Lowered by 15 mm suspension, tapping on the “eighteenth” wheels, sporty interior package AMG Exclusive. A 250 Sport version is the closest precursor of the new A-Class – the show-punishment Mercedes Concept A. The main identification mark this modification – “diamond” false radiator grille.
On closer examination, diamonds Diamond grill were unremarkable pimples of metal, but from a distance grille looks great.
Any A-Class – a noble, comfortable, sensual car. Balanced and smooth, without vehemence, anger it is not even controlled – iPhone, by definition, can not be capricious. The owner has no control over the smartphone device, and receives from him the benefit and enjoyment. In this regard, A-Class could change the name to Smartcedes iClass: «Hello, I’m listening!” Juicy roaring engines – for the appreciation of the thoroughbred roar mersedesovtsy advised to open windows. Except engines in the cabin did not hear: the A-pillars and mirrors silent tire noise only on coarse pavement.
“Robot» 7G-DCT subtly switches and standards. The suspension can not blame any hardness or softness in – with her any way road. Brake sharply and firmly grab, everything is fine, but the pedal requires accuracy. At the same time the gas pedal is very pliable and easy – put the Germans spring across tighter. Precise steering correctly exposed on the optimal angles and the minute correction is needed.
In the A class with a “robot”, as in many other Mercedes, the usual selector lever is not. It manages the lever under the steering wheel, which wield a not very convenient in many ways, because it is almost invisible.
The above are valid from diesel A 180 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY to a top A 250 Sport. However, from a single rule there is an exception – A-Class A 200 (156 hp, 250 N • m) in the “mechanics”! Transmission can sort out with a flourish, go hard, jerking, blatantly! .. Can a 60 km / h stick sixth, and all.
Amount of luggage – 341 liters. With folded seats 60:40 – 1157 l. Leading competitors more compartments for 10-20 liters.
In the name of its predecessor, the family of the carrier, the letter A could mean Autobus. Well, the path of this A is passed directly up to the I, in the sense that the car is now expresses individuality. Addition to the driver how many fun fall to the front passenger, but if these two are moved away from the front to the maximum, in the second row of seats is not something that people – the mouse does not slip. Closely behind, dark, from entertainment only cool touch, and even that little bit here.
The new A-Class is an interesting and important mission of the first Mercedes in life. Due to the relative availability with rich equipment he can plant person, so that he climbed the tall barriers to entry into a lush world under the three-beam star.
As for Russia, we have the lucky owners, for the most part will not be the Facebook Generation. Nevertheless, the new model has a chance to change the dominance in the Russian view of the host car brand Mercedes-Benz. Good boys and girls 35-45 years old, to tell the self-made, being behind the wheel of the new compact, will tear the pattern of our native mersedesovoda – bandit, thief, thief, official, and his female offspring. These comrades are annoying, perhaps, more than the guys on the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series. Attack, A-Class, attack!
Model with factory index W 176 is built on the same modular platform front-MFA, as the new B-Class: The front rack McPherson, rear multilever. In sport versions specially tuned suspension engineers AMG.
A-Class is available with seven engines, which, according to the Germans, on average 26% more economical than their predecessors. Gasoline three, their capacity 122, 156 and 211 hp This new “quartet” 1.6 M 270 series (of the family can be seen in the illustration on the left), turbocharged, direct injection and a mechanism for adjusting the intake valve stroke Camtronic. Of the four series turbo diesel OM 651 most powerful motor produces 170 hp 2.1 (A 220), and the weakest 1.5 – 109 hp (A 180), between the two engines 1.8: 109 and 136 forces.
Outstanding for golf class performance with a coefficient Cx, equal to 0.27, shtutgarttsam was achieved by optimizing the aerodynamic underbody, struts and a rear spoiler, but the pride of engineers – in the other part.
