Mercedes-Benz is enjoying a new renaissance, which began with overhauling its entire range, and started (as far as I’m concerned) with the new C-Class. I have a real soft spot for this car, and I still think it's the BEST conventional sedan that comes out of Sindlefingen.
It’s the right size, it looks great and it rides and handles exceptionally well. I think designer Robert Lesnick has achieved a great combination of proportion, styling cues, and a truly contemporary shape. Despite the appearance of other new models following the same themes, the C-Class will be Lesnick’s enduring legacy.
Of course the design operation at Mercedes-Benz is directed by Gordon Wagener, but it’s when you get down the studio food chain to the lead designers, Robert Lesnick’s name pops up a lot. He’s a very talented designer.
 |
| Mark Fetherston (left) and Robert Lesnick with GLA clay |
So, moving on to the latest new model, the new A-Class, in this instance the lead model, the A200. Comparing the new W177 to the outgoing W176 you may see little change in the overall shape, but it’s in the details that this new car is such an outstanding design success.
The lead designer already has a great track record in this compact class. It’s Englishman, Mark Fethersten (right), who was also responsible for the CL A sedan, and the GLA.
The new W177 points well, rides with great aplomb, and handling and grip is excellent. The steering is beautifully weighted, and the wheel boss has something new for you to get used to - touchpads on each horizontal spoke.
There's also a Lexus-like touchpad at the rear of the centre console, but unlike the Toyota version this one is easy to use, positive to touch and make correct selections on-the-move.
But there's more, inside boasts a major addition, and Mercedes-Benz call that MBUX, which embodies everything from instruments to entertainment and information, in a smart rectangular shape which can be manifestly modified for the driver’s specific needs. Goodbye instrument clusters as we knew them, welcome the new age of graphics-driven info delivery.
The greatest impact of the new design is clearly at the front, where the intersecting edges come together.
Along with a variety of tasteful material choices, the new cockpit design is also a masterclass in sophistication. Pegged as a competitor to Audi’s A3, and BMW’s 3-Series, I think the A200 provides a palpable difference in design, performance and comfort when lined up against its competitors.
I think the A200 could be the most pleasant compact driving experience I have enjoyed so far this year.
This car will be built in both Mexico and China, and in the A200 the 1.3L turbocharged four-cylinder was co-developed with Renault. The 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission is provided by Getrag.
Like many of the small-capacity turbocharged engines that are turning up these days, the A200’s delivers a sprightly 120kW @5500rpm, and a staggering 250Nm of torque from just 1620rpm. The performance in this base model is more than acceptable, that is until you load up with four adults, and the strain starts to show.
 |
| Gottlieb Daimler signature etched into the windscreen is a great piece of one-upmanship |
However, with its slick MBUX interface Mercedes-Benz is clearly chasing tech-savvy millenials – and they will love it! There’s a SIRI-like “Hey Mercedes” personal assistant which has great AI properties, which will ‘learn’ commands and preferences over time.
A Class is an important model for Mercedes-Benz Australia, selling around 5000 cars last year, a 10% improvement over 2016, for an average 30% share of its segment over the past few years.
The only impediment to the W177 racing away from the pack is a steep price increase (around AUD$3000), but M-B will explain that away to prospective buyers by focusing on MBUX, and the new interior ambience.
In Australia the A200 starts at AUD$47,200, but the car in this post has options bumping the price to AUD$57,650!
When you analyze your basic motoring needs, it’s hard to say you need anymore car than the A Class for single person mobility. I could certainly live very happily with the A200.
Love your enthusiasm as always John but as great as some of the design elements of the new Mercedes A Class are it is hardly original from the outside. The similarity to many current cars cannot be denied; the front end is current Ford Focus and others, while the rear taillights are straight out of a Kia parts bin. On the road they blend in and are not original, which is sad.
ReplyDeleteI owned three in a row of the original W168 A Class with autoclutch manual, driving over 360,000km in them. A really fun, spacious and practical car, but once I decided to keep the last one for a long time and warranty expired, it cost me thousands to keep on the road with gearbox rebuilds and other issues. Finally my bank account capitulated and I will never return to the Mercedes fold. The failure of Mercedes to support its product on clearly poor quality components just outside of warranty still disappoints from a brand I thought was amazing.