The 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class has stopped by Geneva
for its world premiere, which comes a month after its official presentation. More
mature than ever, with evolved styling, and packed with the latest technology,
the compact hatchback is ready to engage war with the Audi A3 Sportback and BMW
1-Series.
It also happens to be the most expensive of the
three. At € 30,231.95 (US$ 37,416) in Germany, it’s over € 5,000 (US$ 6,189)
pricier than two of its main rivals, in entry-level form (Audi A3 starts at € 24,650,
while BMW’s 1-Series from € 25,150). That’s without choosing any optional
extras, and equipped with a six-speed manual transmission.
Mercedes-Benz has the order books open for
fourth-generation A-Class in different European markets, limiting the offering
at one diesel and two petrol units. More engines will be launched in the near
future, but the most exciting variant is still to come – the AMG A45. Together
with the aerodynamic updates, tweaked chassis and more than 400 hp believed to
come from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, the A45 AMG will probably
take as little as 4 seconds to complete the 0-100 km/h sprint.
A more tamed version of the car is also in
development, under the A35 moniker. It will rival the Audi S3 Sportback,
probably with some 300 horses, and will become the most affordable AMG car.
