2012 Mercedes A-Class

[tanvir]

Now to be an A3/1 Series rival.



Yeah I like it. Shoot me

[JohnSwitzer]

I'd actually sooner have the Volvo V40 and a couple of grand change in the back pocket. Shame Mercedes Benz have gone down this route - albeit I'm sure there are good commercial considerations why they have.

But I for one always liked the 'original' A, as it was the kind of car I could imagine Issigonis designing today i.e. minimum external space and maximum internal space.

[tanvir]

Originally Posted by JohnSwitzer

I'd actually sooner have the Volvo V40 and a couple of grand change in the back pocket. Shame Mercedes Benz have gone down this route - albeit I'm sure there are good commercial considerations why they have.

But I for one always liked the 'original' A, as it was the kind of car I could imagine Issigonis designing today i.e. minimum external space and maximum internal space.

There's the B-Class for that.



Does it not have more than a passing resemblance to Issigonis' Maxi?

[LeRich]

Originally Posted by tanvir

There's the B-Class for that.

^^ That's the old one



This is the new one, based on the same platform as he new A-Class.

I think John was referring to the platform of mkI and II A-class rather than its overall versatility. The original car was very innovative in terms of its packaging and achieved the sort of 'holy grail' that Issigonis sought to achieve with the Mini. Unfortunately the car fell flat (and rolled over) in the afce of the more conventional A3 and 1-Series, hence taking the more technically-conservative route with the 2012 cars.

Despite the new A-Class being a bit of a 'me-too' car, I rather like it and out of the three German compact hatches, it would be my choice. There's no doubt the car will be more successful the its predecessor and will give rise to the tasty CSC (or whatever they'll call it) compact saloon.

[JohnSwitzer]

Originally Posted by LeRich

^^ That's the old one



This is the new one, based on the same platform as he new A-Class.

I think John was referring to the platform of mkI and II A-class rather than its overall versatility. The original car was very innovative in terms of its packaging and achieved the sort of 'holy grail' that Issigonis sought to achieve with the Mini. Unfortunately the car fell flat (and rolled over) in the afce of the more conventional A3 and 1-Series, hence taking the more technically-conservative route with the 2012 cars.

Despite the new A-Class being a bit of a 'me-too' car, I rather like it and out of the three German compact hatches, it would be my choice. There's no doubt the car will be more successful the its predecessor and will give rise to the tasty CSC (or whatever they'll call it) compact saloon.

Yup, I like the car, even though I'm not mesmerised by it as I was by the 'original' A Class. Like you would choose it any day over the 1er or the Audi A3. The 1er I just find garish, whilst the A3 is boring. The Volvo V40 though also looks like it could be worth considering too:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/...olvo-v40-d2-se

[great_kahn]

350bhp AMG version should be great.

[Forrestt]

Originally Posted by LeRich

The original car was very innovative in terms of its packaging and achieved the sort of 'holy grail' that Issigonis sought to achieve with the Mini.

Any other examples?

The only other example i can think of is the IQ.

[soj]

I rather like the look of it too.

[ROVER-25X]

Pretty smart doing this and making the original A into the B class, fits in nice with the rest of the range, big premium makers have realised that not everyone wants a big luxury car, some people want small luxury cars.

[tanvir]

I'm loving the look of the interior. Especially the seats!

[LeRich]

I had a poke around a couple at the Geneva Motorshow and was very impressed. Mercedes has done the right thing changing tactics with this new generation and has made a car far nicer than the equivalent BMW or Aldi.