Speech on the front wheel arches: designers made sure that the air flow in the arch did not get and go around the wheels. According to the developers, the payout ratio to one-hundredth of Cx means saving 1 l/100 km at a speed of 120 km / h
safety
As part of the active and passive safety philosophy of Mercedes expressed by the phrase “one star – it’s all you need.” This refers to the three-beam star, which, they say, means much more than star Euro NCAP rating and the like.
A-Class has passed thousands of virtual crash tests (30 000 calculations were carried out for only one pedestrian protection), 40 vehicles were destroyed in the real test, 380 test vehicles were subjected to severe torture. Now experts Euro NCAP, in theory, we can only confirm the high level of security for its “unnecessary” asterisks.
The more memorable Mercedes A-class of the first generation? To say the least, unusual for a hatchback-class golf appearance? Of course, this does not take away, but the car has received wide recognition in 1997, the year of its debut. On tests of the major Swedish motoring magazine Teknikens värld when simulating a detour of sudden obstacles serial pyatidverka rolls onto its side. Rising turmoil forced the Germans hastily equip all modifications A-grade stabilization system, as well as to withdraw about 2,600 already sold cars for a forced upgrade. Unpleasant situation, but this fact has affected sales slightly. For seven years, was more than a million hatchbacks.
The assets of a baby-Benz was relatively spacious interior with a compact body (length – 3606 mm, width – 1719, base – 2423). Front – Front McPherson, rear – independent trailing arm design. As part of the petrol engines were only atmospheric “quartet” 1.4 (82 hp), 1.6 (82-102), 1.9 (125) and 2.1 (140) and for diesel puffing one unit – a working volume of 1.7 liters, but in versions with 60, 75, 90 and 95 forces. By the way, buyers offer even the version with a 170 mm long wheelbase. Release of A-Class W168 engaged in Rastatt plant in Juiz de Faure, which was invested 900 million euros and 840 million dollars respectively.
Ideologically, the Mercedes A-Class Series W169 (second generation, 2004-2012) has not changed – the same hatchback in wrapping subkompaktvena. Design has become more masculine in design completely reworked body used more high-strength steels. This and the increased number of airbags (up to eight), the level of safety of passengers. Overall length and wheelbase are more – 3838 and 2568 mm respectively. Trunk volume stood at 435-1370 instead of 390-1040 l l.
Scheme with McPherson struts front remained the same, but the engineers revised the angles of the wheels and changed the attachment point anti-roll bars. The rear suspension was a completely different: instead of the independent design appeared twist beam with a mechanism Watt. Instead of the power steering Germans used electromechanical. Engines? There were four, all four-and time-tested. Petrol – “atmosfernik” 1.5 (96 hp), 1.7 (118) 2.0 (136) and its supercharged version (193), 2.0 turbo diesel (83-142 “horse”) was the only unit operating on heavy fuel. Classic “machine” customers were not offered – only manual transmission and CVT. Hatchback with three or five doors are available in Germany and Hungary, and the factory in Thailand is doing A-classes of the second generation so far.
Slovenia, which Mercedes-Benz has decided to introduce the press to the A-class – this is such Germany. No, but seriously. European country to 100%. All roads – just excellent. Throughout prosperity and order. People, obviously, did not troubled: for all the time we did not meet anyone who was killed clunker, no dirty carts. Wealthy people, drive a nice car, A-Class on many looks, shot on iPhones. Calm, quiet, heat, boredom …
Just before departure from Slovenia to Germany (we returned via Munich), I was horrified to find the loss of passport and driving license. Suspicion immediately fell on the A-Class: obviously, the documents fell out of his pocket under the seat. But here’s the problem – the day I was able to ride on two or three A-grades, plus two venah Viano, which were taken by journalists on airports. Mersedesovtsev had to put on the ears, they began to shake all the test cars … Well, my documents found at the last minute a nameless hero, and the aircraft ran into a lather, I shocked and depressed at the same time. A-Class Diesel wanted to leave my passport itself. In short, Slovenia remember me as not a boring country.