While the old A-Class was something you’d see your granny driving, the all-new A-Class is a completely redesigned beast that’s sure to leave your jaw firmly planted on the floor.
The Mercedes-Benz A-Class first hit the motoring scene in 1997. Back then the idea was to build a car that was tall, but short and one that would be powered by the front wheels. It would basically become the opposite of the long, rear-wheel powered saloons that one would associate with Mercedes-Benz.
(First generation A-Class 1997-2004)
The Mercedes-Benz idea was slightly different to the hatch-back saloons (saloon cars with the boot chopped off) that became popular in the late nineties. The A-Class gave more head room, it was much easier to park and a lot cheaper to run than the hatch-back saloons it was up against. The only problem was, it lacked a certain sex appeal.
(Second generation A-Class 2004-2012)
The second generation of A-Class was introduced with a bang back in 2004 at an event in the Castello Sforzesco, Milan, Italy. Famous personalities such as Christina Aguilera, Giorgio Armani and Boris Becker were included in the advertising campaign, which proved to be highly successful. Around 50,000 units were expected to be sold in 2004, however, according to Mercedes-Benz sources this target was reached before the car even made it onto the showroom floor.
The last facelift given to the A-Class was back in 2008. It modernised the car and brought it closer in line with how the rest of the Mercedes-Benz fleet looked at the time. New bumpers and lights were added along with a fresh interior design.
(All-new third generation A-Class 2012)
The third generation of the A-Class is a completely different beast altogether. First debuted at the Geneva Motor Show, the all-new A-Class design scrapes the old tall and short compact car look. It’s now a sleek and sporty hatchback that suits the desires of a lot more people than the previous generations. The old A-Class wasn’t really a big hit with younger generations, but this new A-Class appeals to both young and old.
Prices for the all-new A-Class are expected to start at around €27,000 and they should be rolling out onto showroom floors this month.
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