Sources report that the BLK will receive four-wheel drive and possibly even a FWD eco version. The eco version might just be a micro-hybrid, if they opt out for a direct hybrid. The micro-hybrid has start/stop technology to improve fuel consumption when the car is not moving. A range of four-cylinder direct-injection petrol and diesel engines are being lined up, sized between 1.6 liters and 2.2 liters.

Mercedes is still in the process of finding a partner, if they find one at all, to co-develop the engine and platform for the new range of front wheel drive vehicles. Talks between MB and BMW should be concluded by November, and if successful, should open a new chapter for the German rivals.

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Their long term strategy is to finally bring the next-gen A and B-Class vehicles to the States. Zetsche stated “As we have previously reported, the return of a four-cylinder C-Class is also a possibility.” The next couple of years will definitely be exciting for Mercedes.

As we reported months ago, the A and B-Class will be totally redesigned and will also include a small crossover and coupe variant. With the current generation cars already offering stop-start technology that cuts fuel consumption by 9 percent, the next generation system should include regenerative braking, adding to the fuel efficiency benefits.

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An Investment of 600 Million Euro in the Rastatt plant will secure the long-term capacity utilization of the plant. In order to access new markets and create additional production capacities, Mercedes-Benz has also decided to built a new plant in Kecskemét, Hungary.

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Press Release:

Stuttgart – Mercedes-Benz will have an even stronger presence in the compact-car segment in the future, with a product line-up of four instead of today’s two vehicles. Investments of €600 Million in the Rastatt plant will secure the long-term capacity utilization of the plant. In order to sustainably boost its competitiveness, as well as to access new markets and create additional production capacities, Mercedes-Benz has also decided to built a new plant in Kecskemét, Hungary.

Today, Mercedes-Benz is already the most successful premium manufacturer of compact vehicles with its A and B-Class. The successor generation will include product characteristics that are already popular with customers today – such as generous interior space and an elevated seating position. In addition, new vehicle variants will win additional target groups for the Mercedes-Benz brand.
“Mercedes-Benz is going to offer an even wider range of exciting premium cars – with the high levels of comfort, safety and overall quality that are characteristic for the brand – in the particularly fuel-efficient compact-car segment. Moreover, our expanded product range will allow us to tap into new customer groups and open up new market regions,” commented Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

“We are continuously investing in vehicle manufacturing in Germany: in addition to the recently announced expansion of the Sprinter van production in Düsseldorf und Ludwigsfelde, we will now invest some €600 million in Rastatt for our new generation of compact cars,” said Dr Zetsche.
“At the same time, we are planning a new plant in Hungary to boost our competitiveness and to gain access to the potential of the Eastern European markets,” Dr Zetsche added.

The long-term cost-effectiveness of the expanded product range will be safeguarded by the continuous progress made in the areas of vehicle efficiency and structural design. There will be a high level of technical integration among the four new vehicles which will are also going to benefit from the modular system used by the other Mercedes passenger-car model series. A case in point is the new generation of Mercedes-Benz 4-cylinder diesel engines which is having its market premiere in 2008 and which will also be available for use in the new vehicles.

In the context of the expansion of its product portfolio, Mercedes-Benz Cars has also decided on the manufacturing strategy for the new generation of vehicles. In addition to using the existing capacity of the Rastatt plant, the company will built a new plant in Kecskemét, Hungary. The production network between the two plants will contribute significantly to the company’s efficiency and competitiveness.

“Rastatt is an important and proven part of our Mercedes-Benz production network; production of the next generation of premium compact cars from Mercedes-Benz will see the plant working at its full capacity,” said Rainer Schmückle, Chief Operating Officer of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

“In terms of all business aspects, the future plant in Kecskemét clearly offers the best perspectives. The site meets all the high quantitative and qualitative requirements for the successful establishment of a Mercedes-Benz production,” added Mr Schmückle.

“Of course,” he continued, “both sites have to contribute to the cost-effectiveness of our involvement in this vehicle segment which is the subject of very intense competition.”

Kecskemétis located approximately 80 km from the outskirts of Budapest. In order to build the additional facility, Mercedes-Benz is planning to invest some €800 million locally in Kecskemét and to create up to 2,500 new jobs for people in the region. Representatives of Daimler AG and the country of Hungary as well as the city of Kecskemét intend to sign a memorandum of understanding concerning this project in the coming weeks.

