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New Mercedes A-Class wants some sporting action

NEW Mercedes A-Class shows sporting side
BUSINESS car drivers will have greater choice in the premium compact sector now that Mercedes has launched its A3 and 1 Series rival.
Story: Ralph Morton
189_A Class_Mercedes
Mercedes goes sporting: new A-Class has AMG involvement for a more dynamic character. But business car drivers can still choose a 99g/km diesel for low company car tax

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6 March 2012

New Mercedes A-Class was launched at the Geneva Motor Show
Mercedes goes sporting: new A-Class has AMG involvement for a more dynamic character. But business car drivers can still choose a 99g/km diesel for low company car tax

Author: Ralph Morton

IF your idea of the Mercedes A-Class was of something cutesy but dumpy then this will change your mind.

The all-new Mercedes A-Class, which has been revealed at the Geneva Motor Show.

In fact it’s unrecognisable to the car it replaces – and wil give business car drivers a really credible alternative to the new Audi A3 (launched at Geneva), BMW 1 Series and Volvo’s new V40 (also launched at Geneva).

Here’s the head of Mercedes: “The A-Class is a clear statement of the new dynamism of the Mercedes-Benz brand. The A-Class is completely new, down to the last detail. In automotive development, it’s not often you get the chance to start with a clean sheet of paper. Our engineers and designers have made the very most of that opportunity.” That’s Dr Dieter Zetsche, who added: “A is for attack!”

And Mercedes is certainly going for it.

No other Mercedes before has emitted less than 100g/km CO2 – but not the new A-Class, which will feature a diesel engine with 99g/km CO2, which is equivalent on our company car tax calculator to a benefit in kind tax band of 13%.

The 99g/km diesel won’t be the only engine on offer. Business car drivers can choose from a range of 1.6 and 2.0 petrol engines, from the 115 hp  A 180, the 156 hp A 200 to the 211 hp in the A 250.

On the diesel front there’s a 109 hp A 180 CDI,  a 136 hp A 200 CDI and a 170 hp A 220 CDI.

All A-Class engines feature fuel-saving ECOstart/stop function as standard. The engines can be combined either with a new six-speed manual transmission or, as an option, with a 7G-DCT dual-clutch automatic transmission.

But it’s the new sporting character that will appeal to many SMEs. Mercedes’ performance arm has been heavily involved  in the new A-Class design. So there’s a hot A-Class Sport “engineered by AMG”, which features exclusive 18-inch AMG five spoke design light-alloy wheels  painted high-gloss black, together with red-painted brake callipers. The sporting A-Class will be available as the A 250 Sport and the A 220 CDI Sport.

Interior of the all-new Mercedes A-Class
Crafted interior of the new A-Class features prominent air vents as a design feature

Among the high level of safety kit, the new A-Class features Mercedes’ radar-based Collision Prevention Assist  system as standard.

No word yet on price, but expect the new Mercedes compact to be around the £20,000 mark.

Rear view shot of the new Mercedes A-Class
Sporting stance of new A-Class clearly visible from the rear

Read more on the Geneva debut cars

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Ralph Morton

Ralph Morton

Ralph Morton is an award-winning journalist and the founder of Business Car Manager (now renamed Business Motoring). Ralph writes extensively about the car and van leasing industry as well as wider fleet and company car issues. A former editor of What Car?, Ralph is a vastly experienced writer and editor and has been writing about the automotive sector for over 35 years.

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