Mercedes-Benz A-Class : First Drive

Talk about Mercedes-Benz going on the war path, to attack every segment of the car market without devaluing its premium positioning and in the process attempting a paradigm shift – rolling back years of baggage to appeal to a younger, more energetic set of car buyers. Now haven’t we seen this happen before as well is another question one might well ask but hey, that was supposedly in the late 1920s and early 1930s when newer smaller cars were indeed made in the thousands by Mercedes-Benz enabling its sustenance as a car maker of repute. It was only after the Second World War that Mercedes-Benz started with the mid-size compact sedans and began to grow the portfolio. Small cars weren’t its forte and heck it owned Audi for a li’l while in the late 1950s and early 1960s but as it didn’t see itself saddled with smaller machines, it sold the brand to Volkswagen!  While the reasons for such were valid then, this is not the story we want to focus on!

Things are different in the second decade of this century because it is all about perception and also about being quick footed to handle change. Unfortunately for a car maker it is impossible to react within weeks or months to address niches or models from rivals because the process is so time, effort and resource intensive. However, in the mid-1990s the three-pointed star did think about going small and came up with a small car – the W168 A-Class in 1997, of the size of the VW Golf but innovative in its design, build and engineering.

It was somewhat complex for the segment with its innovative engineering and double floor design but somehow somewhere an elk upset many a plan meaning that the car had a topsy turvy debut. Nonetheless, Mercedes-Benz solved the handling problems and the A-Class chugged on to decent numbers and a fairly respectable life span. The second generation – W 169 in 2004, was an evolution of the first and it carried on stolidly to sell over a million units but the overall package just didn’t have that pizzazz to distinguish itself in the company of cars like the VW Golf.

The winds of change were blowing somewhat within the corridors of power at Daimler-Benz in Stuttgart in the early years of the last decade and the Mercedes-Benz planners realised that getting back to traditional values didn’t mean doing stodgy cars. This was the biggest change which was given the go-ahead by the hardliners and so a major thrust on design and style was given the green light while another message was to accelerate even further on core traditional strengths of engineering innovation and build quality to deliver rock solid reliability and also offer performance at high levels.

While the early manifestations of this new Mercedes design and style language have all been seen on the big saloons and roadsters over the past seven to eight years, what we are now seeing is something else altogether and it is not without reason that Dieter Zetsche says that Mercedes-Benz is in attack mode and the attack is on minds, perception and preconceived notions. Of course philosophy can point you in the right direction but can’t take you there and so to back up the thoughts and the combined vision of the planners, designers and engineers, get ready to say hello to the most radical modern day Mercedes-Benz ever – the third generation A-Class (Mercedes-Benz A-Class, A 180 CDI : Exteriors).

Before we get to the drive proper, a bit more on the gestation of the W 176 series which in itself is based on the Mercedes Front-Wheel-Drive Architecture (MFA) which is so radically different from any other car it has done in the past. The MFA already lends itself to the B-Class which is already a major success in Europe and headed to India this September and the A-Class is the second model it underpins with three more in the pipeline.

After the Daimler-Chrysler pairing didn’t work out, nor did the joint development with Hyundai and Mitsubishi, Mercedes-Benz did seek others to partner it for this project (BMW and PSA were two of the big name car makers it spoke to) but when there were no encouraging signs emanating from there, it decided to go it alone. One clear reason why the B-Class made it to market before the A-Class! However there is an all-new family of smallies underway and this could be just the start of modern mainstream cars that are targeted at the new urbane dynamic populace who more often than not could be found in the VW Golfs, Audi A3s and BMW 1 series!

Mercedes-Benz A-Class Special Coverage

Mercedes-Benz A-Class, A 180 CDI : Exteriors

Mercedes-Benz A-Class: Interiors

 Mercedes-Benz A-Class (Design Evolution)

A couple of things clearly indicate the absolute design departure from the previous A-Class – it is longer by 440mm than its predecessor while it sheds its tall boy stance (by up to 170mm no less) making it squat low and mean. The entire package (Mercedes-Benz A-Class, A 180 CDI : Exteriors) is an exuberant one from the new soft nose design theme already witnessed on the SLS AMG and then with the steeply raked windscreen and those chiselled character lines on the flanks before moving on to the chamfered rear end. The sculptural quality of the sheet metal surfaces plus the silhouette profile and glass areas contribute to give it an all-new dynamic look while yet retaining the Mercedes-Benz zeitgeist.  “This A-Class is completely new, down to the last detail,” says Dieter Zetsche. “In automotive development, it’s not often that you get the chance to start with a clean sheet of paper. Our engineers have made the very most of that opportunity.”

