The Mercedes A-Class will undergo a major overhaul
this year. The next-gen A-Class gets high-tech with a dual
display setup at the front like the latest E-Class and S-Class. It brings in a
virtual instrument cluster and a central screen for the infotainment system.
However, it won’t surprise us if the future A-Class misses touch input for the
central display. The new infotainment system should have features like Apple
CarPlay, Android Auto, voice recognition and 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. The steering
may have touch-sensitive buttons for some controls.
The fourth-gen Mercedes A-Class (codename: Mercedes
W177) sits on the ‘MFA2’, an updated version of the MFA front-wheel-drive
platform. It will incorporate the company’s new design language for compact
cars previewed by the Mercedes-Benz Concept A Sedan. An increased length and
wheelbase will improve the cabin space at the back.
The current model is available with four-cylinder
petrol and diesel engines with displacements ranging from 1.5- to 2.1-litre.
The next-gen A-Class, in addition to some of these, would get a new 2.0L turbo
petrol engine.
The next-gen Mercedes A 45 4MATIC’s M133 2.0-litre
turbo petrol engine reportedly puts out over 400 bhp. Mercedes-AMG will follow
the strategy similar to other 63 series models which get a ’43’ series as an
economical alternative. An ‘A32 4MATIC’ or ‘A36 4MATIC’ could play this option,
reports citing insiders reveal.
The 2018 Mercedes A-Class will debut at the
Frankfurt Motor Show that opens September 12. It could hit the European markets
in early 2018.