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Now the latest generation has a completely revised design, high-grade appointments and new technical developments which further improve safety, comfort and economy. A convenient ECO start-stop function which reduces urban gas consumption of these BlueEFFICIENCY vehicles by up to nine percent is now available for the high-volume models A 150 and A 170, for example.

Independent experts have acknowledged these great advances in the environmental field with an internationally valid environmental certificate, which the A-Class is the world’s first compact car to achieve.

Check out the entire New-Gen A-Class Gallery (86 photos)

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Since its world premiere in 1997, the A-Class has made a name for itself as a trendsetter and innovative leader in its class. Outstanding safety, great day-to-day flexibility and reliability have always been among the strengths of the A-Class, which has so far captured the enthusiasm of about 1.7 million customers with its distinctive and versatile vehicle concept.

In spring 2008 Mercedes-Benz is presenting the five-door Saloon and the three-door Coupé in completely upgraded versions. Viewed from the front, this compact Mercedes-Benz now appears more youthful and self-confident than before. The sweeping lines of the newly designed headlamps harmoniously combine the front end and flanks, which literally appear to be cast from a single mould. The redesigned front bumper reinforces this impression; its lower air intake is now much larger, emphasising the width of the body. The radiator grille is also in a new design which underlines the progressive aura of the A-Class.

Lines: ELEGANCE and AVANTGARDE with an even more pronounced styling emphasis
Design features at the front end provide more distinctions between the design and equipment lines of the A-Class. While the louvres in the radiator grille of the basic version are painted in dark-grey, they are respectively in metallic atlas grey and high-sheen iridium silver in the ELEGANCE and AVANTGARDE lines, and are also visually upgraded by additional chrome strips. Discreet chrome trim strips further reinforce this impression. In the AVANTGARDE line, the front bumper also has a distinctive design which emphasises the arrow-shape of the front end and suggests greater agility.

When viewed from the side the different lines in the A-Class are distinguished by wheel designs. While the basic model is equipped with 15-inch wheels and seven-spoke wheel embellishers as standard, ELEGANCE and AVANTGARDE are fitted with individually designed 16-inch light-alloy wheels. The new, larger exterior mirror housings and door handles are now painted in the vehicle colour for all model variants. The previous side rubbing strips have been replaced by discreet chrome trim strips, which provide additional visual highlights in the ELEGANCE and AVANTGARDE models.

The rear end of the A-Class is dominated by a modified bumper and newly designed rear light clusters which extend well into the vehicle flanks. Both these features make the body appear wider and therefore more imposing. In the ELEGANCE and AVANTGARDE models the rear bumper is embellished with additional, reflector-look trim strips and chrome inserts. The new, ergonomically improved tailgate handle is chrome-plated in both lines, as is the oval exhaust tailpipe.

Interior: upgraded with larger stowage compartments and new fabrics

Mercedes designers paid particular attention to enhanced value when redesigning the interior, choosing new, high-grade upholstery fabrics and door linings. In the ELEGANCE and AVANTGARDE lines the seats are upholstered in an attractive combination of ARTICO man-made leather and fabric, which is available in three colours. In addition new decorative trim of smoke-grey, diagonally brushed aluminium enhances the interior of the AVANTGARDE line, while the dignified aura of the ELEGANCE models is heightened by wood trim. All variants of the A-Class share a larger stowage compartment in the centre console and a newly designed cupholder between the front seats.

The luxury seat package with seat cushion angle adjustment and lumbar support, seat height adjustment for the driver’s seat, a front armrest and a parcel net in the front passenger footwell is standard equipment for ELEGANCE and AVANTGARDE models.

Fuel economy: the A 160 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY consumes 4.5 litres

With fuel consumption figures between 4.9 and 8.1 litres per 100 kilometres,
the new-generation A-Class is a model of fuel economy. Thanks to detailed improvements, the fuel consumption of the state-of-the-art direct-injection diesel engines has been reduced by more than eight percent or 0.5 litres per 100 kilometres compared to the preceding series. From autumn 2008 Mercedes-Benz will introduce a standard BlueEFFICIENCY package for the three-door A 160 CDI with a manual transmission, with further improvements in engine efficiency, aerodynamics, rolling resistance, energy management and weight. The sum of these measures achieves a fuel saving of 0.4 litres, which means that the A 160 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY has an NEDC consumption of just 4.5 litres per 100 kilometres. As a result the CO2 emissions of the 60 kW/82 hp Coupé are 119 grams per kilometre.
The BlueEFFICIENCY package also includes an aerodynamically optimised radiator grille. This has a closed-off interior face to reduce the airflow to the engine, though the CDI engine is still cooled effectively at all times. The suspension has also been lowered by ten millimetres to reduce the drag coefficient even further.

