Geneva 2012: All-new Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the third-generation A-Class compact multipurpose vehicle at the Geneva Motor Show.

"A is for Attack: the A-Class is a clear statement of the new dynamism of the Mercedes-Benz brand", said Dieter Zetsche, chairman of the board of management of Daimler AG and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. "It is completely new, down to the last detail. In automotive development, it's not often you get the chance to start with a clean sheet of paper. Our engineers and designers have made the very most of that opportunity."

Making the all-new A-Class different from its predecessors is its two-box design that gives the car a long, sporty snout complete with a radiator grille bearing the brand's three-pointed star in the center and double slats on both sides. Despite its boxier shape, the car has a slippery-drag coefficient of 0.26, putting it at the top of its class. This is further helped by the standard roof spoiler, which hides all the unsightly aerials on the A-Class.

The sporty look of the A-Class's exterior continues inside as all trim surfaces feature an electroplated finish in silver chrome, giving them a genuine metallic surface with "cool touch" effect. On top of this, the car has a high-quality that is unique in this segment, with a particular visual highlight being the air vents that stand out like sparkling jewels. In addition, as was reported a week ago, a special app makes it possible to use the full functionality of the iPhone and, in due course, also of other smartphones in the car.

The all-new A-Class is available with a range of both gasoline and diesel engines to suit every performance requirement.

For the petrol options, the A-Class is available with a displacement of 1.6- and 2.0-liter engines ranging from 115hp in the A 180, to 156hp in the A 200 to 211hp in the A 250. Common to all is the combination of direct injection and exhaust gas turbocharging, a more advanced combustion process and an extended stratification range for lean-burn operation that uses fast-acting injectors for the multiple injection of the fuel as well as on-demand multi-spark ignition.

The diesel engines also offer an impressively high level of efficiency and environmental compatibility, thanks to sophisticated injection technology and turbocharging. The A 180 CDI has an output of 109hp and a maximum torque of up to 250Nm while the A 200 CDI has an output of 136 hp and torque that rises to 300Nm. The A 220 CDI has a displacement of 2.2 liters, an output of 170hp and torque of 350Nm, delivering absolutely exceptional performance in the A-Class.

All engines in the new A-Class feature the ECO start/stop function as standard. The engines can be combined either with the new six-speed manual transmission or with the 7G-DCT dual-clutch automatic transmission.