Mercedes-Benz has teased a new image of its A-class hatchback, which is scheduled for a reveal next month. The image shows a darkly-lit A-class, revealing new headlights that echo those on the recently launched CLS.
Our sister publication, Autocar UK, has lightened the photo, giving the clearest indication yet of the revamped front end, which has been designed to give the car a bold, aggressive look.
Underpinning the new A-class is the new MFA-2 platform, which features greater use of aluminium and high-strength steel than the MFA platform on which it is based.
The car features a wide and relatively low-set grille with horizontal louvres, together with relatively thin headlamps that extend back into the front wings to provide the front end with a heavily tapered appearance.
The new A-class retains the practical five-door layout of its predecessor, although it has grown dimensionally; length is up by 120mm at 4,419mm, while width increases by 16mm to around 1,796mm. It also adopts a 30mm longer wheelbase at 2,729mm.
The engine line-up for the A-class consists of the base 1.4-litre engine (codenamed M282) which is planned to come in three states of tune – 110hp in the A 140, 136hp in the A 160 and 163hp in the A 180. Above it is the 2.0-litre engine (codename M260) that is planned to deliver 191hp in the A200 and 224hp in the A250.
The new M260 petrol unit also forms the basis of a new engine from AMG for the A 35 4Matic model, which gets a 48-volt electric architecture that allow an electric boost function and an output of 306hp along with a sturdy 409Nm of torque.
Though nothing is official just yet, Autocar UK has been told that the A 45 4Matic’s successor is based on a reworked version of the A 35’s engine with mild-hybrid properties and will tuned to deliver in the region of 408hp.
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