Mercedes engineers have exploited an additional fuel-saving potential by controlling the onboard power supply of the A 160 CDIBlueEFFICIENCY according to demand, and therefore on an energy-saving basis. A sensor constantly monitors the battery so that the output of the generator can be reduced for certain periods when the battery is well charged. This reduces the work required of the engine, which therefore consumes less fuel. To recharge the battery with optimum energy efficiency, the generator management system utilises the engine’s overrun phases to produce electrical energy.
Start-stop function: the engine switches off automatically when idling

In the case of the petrol engines, Mercedes engineers have achieved NEDC fuel savings of up to 0.4 litres per 100 kilometres with a newly developed ECO start-stop function. From autumn 2008 this system will be available for the high-volume models A 150 and A 170 on request. It automatically switches off the engine when the driver shifts the manual transmission to neutral at a low speed while applying the brakes. If the conditions for engine switch-off are met, the driver is informed by a special display in the instrument cluster.

Within fractions of a second, and almost noiselessly, the engine is restarted as soon as the clutch is operated or the brake released. This rapid and comfortable engine start is a major advantage of the ECO start-stop function versus other systems of this kind. To this end Mercedes-Benz uses a starter generator which is linked to the crankshaft via the drive belt. As a result the engine starts much more rapidly and quietly than with the conventional starter. During a journey the starter generator feeds electrical power to the onboard network of the A-Class.

Economy: nine percent lower fuel consumption in city traffic

With the ECO start-stop function the NEDC fuel consumption is reduced by a further 6.5 percent or so. The A 150 BlueEFFICIENCY (70 kW/95 hp) absolves a measured test journey with a fuel consumption of 5.8 litres per 100 kilometres, which corresponds to 139 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre.
Even greater advantages can be achieved in normal road traffic, as the results of extensive practical trials have confirmed: Mercedes employees tested the system in 175 test cars, covering a total of around 1.2 million kilometres. Roughly half of this enormous mileage was covered in city traffic, where the new ECO start-stop function enabled fuel savings of up to nine percent to be achieved.

Ecology: the A-Class is the first compact car with an environmental certificate

Practical trials such as this are of immense importance to Mercedes-Benz when it comes to evaluating new technologies. The environmental compatibility of vehicles is not only assessed on the basis of standardised emissions and fuel consumption measurement, but also taking into account the entire vehicle lifecycle – from production and many years of operation to eventual recycling and disposal. An analysis of more than 40,000 individual processes provides an overall picture and enables the development work to be objectively assessed.

This form of environmental audit is the basis of the environmental certificate according to the stringent international ISO standard 14062 (Design For Environment), which Mercedes-Benz is the world’s only automobile brand to have received. This certificate also applies to the new-generation A-Class, confirming the considerable advances made in the field of environmental protection. An analysis over a vehicle mileage of 150,000 kilometres shows that CO2 emissions are around seven percent below the figure for the preceding model (W168) of 2004, for example. Nitrogen oxide emissions have been reduced by no less than 13 percent.

Even better results are achieved by the A 150 BlueEFFICIENCY with the ECO start-stop function. Thanks to this new technology, carbon dioxide emissions over the entire lifecycle are reduced by a further five percent, which means that the environmental audit shows a remarkable reduction in CO2 emissions by more than twelve percent compared to the preceding model.

Aspects other than favourable fuel consumption and low exhaust emissions are also important for the environmental certificate. For example the recycling concept of a vehicle: the A-Class already meets the EU regulation coming into force from 2015, which prescribes a recycling rate of 95 percent. Plastic components with a total weight of 30.8 kilograms can be produced from high-grade recyclates – twice the figure achieved for the preceding model.

