Mercedes-Benz Concept A-Class, at new Mercedes-Benz Manhattan showroom, April 2011

Mercedes-Benz Concept A-Class, at new Mercedes-Benz Manhattan showroom, April 2011

If you are an avid Merc person, the A-Class Mercedes-Benz is nothing new to you. What would be new is the ability to buy one in the U.S. That need might be increased when you see the new A-Class design. The car debuted for the world recently at the Shanghai Auto Show and it is a beauty. When it comes to striking design, you can count on Mercedes to come through, even when working with a car as small as the A-Class. The big question is: Will it ever come to American shores?

Mercedes-Benz Concept A-Class

Mercedes-Benz Concept A-Class

Mercedes-Benz Concept A-Class

Mercedes-Benz Concept A-Class

The good news is that Mercedes has confirmed at this weeks New York Auto Show presentation that the A-Class will indeed grace the U.S. with its presence. The bad news is the expected rollout date; even though the A-Class will hit the streets in Europe next year, the U.S. market is less certain. The most Mercedes executives would say is that the car would come to the U.S. “some time in this decade.” Not exactly a firm date, but Mercedes advocates will undoubtedly be excited anyway.

The A-Class is a three-door concept that has styling inspired by the F800 Style study and the most recent CLS. The question is how much of the design as shown in the concepts will make it to the production line. We do know that the new concept will be built on the Mercedes-Benz MFA platform architecture. Under the hood you can expect the 210-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with a dual-clutch automatic transmission. We expect the performance will be class leading, with fuel efficiency being mid-range for the segment. Targeted competitors include the BMW 1-Series and the Audi A3—so you definitely need some credit and cash to get behind the wheel.

 

 

[Source: Mercedes and Carscoop]