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Given that the car was styled both in the designers’ atelier as also in the wind tunnel, the A-Class sets a new benchmark for small hatchbacks with a drag co-efficient of just 0.26. Interspersed across the exterior one can make out tiny significant hints of the time spent for aero efficiency. Distinctive side spoilers next to the rear windows help reduce turbulence at the D-pillars; flow losses at front wheel arches taken care of using patented serrated wheel spoilers front and rear along with slots in the wheel arches and optimised wheel hubs; adjustable radiator shutter with the louvers behind the radiator grille remaining close when not needed; fully clad underbody with even the silencer box having been subjected to aerodynamic styling and finally the ORVMs on both doors having been optimally positioned so that there is no significant interference or disruption.

Zetsche’s statement rings true and what clearly defines the new vehicle is not that the exterior and its proportions are so svelte but that the interior (Mercedes-Benz A-Class: Interiors) if rich and packed with gizmos while the drive and ride is dynamic yet very much with typical Mercedes-Benz values ingrained in it. The monocoque is all-new with new age steels used for the superstructure along with revised new design thought and manufacturing processes being engineered into it so that it is not just sturdy and stiff but also optimally designed to dissipate crash forces from impeding into the cabin.

Front suspension is by means of MacPherson struts but the big story is at the rear where an all-new four-link set-up is employed consisting of three control arms and one trailing arm per wheel. This helps each wheel to be independent of the other as regards the longitudinal and lateral dynamics are concerned. Thanks to unsprung weight being cut down by using aluminium for the wheel carriers and the spring links, the overall set-up was to deliver absolute stability at high speeds without compromising on the fun to drive agility factor.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class Special Coverage

Mercedes-Benz A-Class, A 180 CDI : Exteriors

Mercedes-Benz A-Class: Interiors

 Mercedes-Benz A-Class (Design Evolution)

Add to this the electromechanical steering employing a dual pinion EPS system and with disc brakes on all four wheels, the hardware for the handling chores is well taken care of. I particularly liked the HOLD function for the brakes which is taken straight from the larger saloons in the Mercedes range. When stopping at traffic lights, the driver just needs to press the brake pedal slightly more firmly and then take the foot off. Once he steps on the throttle the brakes would only then be released. Additionally the A-Class models with manual transmission also get the Hill Hold function which automatically prevents the car from rolling back unintentionally when starting on a slope. All A-Class cars now come with an electric parking brake which operates via actuator motors acting on the rear axle.

Additionally three chassis and suspension set-ups have been configured for customers to choose from. The base set-up is comfort followed by the sports pack which can be had in conjunction with the Dynamic Handling package or the AMG Sport equipment line. Then there is the very sporty ‘engineered by AMG’ high-performance pack and this also has the ‘Extended Traction Control’ integrated into it. This works with the ESP to help directional stability under high speed cornering. Depending on model the A-Class rides on 195/65-R15T tyres at the base entry level end. As one moves up the range the cars get 205/55-R16H or 205/55-R16V rubber. Moving on to the top of the spectrum the A250 gets 225/45-R17V tyres while the A 250 Sport wears 235/40-R18V shoes. Oh yes, and all these tyres are run-flats, there being no spare tyre from now on in the baby Merc!

While the style and the structure are great to begin with, it is what is under the hood that will determine how effective the car is in performance befitting its turnout. There are two diesel engines (the proven OM451 units) available at start up and four petrol offerings and it is but natural that the former will be the preferred choice for India. 

All engines are turbocharged four-cylinder units based on a common block with matching bore centres. The A180 CDI features a 1461cc unit with 109bhp and 260Nm of torque. This comes mated to a brand new 6-speed manual. Next up the pecking order is A180 CDI wit the larger 1796cc engine featuring a 16-valve head and mated to the dual clutch 7G-DCT tranny. The engine develops 109bhp and 250Nm of torque but the oil burner to specify is the A200 CDI which while employing the 1796cc unit develops 136 horses and whips out 300Nm of torque. What is impressive is that the A180 CDI is the very first Mercedes-Benz to dip below the 100g/km of CO2 benchmark, 98g/km being the precise figure. If that is not all, an even newer A220CDI is under development and getting production ready for a December 2012 launch. This engine already meets the tough Euro 6 emission requirements much before they come into force in 2015!

