Target markets will be regions where customers fancy the rear seat.
Mercedes-Benz today has the Mercedes CLA four-door coupe to compete with the Audi A3 Saloon and BMW 1 Series Sedan. Also, the company is planning a model above to be a traditional sedan to tackle competitors head-to-head. According to a new report from Autocar, the sedan will debut as a concept at Auto Shanghai 2017 in April.
The Mercedes A-Class sedan will ride on the MFA2 platform which forms the basis for the next-gen Mercedes A-Class hatchback as well as a new compact SUV expected as the Mercedes GLB. The MFA2 platform, besides allowing greater visual differentiation between each car, is said to see a usage of more high-strength steel for increased stiffness and lower weight.
The Mercedes A-Class sedan will come in standard wheelbase and long wheelbase versions. The latter, however, will be exclusive to China.
The report says that the A-Class sedan will go into production in Aguascalientes, Mexico. It would be rational to conclude that the standard wheelbase version would be made here, and even in this specification, it would offer better ingress, more headroom and knee room, larger glass area and a bigger boot compared to the CLA Class, which prefers form over function.
Also See: 2018 Mercedes A Class (W177) spied testing in Spain – Video
Mercedes-Benz's M264 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol, OM654 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engines, and Renault's 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol and 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel engines will power the Mercedes A-Class sedan. 6-speed manual and 9-speed automatic will be the transmission options.
Sales of the new sedan could commence next year.
[News Source: Autocar]
[Image Source: Autocar]
