A-Class Sedan Gets Euro Pricing, Edition 1 Variant That's Straight Out of the Mercedes-Benz Playbook
Mercedes-Benz recently announced A-Class sedan pricing for the European market. While not a bargain at 31,000 euros (roughly $36,000), it’s roughly what we expected from from the automaker. Of course, that fee goes up the second you start adding things. While you could go up in trim and include 4Matic all-wheel drive, one of the most sizable pricing leaps comes via Daimler’s Edition 1 variant.
Benz likes to offer a debatably unnecessary permutation of every new model for its first year. The Edition 1 cars typically include a number of visual upgrades and trim pieces to differentiate themselves from the standard model. But they aren’t limited to being solely an appearance package. For example, the Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe Edition 1 received an upgraded interior, new steering wheel, a few aerodynamic modifications, and carbon ceramic brakes to complement the racy decals.
The A-Class Sedan Edition 1 appears to be taking the show-before-go route by adopting a copper color scheme and little else. While that usually makes our heads spin, it’s something different from the factory and proves Mercedes still occasionally notices what happens in the aftermarket scene.
Bronze or copper wheels remain a popular choice on customs, especially when paired with black paint. However, you’d probably be better off ordering yours à la carte because Mercedes-Benz charges €7,021 (about $8,163) for a complete set of 19-inch copper rounds.
Of course, that’s not all you get. Details leaked by a German MB enthusiasts blog and shared by CarBuzz shows the A-Class Edition 1 equipped with bronze pins in the diamond front grille and matching piping on the floor mats and seats (both of which are nicer than the standard model). There’s also a big copper Edition 1 logo on the dashboard in a font that looks slightly out of place on a small German luxury sedan. Daimler threw in some high performance LED headlamps and 64-color ambient lighting for good measure, too.
Paint options for the model are limited to polar white, mountain gray, night black, or cosmos black — the latter two colors being the clearly better pairing. Availability in Europe began on September 3rd, though Mercedes has made no mention of North America getting a taste of the A-Class Edition 1 at this time. That’s understandable, as the model doesn’t officially go on sale until early next year. Still, the region has historically been left fending for itself with such special edition models from the brand.
Maybe that’s for the best. Unless you really liked all the interior embellishments, you could probably get a new set of enviable HRE wheels and new grille for the same price or save that money for all-wheel drive. The first-year variant also doesn’t change up the powertrain whatsoever — meaning you’d still have the same turbocharged 2.0-liter engine and DCT that’s in the base sedan. If you’re going to spend almost $40,000 on a car, wouldn’t you want it to have at least 200 horsepower? That’s R/T Scat Pack money.
[Images: Daimler]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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Why are the air vents chromed up? They aren't a visual design feature, they're utilitarian. Making them look like shiny 747 engines draws the eye unnecessarily. Maybe it's just me, but the effect is jarring and tacky. This car is for the spoiled daughters of dentists and plastic surgeons. But as anyone who has ever worked retail knows, you can put anything on the shelf and eventually someone will come along and buy it.
Your Mitsubishi Lancer is ready, Sire.