According to Mercedes-Benz, by unveiling the Concept
A Sedan at the Shanghai motor show this week, its ‘providing an outlook into
the next generation of compact vehicles and a potential new body type’.
Mercedes reckons the show car is ‘hot and
cool at the same time’. We’ll let you be the judge of that, but there’s no
doubt this new concept is significantly more attractive than the current
CLA-Class we are familiar with. There’s absolutely no doubt whatsoever as to
how important compact vehicles are for Mercedes-Benz globally, hence the value
placed on getting the design right for this concept.
The Concept A is 4570 mm long, 1870 mm wide and 1462 mm
high and retains a coupe-like silhouette. It’s punctuated by short overhangs
front and rear, as well as a svelte greenhouse that has been offset rearward. A
relatively vertical C-pillar, large side windows and a high beltline are all
tips of the hat to conventional sedan design.
The tough wheel arch design is filled with 20-inch
wheels, while there are flush door handles, and exterior rear-view mirrors,
which stand proud of the sedan’s belt lines. Mercedes-Benz has opted for a deep
Panamerica grille design tilted forward, with vertical inserts and the
signature star in the centre as well as stretched ‘power domes’ in the bonnet.
A dark chrome trim strip and stylised lower air inlets round out the front-end
treatment.
The headlights mirror conventional current
Mercedes-Benz design DNA, and the grid structure has been coated with a UV
paint, which has been exposed to ultraviolet light. The result is headlamps
that glow in different colours depending on the light that is on them. The DRLs
for example, are white.
The same lighting tech is present at the rear, as
well as a rear diffuser, trimmed in black and satin chrome to match the front.
Integrated exhaust deflectors are also finished in dark chrome and add a
premium touch to the styling. Privacy glass and a panoramic sunroof are fitted
as well.
