While the debate of which is fastest between the A45 and the RS3 rages on, Mercedes has begun development of the next generation of A-Class compact. The Germans know everything about this car, and we know how to use Google Translate. Stay tuned for all the details!
Rumors about the next A-Class have been going around the rumor mill for about two years. Now the car is a very tangible prototype strolling down the back roads in Stuttgart. Well, we can't touch it, but we can at least look at it, thanks to a spy video from WalkoART.
As the rumors said, the new A-Class is going to be slightly longer and wider, making the cabin spacious. People laughed at the automakers who produced D-segment hatchbacks, like the Lancia Delta and Opel Signum, yet here we are.
Anyway, this test prototype is all finished from the overall design point of view, but none of the lighting systems work. Mercedes is being extra-careful to hide the lines of the car, hoping this will keep premium rivals and Chinese copycats off its back.
Codenamed the W177, this new A-Class will be based on the MFA2 platform, a more advanced version of the front architecture launched with the current B-Class in 2011. Mercedes promised there will be a lot more modularity involved, which is why they've been able to make a "baby G-Class" out of the same materials.
That's not all, reports of an Audi TT rival suggest the A-Class will finally have a 2-door cousin. While the CLA Shooting Brake is going to be discontinued, a regular sedan and the first plug-in hybrids will certainly fill the void.
Finally, the version of the W177 A-Class everyone keeps talking about is the A45. It's going to take the 2-liter turbo engine all the way to 400 horsepower, making people wonder if there really is a replacement for displacement after all.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News