feature a simpler, cheaper arrangement that will allow the next generation of vehicles to sit nearer to the ground.
Changes will be made under the hood also: a new range of engines will power the future A-Class, but they also be used for other models. Hybrid versions are also under consideration.
