Mercedes is attempting to assert itself into the small car market with the radically changed A-Class. The new car trades the stody, upright styling of the old car for a low-slung, five-door hatchback with a clean sheet design. Mercedes will offer the car with efficient sub-100g/km of CO2 engines to a powerful 211hp unit. The new A-Class will go on sale in Europe in September 2012. 

"A is for Attack: the A-Class is a clear statement of the new dynamism of the Mercedes-Benz brand", said Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

*Update* CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA Steve Cannon has just announced the A-Class will be coming to the United States with the following tweet. "The A-Class will be coming to the US! What do you think?"

The new A-Class is a full 18cm lower than the previous model. It features low, sculpted styling made up of two lines that flow from the top and bottom of the front wheel arch and intersect at the rear. These two lines give the car a dynamic appearance that is impressive even while sitting still. 

Mercedes has worked to make the interior as dynamic as the exterior. It uses chrome trim on the air vents, radio and on the door pulls. Two tone seats and navigation will be available. 

There will be a wide variety of engines offered on the new A-Class from efficient to quite quick. The petrol engines are made up of Mercedes' new 1.6l and 2.0l turbocharged engines. The base engine will be the A180 with the turbo 1.6l and 115hp; next is the A200 with 156hp; then the A250 with 211hp. There will also be three diesel engines: the A180 CDI with 109hp, A200 CDI with 136hp and A220 CDI with 170hp. All of the engines will have start/stop technology. Transmission options are either a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic for all engines. 

The A-Class gets a new 4-link rear suspension that Mercedes says will allow for all-wheel drive later if there is customer demand. 

Mercedes will offer the A-Class in three trim levels to start: Urban, Style and AMG Sport. 

The new A-Class will be the first small Mercedes that AMG has helped engineer from the very earliest stages. It worked on the car's braking and suspension. The AMG trim will add 18in wheels, red-painted brake calipers and reworked front suspension. It will only be available on the A250 and A220 CDI. 

The new A-Class will be available in September in Europe. Mercedes has not divulged a base price for the car.