Photo: Theophilus Chin
With Mercedes-Benz currently exploiting the Renault-Nissan partnership in the most bizarre way, using the Renault Kangoo as a basis for its Citan van and the Nissan Navara for its future pickup, anything can be expected.
The Germans are currently plugging any gap they can find or create with niche models, so why not the one between the A-Class and the smart forfour as well? After all, that’s a very lucrative segment - at least in Europe it is - and Audi already has a foothold there in the shape of the perky A1. And then there’s BMW’s MINI Cooper, but at the rate that model is growing, it will soon rival the S-Class.
So, even though small cars and premium aspirations don’t usually go together that well, Mercedes-Benz could one day decide it was time to conquer that segment as well. It could go for a new smart forfive model (we’re just thinking out loud here) or invent a new smaller X-Class, where "X" is a letter of Mercedes-Benz’s choosing.
It wouldn’t be that hard either if the Germans stroke a deal with Renault and used the Clio platform, which offers plenty of potential. At least that’s what Theophilus Chin, self-proclaimed "automotive manipulator" did when he came up with this rendering. He also chose the letter "O" to denote this smallest of Mercedes-Benz classes, probably thinking it resembled a zero. Which it obviously does.
But if (and it’s a big "if," so big you could probably see it in some of Curiosity’s next pictures if it turns its camera towards the Earth) Mercedes-Benz did decide to do it, it would certainly not look like this. This is nothing but a classic case of "Honey, I’ve shrunk the GLA," and there’s no reason whatsoever for Mercedes-Benz to make its hypothetical smallest hatchback resemble a crossover. Plus, it doesn’t even look that great. Take away the GLA’s width and low stance and you’ve got yourself an uninspiring car.
And what do they lately say to uninspiring cars at Mercedes-Benz? Not today. Not today.
So, even though small cars and premium aspirations don’t usually go together that well, Mercedes-Benz could one day decide it was time to conquer that segment as well. It could go for a new smart forfive model (we’re just thinking out loud here) or invent a new smaller X-Class, where "X" is a letter of Mercedes-Benz’s choosing.
It wouldn’t be that hard either if the Germans stroke a deal with Renault and used the Clio platform, which offers plenty of potential. At least that’s what Theophilus Chin, self-proclaimed "automotive manipulator" did when he came up with this rendering. He also chose the letter "O" to denote this smallest of Mercedes-Benz classes, probably thinking it resembled a zero. Which it obviously does.
But if (and it’s a big "if," so big you could probably see it in some of Curiosity’s next pictures if it turns its camera towards the Earth) Mercedes-Benz did decide to do it, it would certainly not look like this. This is nothing but a classic case of "Honey, I’ve shrunk the GLA," and there’s no reason whatsoever for Mercedes-Benz to make its hypothetical smallest hatchback resemble a crossover. Plus, it doesn’t even look that great. Take away the GLA’s width and low stance and you’ve got yourself an uninspiring car.
And what do they lately say to uninspiring cars at Mercedes-Benz? Not today. Not today.
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