Mercedes-Benz A-Class (Germany, 2012-present)

The new MercedesMercedes-BenzGermany, 1924 > present197 models
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A-ClassMercedes-Benz A-Class Con...Germany, 2011 > 201129 photos
comes to the market in September 2012. The model has transformed itself from a stodgy, high hatchback to a sleek Golf-fighter.

Mercedes has put an emphasis on the powertrains for the new A-Class. It offers the car with a total of seven tunes from three diesel engines and two petrol engines with power ranging from 109hp to 211hp. It is also rolling the car out with the new 7G-DCT dual-clutch transmission and a new six-speed that is a development of the 7G-DCT. Mercedes says that the A-Class has up to 26% better fuel economy than the preceding model.

The new A-Class diesel uses an entirely new family of diesel engines in such a small car. The OM651 was derived from the diesel engine in the S-ClassMercedes-Benz S-Class Gen.5 [W 221/ V 221]Germany, 2005 > 201373 versions
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and features low pressure exhaust gas regeneration that mixes some cooled exhaust gas into fresh air going into the turbo to create basically free power. This new diesel is available on the A180 CDI with 7G-DCT, A200 CDI and A220 CDI. The A180 CDI with DCT and A200 CDI are both 1.8l diesels, while the A220 CDI is a 2.1l. The A180 CDI with DCT has 109hp and 250Nm of torque and uses 4.1l/100km of diesel. The A200 CDI has 136hp and 300Nm of torque and uses 4.3l/100km with a manual or 4.1l/100km with the automatic. The A220 CDI has 170hp and 350Nm of torque and is slated to produce 112g/km of CO2.

The final diesel engine for the A-Class is the OM607 diesel in the standard A180 CDI. It was developed with Renault and produces 109hp and 260Nm of torque and uses 3.8l/100km.

The 2012 A-Class is a beauty and gives the current Golf a run for its money

© photo courtesy of: Mercedes-Benz

The A-Class is also available with two turbocharged petrol engines in three tunes. The engines are part of the M270 family and use efficiency technologies from Mercedes' V6s and V8s. Later, there will be the M274 engine family that is identical to the M270 but will fit longitudinally for rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive cars. All of the engines use start/stop.

The A180 and A200 use 1.6l versions of the M270. The A180 has 122hp and 200Nm and uses 5.5l/100km. The A200 has 156hp and 250Nm and uses 5.5l/100km. The 1.6l version uses Mercedes' Camtronic technology that is an electromechanical system that adjusts valve opening based on throttle opening and boost pressure. The system improves fuel economy and power by increasing power during high throttle situations and closing the valves more during low throttle operation. It can activate with a 40° rotation of the crankshaft.

Nearly every engine available in the A-Class is new

© photo courtesy of: Mercedes-Benz

Finally, the A250 is a 2.0 liter variant of the M270 and has 211hp and 350Nm and uses 6.1l/100km.

Mercedes has put their engines under extreme testing before installing them in the new A-Class. Engines are removed from the line at random at the Untertürkheim factory where they are build and placed on a test bed. The engines get 500 hours to 2400 hours of testing in heat, cold and even at various gradients to make sure they are reliable enough. The OM607 diesel in the A180 CDI has been tested for over 25,000 hours.

The A-Class gets two new transmissions as well. The 7G-DCT is a seven-speed, dual clutch gearbox, and the new six-speed manual is a development of the 7G-DCT.

The 7G-DCT offers a wide range of gears over three modes to provide fun driving and efficiency. Mercedes claims that when shifting power is not lost from the road. It also claims that the transmission is 9% more efficient than a CVT and also more efficient than its six-speed manual sibling. It uses two cooling pumps, one mechanical and the other electric, to cope with start/stop.

The six-speed manual can tow up to three tons and is meant to be especially smooth. Thanks to a magnet mounted in the gear shift, it can also be used in start/stop engines.

Mercedes is hoping to change the concept of the A-Class. The car had been a pretty boring hatch and is becoming a much more stylish automobile. Volkswagen has a new Golf coming in 2012, just as the A-Class hits dealers.