The A-Class also demonstrates its environmentally compatible concept by the use of renewable raw materials. Mercedes-Benz has various components of the compact car produced with the use of flax, olive stones, cotton, coconut fibre, wood veneers and abaca fibres. The weight of these components has increased by one third versus the preceding model. Detailed information about environmental audits may be found in a Mercedes-Benz brochure, which is available on the internet at www.media.daimler.com .

Safety: flashing brake lights warn following traffic

The adaptive brake light introduces technology from the luxury class into the compact segment, which therefore benefits from a further accident prevention system as a standard feature. Under emergency braking from a speed exceeding 50 km/h, the brake lights flash rapidly to warn following traffic, enabling drivers to respond quicker and prevent a collision.

Flashing brake lights are the result of extensive practical research covering the braking behaviour of drivers. Mercedes engineers found that the braking responses of drivers are on average 0.2 seconds faster in emergency braking situations if a flashing red warning is given in place of conventional brake lights. The stopping distance can be reduced by around 4.40 metres from a speed of 80 km/h, and even by around 5.50 metres from a speed of 100 km/h. If the A‑Class is brought to a rapid stop from a speed exceeding 70 km/h, the hazard warning system is switched on in addition to the flashing brake lights.

The A-Class sets standards in this market segment where occupant protection is concerned, with two-stage front airbags, belt tensioners in the front and for the outer rear seats, belt force limiters, active front head restraints and head/thorax sidebags. Mercedes-Benz has now added to this extensive safety technology with crash-responsive emergency lighting for the interior. This is switched on automatically following an accident of a defined severity, providing the occupants with better orientation and facilitating the work of the emergency services.

Parking assist: ultrasound and electric steering for easier parking

When finding and reversing into a parking space, drivers of the A-Class will in future be aided by an active parking assist feature which is available on request for all model variants. Using side-mounted ultrasonic sensors, this system identifies suitable parking spaces on both sides of the road in passing, then informs the driver by means of a display. The sensors are active up to a speed of 35 km/h, and monitor the area to the left and right of the A-Class. They measure the length and depth of possible parking spaces, indicating that the search is in progress with a ” P ” in the instrument cluster.

Once a suitable parking space has been found, an arrow appears in the display to inform the driver on which side of the road the parking space is located. If he engages reverse gear, acknowledges the display message and accelerates, active parking assist takes over the steering and automatically manoeuvres the car into the parking space. The driver only needs to accelerate and operate the brakes; the ultrasonic sensors of the PARKTRONIC system assist him in this by keeping him informed about the distance to the vehicle in front of and behind the A-Class.

Active parking assist uses a total of ten ultrasonic sensors in the front and rear bumpers, as well as an electronic control unit which processes the sensor signals and calculates the best possible entry path into the parking space. This information is fed to the electromechanical power steering, whose electric motor performs the necessary steering movements of its own accord. The parking space only needs to be 1.30 metres longer than the A-Class for this automatic parking procedure to take place – an indication of the great precision of this technology. Thanks to its very compact dimensions, a parking space with a length of just 5.18 metres or so is sufficient; there is currently no other car able to park automatically in such a small space.

Mercedes engineers have also added a new function to a well-proven support system: the Electronic Stability Program (ESP®) of the A-Class now has an automatic hill-holder function which prevents the car from rolling backwards when the driver changes from the brake pedal to the accelerator when moving off on an uphill gradient. In these situations ESP® maintains the brake pressure for a short time, so that the driver can move off smoothly.

Audio: new units offer Bluetooth, a colour display and Europe-wide navigation
Like all the new 2008 Mercedes models, the A-Class is available with further improved information, communication, navigation and entertainment systems – in other words infotainment. There is a choice of four optional head units:

Audio 5, Audio 20, Audio 50 APS and COMAND APS. From Audio 20 these incorporate a radio with twin tuner, colour display, a Bluetooth interface for a mobile phone, a telephone keypad, a CD-player, automatic volume adjustment and a connection for external audio units in the glove compartment. Audio 50 APS is also equipped with a Europe-wide DVD navigation system and a DVD drive, while the top-of-the-range COMAND APS features HDD navigation, a music register, a slot for SD memory cards and voice control. The LINGUATRONIC system operates the telephone, audio and navigation system by convenient whole-word commands. The driver need no longer spell out his wishes, but simply needs to say what he wants when entering a destination, selecting a radio station or accessing an entry in the telephone directory.

