Mexico-made Mercedes Benz A-Class to be unveiled at Paris Motor Show in October

26 July, 2018

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Mercedes-Benz announced that the new A-Class sedan will be presented to the general public for the first time at the Paris Motor Show (October 4 to 14, 2018), just a few weeks before its official launch at the end of year.

Production will start in Aguascalientes, Central Mexico, later this year at the COMPAS (Cooperation Manufacturing Plant Aguascalientes) joint-venture, a facility built in cooperation with the Renault-Nissan Alliance, where Nissan manufactures the Infiniti QX50 SUV. Daimler and Nissan each hold 50% of the shares in COMPAS.

Mercedes-Benz already presented the A-Class L Sedan at this year's Auto China in Beijing in April. This sedan model was developed exclusively as a long-wheelbase version for the Chinese market and is also produced there exclusively.

"Following the successful start of the A-Class, things at Mercedes-Benz are happening in quick succession with regard to the new family of compacts. In response to the wish of many customers, we now offer the A-Class for the first time also as a sedan car," said in a statement Britta Seeger, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing and Sales. "Anyone looking for a compact, sporty sedan with a separate boot now has a new attractive alternative. It will enable us to win new customers for Mercedes-Benz."

The unit will be available with two engines, a 200 (163 hp) paired with a 7G-DCT dual-clutch transmission for a combined fuel consumption of 5.4-5.2 liter/100 km and combined CO2 emissions of 124-119 g/km.

Also available is a 180 d engine (116 hp) paired with a 7G-DCT dual-clutch transmission for a combined fuel consumption of 4.3-4.0 liter/100 km and combined CO2 emissions 113-107 g/km).

The most aerodynamic production vehicle worldwide

With a drag coefficient (Cd) value of 0.22 and a frontal area of 2.19 square meters, the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedan will be the most aerodynamic car of its kind in the market as it will feature the lowest drag of any production vehicle worldwide, after defeating the original world record of the CLA Coupé. For three decades now, the aerodynamics engineers at Mercedes-Benz have been repeatedly setting new records.

The world record is currently held by the new A-Class sedan with a Cd value of 0.22 and a drag of less than 0.49 m2. With a Cd value from 0.25, the new A-Class hatchback, too, surpasses its predecessor (Cd value: from 0.26/frontal area: 2.20 m2). That means that the good aerodynamic properties in the A-Class will make a key contribution to low fuel consumption under everyday conditions.

According to the German automaker, the A-Class sedan was optimized down to the smallest detail by a multiplicity of computation loops, CAE simulations (computer-aided engineering) and measurements in the wind tunnel in Sindelfingen.

In addition to the outstanding exterior shape, there are many small measures that led to the new record: a sophisticated reduction of the frontal area despite significantly improved interior comfort dimensions, an extensive sealing concept (such as the sealing of the headlamp surroundings) as well as almost complete paneling of the underbody, which includes the engine bay, main floor pan, parts of the rear axle and the diffuser.

The front and rear wheel spoilers were optimized specifically to route the air around the wheels as efficiently as possible. The rims and tires also underwent aerodynamic fine-tuning. Depending on the market, an optional two-part shutter system behind the radiator grille is available, which minimizes the airflow through the engine bay.

The four-door notchback has the wheelbase of the hatchback (2729 millimeters) as well as the proportions of a dynamic and yet compact saloon with short overhangs at front and rear.

In addition, the saloon model has the familiar A-Class virtues, including modern, efficient engines, a high level of safety thanks to state-of-the-art driving assistance systems with S-Class functions, and the intuitively operated and learning MBUX – Mercedes-Benz User Experience infotainment system.

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