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Gadget-Filled A- and B-Klasse Coming from Mercedes

The fact that German manufacturer Mercedes Benz wants to use the future generation A- and B-Klasse models as a means to attract younger buyers to the brand is no longer a secret, nor is it a novelty (average Mercedes buyer in the US is 54, well above the age of the buyer of a competitor car). But the way in which the car maker is planning to do that has changed a bit from a year ago.

When the first information about the new models began surfacing, the key aspect with which the Germans were hoping to gain the attention of the target audience were the design and the powerful, yet efficient engines. Now, since gadgets have taken over the imagination and, most importantly, the money of many, they have fallen under Mercedes' spotlight as well.

It's not like Mercedes has no gadget-filled vehicle to take inspiration from. One of its best models on the market, the S-Klasse, is filled of them, even if most are targeted at a somewhat different population group.

Still, according to Autonews, Mercedes is planning to use the S-Klasse as an inspiration platform for the A- and B-Klasse. More precisely, some of the features found on the luxury sedan would make it into the hatches as well. Like, for example, radar-controlled collision prevention system or in-car Internet.

"Mercedes's small cars haven't been much of a success up to now," Stefan Bratzel, director of the Center of Automotive Management at the University of Applied Sciences in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany told Autonews. "There needs to be an improvement, because compact vehicles are becoming increasingly important for high-end carmakers." 
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About the author: Daniel Patrascu
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Daniel loves writing (or so he claims), and he uses this skill to offer readers a "behind the scenes" look at the automotive industry. He also enjoys talking about space exploration and robots, because in his view the only way forward for humanity is away from this planet, in metal bodies.
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