Interface: the “iPod” can be operated via the keys on the steering wheel

More scope for mobile musical enjoyment is provided by a newly developed, interactive media interface, which is able to connect an MP3-player, USBstick or other external audio unit with the infotainment system of the car. This means that external audio units can be conveniently operated using the keys on the multifunction steering wheel, while the titles of music tracks are shown in the instrument cluster and on the colour display in the centre console. While the portable audio unit is connected to the car via the media interface, its battery is charged. Connection of an iPod or similar requires a suitable cable which is available from the Mercedes-Benz accessories range.

The award-winning “Logic 7®”surround sound system, which celebrated its world premiere in the S-Class, is also available for the A-Class. The system has an output of 450 Watts and features twelve loudspeakers (Coupé: ten).

It is also predicted that Mercedes will concentrate building and selling the low-end models, A and B-Class cars initially as they make more sense than luxury sedans and SUV’s in a developing region.

The final call according to a county authority, will be made within three weeks. Speculations made by the local media earlier this year suggested that the plant would be located in the northwest county of Cluj. Interestingly Cluj is the same place where Nokia is establishing its facilities presently.

Daimler’s CEO Dieter Zetsche told a German newspaper earlier this month that the company would probably decide in the second quarter where to build a new plant for Mercedes compact cars, with a site in eastern Europe being the most favorable spot.

Looks like Mercedes seldom make poor decisions. Setting up a plant in Romania would be profitable in the long run as the small cars can be distributed to all parts of Europe. Renault did it with the Logan, and that proves that Romania is friendly to cars which appeal to the cost conscious customer.

Yet another MB to get redesigned. This time the “european” A-Class. It will premiere at the Auto Mobil International motor show in Leipzig from 5th - 13th of April. The new A 150 and A 170 features BlueEFFICIENCY and ECO start/stop technology. There will be a new A 160 CDI (diesel) with a BlueEFFICIENCY package that allows this friendly compact to reduce fuel consumption to just 4,5 liter per 100 kilometres. When will this car start to make sense in the US and Canada?

More pictures and full official information after the break

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Press Release

The new-generation A-Class will be stepping into the limelight at the “Auto Mobil International” (AMI) motor show in Leipzig from 5th - 13th April, 2008. Following an extensive facelift, the successful compact car is younger, more attractive and more environmentally friendly than ever before. The convenient ECO start/stop function is available for the first time for the high-volume A 150 and A 170 models, which reduces fuel consumption of these BlueEFFICIENCY vehicles by up to nine percent when driving in city traffic. Mercedes-Benz has developed an additional BlueEFFICIENCY package for the three-door A 160 CDI, reducing the Coupé’s fuel consumption to just 4.5 litres per 100 kilometres. Independent experts have confirmed these major environmental advances by awarding the A‑Class an internationally valid Environmental Certificate - the world’s first compact car to receive such an accolade. The new-generation B-Class will also be celebrating its world premiere at the AMI. The sports tourer is now available with a petrol/natural-gas drive system for the very first time.

Since its world premiere in 1997, the A-Class has made a name for itself in the compact-car class as a trendsetter and groundbreaking innovator. Outstanding safety, everyday versatility and hallmark Mercedes reliability have always been the strengths of the A-Class, whose distinctive yet equally versatile concept has won over more than two million drivers since its launch.

The new-generation A-Class builds on these virtues: Mercedes-Benz is presenting a range of five-door saloon and three-door coupé versions in spring 2008, each sporting an all-round upgrade. The front end of the compact Mercedes-Benz is younger, yet at the same time more poised and assured than before. The sweeping lines of the new-look headlamps flow seamlessly along the front and into the flanks, which literally appear to have been moulded from a single piece.

The equally redesigned bumper reinforces this impression; its air intake at the bottom is noticeably larger, emphasising the width of the body. The radiator grille has also been redesigned to reinforce the progressive character of the A‑Class.

Design elements at the front help differentiate the A-Class lines even more clearly than before. For instance, the AVANTGARDE line features a specially designed bumper that further emphasises the arrow shape of the front and symbolises even more agility. Individual wheel designs help differentiate the side view of the A-Class lines. While the entry-level model comes with 15‑inch wheels with 7-spoke trim, the ELEGANCE and AVANTGARDE lines sport individually styled 16-inch light-alloy wheels. The new, larger exterior mirror housings and the door handles are now painted in the vehicle colour on all model variants.

