Mercedes A-Class Concept: a Dual-Clutch Turbo Hatch We Might Actually Get [NY Auto Show Preview]
Marking a distinct departure from the current A-Class, Mercedes has unveiled a new second-generation of the car, transforming it from an urban runabout MPV to a stylish and sporty hatchback. And it’s not just the overall shape of the vehicle either, but its specific styling cues, moving away from a minimalist approach to a design that’s proud to wear the Mercedes grille and tri-pointed star.
Revealed in a detailed set of photos released by the manufacturer, Mercedes will present the car at the Shanghai and New York Auto Shows in just a few weeks time. The New York showing suggests this car will no longer be a stranger to U.S. soil.
Powering that car is a turbocharged and direct-injection 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine making 210-hp and mated to a new dual-clutch transmission. Transversely mounted, this indicates the car is a front-drive model – although Mercedes doesn’t expressly say so.
Other highlights on the car include a radar-based collision warning with Mercedes’ Adaptive Brake Assist that warns the driver if a collision is about to occur and even primes the brakes to deliver full braking power when required.
As for the interior, it features a a fully-integrated smartphone, with the car’s many systems appearing on the phone screen and controllable through the knobs and buttons of the car.
See full coverage of the car’s unveiling and the rest of the NY Auto Show previews at AutoGuide’s 2011 New York Auto Show page here.
GALLERY: Mercedes A-Class Concept
With AutoGuide from its launch, Colum previously acted as Editor-in-Chief of Modified Luxury & Exotics magazine where he became a certifiable car snob driving supercars like the Koenigsegg CCX and racing down the autobahn in anything over 500 hp. He has won numerous automotive journalism awards including the Best Video Journalism Award in 2014 and 2015 from the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Colum founded Geared Content Studios, VerticalScope's in-house branded content division and works to find ways to integrate brands organically into content.
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