Mercedes-Benz to Add a Third Small Sedan, Report Says
How many small sedans from one manufacturer can the market handle?
That’s the question being asked in the wake of a report that claims Mercedes-Benz has a new small sedan planned for both overseas and North American markets. According to Autocar, the German automaker will soon debut an A-Class sedan to fill the narrow gap between the CLA and C-Class.
Low-end Mercedes buyers are about to be spoiled for choice.
While Mercedes-Benz hasn’t confirmed the model, sources close to the automaker tell Autocar that the vehicle could appear in showrooms in 2018. That’s when a fourth-generation A-Class hatch debuts for European customers.
While North American buyers only know the diminutive A-Class in photos, a sedan built on the smallest Benz’s platform apparently makes sense for international markets. The automaker sees BMW’s 1 Series and Audi’s A3 as a threat, and a new front-drive sedan could boost sales. The model will ride atop a second-generation of the modular MFA platform. Power will come from a range of four-cylinder powerplants, including a hybrid option and a diesel that Americans shouldn’t hold their breath for.
That MFA platform also underpins the front-drive CLA, which currently sits as the brand’s value-leader. However, the looming model is said to be slightly larger than the CLA. Between the base CLA250 and C300 sits a $7,100 price gap, so the new A-Class sedan should presumably occupy this middle ground. An AMG version is reportedly in the works, with up to 400 horsepower and 4Matic all-wheel drive on tap.
While Mercedes-Benz feels there’s a new crop of customers to lure to this shadowy model, it does seem that the proposed A-Class sedan steps on a number of the CLA’s toes.
[Image: Mercedes-Benz]
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This first rumors of the new A Class sedan came out about 2 1/2 years ago: German business publication Manager Magazin on Sunday, citing unnamed company executives, said the company plans to build the next-generation CLA and a new A-class sedan variant at the Aguascalientes factory, which is 500km northwest of Mexico City. Small Infiniti. The compact car plans will help Infiniti fill a gap at the bottom end of its range with a new SUV, sedan and coupe sharing parts and architecture with successors to the Mercedes A- and B-class models, GLA and CLA, sources have said. http://europe.autonews.com/article/20140626/ANE/140629910
I recently drove a relative's C300 . While it handled well enough,the drone of the 4 cylinder engine combined with the pointless whiz-bangery tech lent a feeling of driving a car built by Apple. Once I get enough money to afford an apartment & boost my credit to 651,I'm buying a used Elise.