The rear of the A-Class is dominated by a modified bumper and new-look tail lights that extend well into the flanks. Both features ensure that the body looks wider and even more powerful.

Interior: larger stowage compartments and new fabrics further upgrade
the interior

The Mercedes designers also paid particular attention to increasing perceived value when it came to revamping the interior, selecting a range of new high-grade upholstery fabrics and door trim. In addition, new trim elements made out of smoke grey, diagonally brushed aluminium add an upscale feel to the interior of the AVANTGARDE line, while the distinguished ambience of the ELEGANCE model is reinforced through wood trim elements. All variants of the A-Class come with a larger stowage compartment in the centre console and a new-look cup holder between the front seats.

Economy: the A 160 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY consumes just 4.5 litres

The new-generation A-Class emphasises its economy with fuel consumption of between 4.9 and 8.1 litres per 100 kilometres. Thanks to further detailed enhancements, fuel consumption of the sophisticated direct-injection diesel engines has been reduced by over 8 percent or 0.5 litres per 100 kilometres compared with the outgoing models. From autumn 2008, Mercedes-Benz will supply a standard-fit BlueEFFICIENCY package for the three-door A 160 CDIwith manual transmission, which further improves engine efficiency, aerodynamics, rolling resistance, energy management and weight. Taken together, these measures add up to a fuel saving of 0.4 litres so that the A 160 CDIBlueEFFICIENCY consumes just 4.5 litres per 100 kilometres on the NEDC cycle. CO2 emissions of the 60 kW/82 hp coupé are 119 grams per kilometre.

The BlueEFFICIENCY package includes an aerodynamically optimised radiator grille, the rear side of which is sealed off, thus reducing the volume of air flowing into the engine compartment; despite this, sufficient cooling for the CDI engine is ensured at all times. The bodywork has also been lowered by 10 millimetres to further reduce wind drag. The Mercedes engineers have leveraged further potential to save fuel by dynamically controlling the power supply on board the A 160 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY to save energy. The generator management system consistently converts the power generated when the engine decelerates (i.e. on the overrun) into electrical energy, which is then used to recharge the battery in an optimum, energy-efficient manner.

Start/stop function: the engine automatically switches off when idling

The Mercedes engineers have achieved fuel savings for the petrol-engined models of up to 0.4 litres per 100 kilometres on the NEDC cycle thanks to the newly developed ECO start/stop function. This system will be available for the high-volume A 150 BlueEFFICIENCY and A 170 BlueEFFICIENCY models from autumn 2008. It automatically switches the engine off when the driver shifts to neutral at low speed whilst depressing the brake pedal. A special display in the instrument cluster informs the driver if the conditions for switching off the engine are met.

The moment the clutch is pressed or the brake pedal released, the engine springs back to life almost noiselessly and in a fraction of a second. This ability to restart the engine swiftly yet smoothly gives the Mercedes technology a key edge over other systems of this type.

The ECOstart/stop function further reduces fuel consumption by around 6.5 percent on the NEDC cycle. The A 150 BlueEFFICIENCY (70 kW/95 hp) completes the cycle with fuel consumption figures of 5.8 litres per 100 kilometres , the equivalent of 139 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre.

Even greater savings can be made in urban traffic, as the results of extensive field testing show: Mercedes employees have tested the system in 175 test vehicles, notching up some 1.2 million kilometres in the process. Around half of this marathon testing schedule involved driving on urban roads where the new ECOstart/stop function produced fuel savings of up to nine percent.

Environment: the A-Class is the first compact-class car with an Environmental Certificate

These kinds of practical results are all-important to Mercedes-Benz when it
comes to assessing new technologies. The Stuttgart-based brand assesses the environmental compatibility of vehicles not just on the basis of the results of standardised exhaust emissions and fuel consumption measurements but also looks at the entire lifecycle - from manufacture through use over many years to end-of-life disposal. The analysis of more than 40,000 individual processes provides a complete picture that helps the engineers objectively assess development work.

This lifecycle assessment forms the basis for the Environmental Certificate based on the stringent international ISO standard 14062 “Design For Environment” which the A-Class is the world’s first compact car to receive.

Mercedes-Benz has put together a brochure including detailed information on
the eco balance sheet and the Environmental Certificate. This brochure is available on the Internet at www.media.daimler.com .

