Mercedes-Benz India will showcase the A-Class concept and fuel cell technology at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo. The company will also launch the SLS AMG Roadster and also provide an opportunity for motorsports enthusiasts to enroll in the Mercedes-Benz JPSI Performance Driving Academy to be launched soon.
Looks
Mercedes-Benz showcased the A-Class concept at the 2010 Shanghai Auto Show (China) in April 2011. The A-Class concept is a low-set, coupe-like vehicle, radically styled as against the tallboy designs of the present A-Class production cars.
The A-Class concept gets design cues from wind, waves and aviation engineering. It’s resemblance to SLS AMG, CLS models is evident from the sporty front grille with a large Benz logo at the centre. The sharp looking headlamps with two rows of LED lights that you see here on the concept may not make it into the production version.
The rear of the A-Class concept gives the impression of a crossover largely because of the thick C-pillar, protruding boot lid and wide-peeled out tail lamps that accentuate the width of the car.
Engine
The A-Class concept is powered by a new range of turbo-charged 4-cylinder petrol engines that are mated to a dual-clutch transmission. The top-of-the-line engine is the 2.0 litre turbo motor that puts out 210 bhp of maximum power. The engine is transversely mounted in order to reduce the car’s nose.
Safety Features
The A-Class concept is equipped with a radar-based collision warning system (first in its segment) and adaptive brake assist. Mercedes-Benz has a detailed analysis of accident related data and thus made the radar-based collision warning system that can help prevent roughly 20% of all rear-end collisions and lessen the severity of a collision by a further 25%.
Expected Price
The A-Class could be priced anywhere around Rs. 15 – 20 lakh and will be the cheapest offering from Mercedes-Benz because at present, the lowest priced model is the C-Class starting at Rs. 25.75 lakh.
Conclusion
Mercedes-Benz India has had a very successful year (2011) with a sales growth of 31% compared to the sales in 2010. The company sold 6,698 units in 2011 as against 5,110 units in 2010 during the January – November period. The unveiling of the A-Class hints that the production version of the car may be launched by end of 2012 or early 2013.
The A-Class has to compete with the BMW 1-series and the Audi A1. Barring the BMW 1-series, these cars are in the concept stage and are yet to hit production lines. Hence, the A-Class, if launched earlier than its rivals, will have a starter advantage!
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