Mercedes is planning to
offer both a plug-in hybrid and an all-electric version of the new A-Class and
this is our first look on what seems to be the former. At first glance, the
prototype looks just like another A-Class test car but there are small details
that betray its electrified nature.
Things like the “Hybrid” sticker on the windshield
are the biggest telltale sign but once you look closely, you’ll find two fuel
caps, one on each side, and of course there’s the big warning sign that says
“High Voltage” thrown at the rear seat.
Carscoops spies even looked under the rear of the car to
see if they can spot the exhaust and they couldn’t, which raised some questions
whether this was a plug-in hybrid or a full electric car.
The new generation of the A-Class will adopt a
48-volt electrical architecture and the plug-in hybrid version will most likely
offer a 31-mile (50 km) all-electric range as teased by the official interior
images Mercedes released a couple of weeks ago.
Mercedes will pull the wraps off the brand-new
A-Class at the Geneva Motor Show in March, with the US-bound A-Class sedan to
follow shortly after.