Safety: flashing brake lights warn drivers behind

Mercedes-Benz has also enhanced safety and comfort in the A-Class. Technology from the luxury-class segment has found its way into the compact car with the adaptive brake lights, which add another accident prevention system to the standard specification. During emergency braking when travelling at more than 50 km/h, the brake lights flash at high frequency to warn drivers behind who can consequently react faster and are in a better position to prevent an accident.

The A-Class also sets new standards in this market segment in the area of occupant protection with two-stage front airbags, belt tensioners for the front and outer rear seats, belt force limiters, active front head restraints and head/thorax sidebags. Mercedes-Benz is now complementing this extensive safety technology with crash-responsive emergency lighting in the interior, which comes on automatically after an accident of a defined severity to provide occupants with better orientation and make the task of the emergency services easier.

Parking assist: ultrasound and electric steering make parking easier

In future, A-Class owners will have assistance looking for a parking space and when reverse parking, courtesy of active parking assist, which is optionally available for all model variants. Using newly developed ultrasonic sensors on the sides the system looks for an appropriate spot on either side of the road as the A-Class drives by and informs the driver via a display in the instrument cluster. Once a suitable spot has been found, an arrow also appears in the display, informing the driver on which side of the road the parking spot is located. If the driver selects reverse, accepts the suggested space and depresses the accelerator, active parking assist takes over and manoeuvres the A-Class automatically into the space. The driver simply needs to press the accelerator pedal and use the brake; the ultrasonic sensors associated with PARKTRONIC provide assistance and information on the distance to the vehicle in front of and behind the A-Class.

To be able to use the automatic parking feature, the parking spot only has to be 1.30 metres longer than the A-Class - an indication of the technology’s tremendous precision. Thanks to the very compact dimensions of the A-Class, a parking space of just around 5.19 metres long is sufficient to park; no other car can automatically park in such a small space.

The Mercedes engineers have added a new function to the tried-and-trusted assistance system on the A-Class: the Electronic Stability Program (ESP®) on the A-Class now comes with automatic hill-start assist, which prevents the compact car from rolling backwards if the driver moves his or her foot from the brake to the accelerator pedal when moving off on an uphill slope.

Audio: new units offer Bluetooth, colour display and Europe-wide navigation

Just like all the other new Mercedes models in 2008, the A-Class also comes
with enhanced units that provide information, communication, navigation and entertainment. The new Audio 50 APS is fitted with a colour display, Europe-wide DVD navigation system and DVD drive, while the top-of-the-range COMAND APS includes hard-disc navigation, Music Register, a slot for SD memory cards and a voice-operated control system. The newly developed, interactive media interface provides even more options for in-car listening pleasure by allowing an optional MP3 player, USBstick or another external audio device to be connected to the A-Class infotainment system.

B-Class: sports tourer with petrol/natural-gas drive system for the first time

Mercedes-Benz has also revamped the design and technology of the B-Class -
the success story launched three years ago. Thanks to a series of detailed improvements, the four-cylinder engines now burn up to seven percent less fuel than previously, and distinguish themselves with remarkably low exhaust emissions that undercut the current EU limits by as much as 90 percent. As with the A-Class, the new ECO start/stop function is also available for the high-volume B 150 and B 170 models. Another new development for the B-Class comes in the shape of the bivalent petrol/natural-gas drive system in the B 170 NGT BlueEFFICIENCY, which consumes just 4.9 kilograms of natural gas per 100 kilometres. Converted into the equivalent quantity of petrol energy, the fuel cost per kilometre is around 50 percent less than when running on petrol.

Source: Daimler, AG

To bring down costs, Mercedes had talks with rivals BMW and Fiat for some sort of a partnership but apparently nothing worked out. So they now plan on tackling the problem all alone. Mercedes chief Dieter Zetsche proposed this new plan as a part of his company’s CORE cost-cutting strategy.

One common platform for both the A and the B Class is how they go about it. Specifications include front-wheel-drive and high-mounted transverse-sited engines. Some sources say that the next A-Class could be offered only as a three-door model, and a convertible version based on the same platform would follow. The B-Class variant, is expected to be bigger than the current model, about the size of the Volkswagen Touran minivan. Mercedes is also reportedly pondering over a new low-cost assembly plant somewhere in eastern Europe.

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