Given that Mercedes has done a host of work to develop the Diesotto concept, many of the lessons from this project are already being transferred to the new range of small four-cylinder petrol engines (code named M274/276). These come with four-valves-per-cylinder top ends and electronically controlled direct gasoline injection in 1.6-  and 2.0-litre displacement sizes. The A180 employs the 1595cc unit (122bhp and 200Nm) mated to the 6-speed manual. The A200 is identical in the hardware but has been uprated to deliver 156bhp and 250Nm of torque. The next in line is the A250 with the 1991cc unit mated to the 7-speed dual clutch gearbox with 211bhp on tap and 350Nm of torque to do its bidding making it one of the zestiest performers in its class. The A250 Sport is identical barring a few go-quicker visual enhancements to up the pulse. But fret not for an even hotter A45 AMG is in the pipeline, due to hit roads at the end of the year.

Visually and dynamically the A-Class ticks so many boxes as it does on the mechanical side and therefore it is time to open the doors and explore the cabin. Here as well the designers and packaging engineers have completely re-written the rule book. This is unlike any other Mercedes-Benz with innovative designs which are pleasing to behold and use with a big hike in quality materials and put together quality. In fact the ergonomics are spot-on but like so many modern day hatchbacks with steeply raked windscreens there yet remains the large blind spot, especially around the A-pillar and the ORVM areas.  

Mercedes-Benz A-Class Special Coverage

Mercedes-Benz A-Class, A 180 CDI : Exteriors

Mercedes-Benz A-Class: Interiors

 Mercedes-Benz A-Class (Design Evolution)

Getting to the interior (Mercedes-Benz A-Class: Interiors), depending on model and trim specified one can get the carbon treatment or maple, chrome also abound should you feel good about it in the accents. The aviation-inspired round air vents are the stand out feature of the dashboard with its cool touch surfacing as also the Apple iPad-like TFT pallet in the centre of the dash for the infotainment systems.

The seats are pretty good and supportive though I would have loved to have a bit more surface area, especially on the bottom bolster! The steering wheel is a neat new design with function switches on the central spokes the right size diameter to make for an exhilarating experience. The cabin has more leg room than its predecessor but what is more important is the fact that our friends in the German automotive media have said that this is one area where the A-Class trumps almost all others in class, the VW Golf included! There is sufficient head room despite the sloping roofline and the 341-litre boot volume can be enhanced to 1157 litres of luggage carrying capacity by folding the rear seat back flat.

At the international media drive in Slovenia we had a multitude of A-Class models to choose from but I settled for the A200 CDI with the new 6-speed manual gearbox. Forget the absolute figures (0-100km/h in 9.3 seconds and a 210km/h top speed), the best thing about this motor is the way she punches in a pleasing manner, so very Mercedes-Benz-ish! There is a certain fluency and aura about this car which has risen in overall weight to near about 1445kg. The steering is precise and nicely weighted to deliver that tactile feel without being too light or intrusive. Going through the 6-speed ’box is a delight as you crest the thick torque curve beginning from as low down as 1600rpm and staying flat all the way to 3000rpm. 

It is this torque which does the business and in effect the car delivers that ample in-reserve thrust we Indians delight in. Ride quality was firm with just the right amount of pliancy without upsetting the handling. In fact, having taken the A200 with the optional AMG Sports trim, I found the petrol to be buzzy but the torque was a revelation here as well. And the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic while being very convenient in in-town use, is a bit of a let down as the electrics try to hunt the right cog in certain situations.

Overall the dynamics are pretty nifty though typically Mercedes-Benz and even for the young brigade there is something to be said about safe assured handling rather than the sharp trigger happy stuff which many car makers are prone to load and thrust on to customers. What is good is that Stuttgart hasn’t fallen prey to trends and diktats from Munich, Ingolstadt or Wolfsburg but managed to stay with its own theme prevalent across the board.

The A-Class (Mercedes-Benz A-Class Special Coverage) is kitted to the hilt from the base offering and with tonnes of gizmos as one goes up the model range. I particularly like the radar collision warning system which is OE. The amount of electronic safety aids and driver assists is long and exhaustive as are the networking interfaces for the occupants to use. While Europe is a different market altogether, we will have to wait and see what the spec sheet of the India-bound A-Class sports.

And speaking of India, expect the A-Class by mid-2013 by which time it will have the complete diesel engine range on hand. Even though it will be assembled at the firm’s Chakan facility, the key consideration to get younger customers will depend on how effectively it would be priced. Given that the B-Class will start around Rs 24-25 lakh, the A-Class could prove a nightmare for Mercedes-Benz India to configure and sell at sensible money. And that is where the battle would be won or frittered away.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class Special Coverage

Mercedes-Benz A-Class, A 180 CDI : Exteriors

Mercedes-Benz A-Class: Interiors

 Mercedes-Benz A-Class (Design Evolution)