Mercedes A-class. Small, nimble, and safe
Mercedes A-class is a series of compact passenger cars of the German brand Mercedes-Benz, which have been produced since 1997. They are available in 3- and 5-door hatchback and sedan bodies. It is considered the starting model in the German brand’s product line. This is the first series of the company’s cars in its segment with a front-wheel drive. The fourth generation of the Mercedes A-class 2018 model year in a 5-door hatchback body has been available in the Israel market as of 2020.
First generation
It was produced from 1997 to 2004 and restyled in 2001. The development of the A-class prototype was started in the early 90s. Mercedes-Benz came up with the idea to create a small supercompact car for a large, crowded city with a constant lack of parking spaces in the early 80s, which was implemented in the NAFA concept car. The only reason holding back the serial production of the car was the non-compliance with the high safety requirements for the driver and passenger, and this requirement, as you know, has always been the highest priority for the concern. Engineers needed completely new ideas to overcome this shortcoming. So, the first Mercedes A-class appeared. It was designed by Steve Mattin, who was subsequently named Designer of the Year by the popular British magazine Autocar.
The first A-class with the index W168 has become a very unusual model for Mercedes. The car had an unusually short body, also it was equipped with front drive wheels. Another feature is the frontal impact absorption system, which ensures the safety of passengers in a car of such a small size. The engine and transmission moved under the bottom below the pedals, and not inside the cabin during a strong frontal impact.
The history of the first generation was marked by a sad event. A Swedish journalist turned the car over when testing the A-class for stability during extreme maneuvers. The first subcompact from Mercedes did not pass the test, which checks how the car behaves when a sudden detour of a sudden obstacle. Later, this test received worldwide fame and was nicknamed ‘elk test’ or ‘moose test’, because the journalist, when he was asked why he did it, answered: ‘As an evasive manoeuvre for an elk on the road’. Mercedes had to recall all the cars it sold. There were 2,600 of them. Sales were suspended for three months until the problem was resolved. The company processed a large batch of cars, losing $ 250 million, and the next year the A-class lived up to its brand. A plush elk came with every new car as a token of apology. This is how Mercedes-Benz spent 2.5 billion DM to develop the car and another 300 million DM to fix the problems.
Second generation
It was produced from 2004 to 2012 and was restyled in 2008. The model of the second generation with the index W169 received a body created from high-strength steel alloys with special adhesive joints, inheriting from its predecessor the solution to move the engine and transmission under the bottom in a strong collision. The engineers of the company equipped the second Mercedes A-class with a large number of different airbags, including side, additional rear, chest, etc. remembering the previous bitter experience. The carrying capacity of the car increased by 15%. Initially, the series was a 5-door hatchback. A three-door version appeared with the arrival of the second generation, as well as the concept model F-Cell, which is an electric fuel-cell car that uses hydrogen. The car received new front and rear bumpers and headlights, side mirrors, new upholstery, and new options, including a fuel-effecient start-stop system and a parking assistant that helps the driver when parking parallel after restyling in 2008. The E-Cell electric car appeared based on the second generation of the A-class in 2010. It was equipped with a 67-horsepower electric motor.
Third generation
Produced from 2012 to 2018 and restyled in 2015, The third generation was produced from 2012 to 2018 and restyled in 2015. It was based on the Concept A concept car showed at the 2011 New York Auto Show. The new W176 is 68 cm longer, making the A-Class longer than even the first-generation B-Class models. And now it competed with compact class cars such as the BMW 1 Series and the Audi A3. The new Mercedes A-class had a completely new design. The length of the model increased to 4292 mm, which made it a full-fledged small family car and transferred to the class of compact cars.
The European New Car Assessment Program Committee awarded the Mercedes A-Class in 2018 for the best safety performance in the Small Family Car class.
New bumpers, optics with LED-elements, and new colors in the body paint range appeared after restyling in 2015. Full LED adaptive headlights AMG Dynamic Plus package become available on request. 5-mode lighting appeared in the A-class cabin, as well as new various switches, steering wheel, and front seats with an extended height adjustment range. In addition, the Dynamic Select system with 4 modes and also adaptive shock absorbers, which individually and stepless varied the degree of damping depending on various indicators became available. Not only the exterior and equipment have changed, but also the range of engines.
Fourth generation
It has been produced from 2018 to the present (data for 2020). The presentation of a new generation of premium Mercedes A-class hatchback with factory index W177 took place in February 2018 at a special event in Amsterdam, the capital of Holland. The new series includes many upgrades, affecting both the appearance and the technological component of the car. The 2018/2019 A-class not only received a stronger power frame and slightly increased in size, but also received a completely new body design in the company’s corporate style called “Sensual Purity”. Inside, the new A-Class has received a completely redesigned interior with an advanced Mercedes-Benz User Experience media system. The European New Car Assessment Program Committee awarded the Mercedes A-Class in 2018 for the best safety performance in the Small Family Car class.
