A-Class (W176) 2011 Mercedes-Benz A-Class (Spy pics & Info)

[kenai]

Agree K - A........ by the way your white thing is beautiful .

 

[K-A]

Thank you.

 

[Human]

Just looking at that greenhouse makes me claustrophobic. I have a feeling that you'll have to be slightly compact in stature to fit or feel right inside that car.

I like it a-lot! A compact greenhouse makes it sporty looking and feeling inside, behind the wheel + elongated bonnet is just what the doctor ordered. Benz has entered the HOT HATCH era in a spectacular way!

Nice....very nice and well done

 

[K-A]

I agree that it looks good. For me, a good balance has to be met. I had a car (Chevy Malibu) with a tiny greenhouse, like CLS tiny, and I can attest that it negatively affected interior ambiance.

With the CLS, I felt awkward in it (like being in a Tank), but this A-Class, due to its smaller size and proportions, looks very cluttered when looking at that tiny slit going across that tiny car. However, how they size and engineer it inside will make all the difference.

I do think cars are going too far with sightlines and greenhouses. Some cars are good with it, but Mommy Vans and hatches? Do we really need these cars to have such massive blind-spots? At some point this becomes a safety hazard. I.e, at some point, Designers have to have the challenge of remembering that these are appliances first and foremost, and pieces of art secondly, so safety/functionality for all on the road should be job #1, and the challenge is to make it as sexy as humanly/robotically possible considering that.

This is a great article, all about what I'm talking about:
http://autos.yahoo.com/news/design-disasters.html

 

[Benzino]

I like it a-lot! A compact greenhouse makes it sporty looking and feeling inside, behind the wheel + elongated bonnet is just what the doctor ordered. Benz has entered the HOT HATCH era in a spectacular way!

Nice....very nice and well done

Although you're a BMW fan... But you give credits where it should be given to. Respect man.
You just nailed it with every word.
Benz has entered the HOT HATCH era in a spectacular, impressive, respectful and Shocking way.

Job well done Benz.
Respect.

 

[Human]

I agree that it looks good. For me, a good balance has to be met. I had a car (Chevy Malibu) with a tiny greenhouse, like CLS tiny, and I can attest that it negatively affected interior ambiance.

With the CLS, I felt awkward in it (like being in a Tank), but this A-Class, due to its smaller size and proportions, looks very cluttered when looking at that tiny slit going across that tiny car. However, how they size and engineer it inside will make all the difference.

I do think cars are going too far with sightlines and greenhouses. Some cars are good with it, but Mommy Vans and hatches? Do we really need these cars to have such massive blind-spots? At some point this becomes a safety hazard.

^
K-A you sound like the NHTSA In all honesty a good point, practicality should not be compromised yet I think Benz has it covered.

 

[K-A]

Benz is usually good about it. My real issue lies with these fugly Japanese econoboxes and more-so, nu-fad of odd Crossovers with 4 Cylinder motors, made for Soccer Moms, yet try and falsely exude a case of "Sport" due only to a massively non-functional pinched greenhouse and plunged roofline. Just pointless and IMO it should be regulated against (i.e, there should be a certain slightliness requirement, especially for certain car types). My girlfriend is of a very petite stature, and when she gets in some of these cars, she can't even back them up or maneuver them, so I'm sure that goes for the general demographic that actually buys them as well.

 

[Human]

Benz is usually good about it. My real issue lies with these fugly Japanese econoboxes and more-so, nu-fad of odd Crossovers with 4 Cylinder motors, made for Soccer Moms, yet try and falsely exude a case of "Sport" due only to a massively non-functional pinched greenhouse and plunged roofline. Just pointless and IMO it should be regulated against (i.e, there should be a certain slightliness requirement, especially for certain car types). My girlfriend is of a very petite stature, and when she gets in some of these cars, she can't even back them up or maneuver them, so I'm sure that goes for the general demographic that actually buys them as well.

Case in point, Hyundai Veloster

 

[SCOTT27]

New Renderings of the A-Klasse Coupe and Cabrio.

According to industry rumours at the IAA. The debut is apparently in January but not @ Detroit. The World Premiere is set for Geneva in March 2012.



The Compact CLS- Coupe-Sedan will be a Concept car for Beijing and New York in April respectively.

 

[Merc1]

The Cabrio rendering is hot.


Scott - did you say that the SL is going to be shown in Dec and debut in Jan at Detroit?


M

 

[SCOTT27]

That is what the rumours say. To do so means that they are probably about to or have begun filming and photographing the car on location so someone might get lucky. Given the usual Mercedes spots possibly Cape Town (South Africa) or Sardinia (Italy) both are climate friendly to a Roadster this time of year...

 

[Giannis]

New Renderings of the A-Klasse Coupe and Cabrio.

According to industry rumours at the IAA. The debut is apparently in January but not @ Detroit. The World Premiere is set for Geneva in March 2012.



The Compact CLS- Coupe-Sedan will be a Concept car for Beijing and New York in April respectively.

I am afraid I will have to feel very bad for the F20, if the new A-Class turns out to look like those renders

 

[SCOTT27]

ahh yes but wait till you see the "2". Which is our Coupe and Cabrio response to the A Coupe and Cabrio.
The "2" is not a "1" anymore.

 

[Giannis]

ahh yes but wait till you see the "2". Which is our Coupe and Cabrio response to the A Coupe and Cabrio.
The "2" is not a "1" anymore.

To clear things up, the "2" is comming along this generation of "1", or will we have to wait another 7 to 8 years for it?

 

[Wolfgang]

Autobild / Larson

 

[Merc1]

Hideous.


M

 

[Wolfgang]

^^^ here's a better chop


Milos Dvorak

Mercedes A-Class Cabriolet on way

A convertible version of the new Mercedes A-Class is on the way. It will follow three and five-door variants, which go on sale next year, and is the latest addition to a new family of compact cars.

Read more: Mercedes A-Class Cabriolet on way | News | Auto Express

 

[Merc1]

Those stupid arse lines......


M

 

[K-A]

*Ooh, so many lines going in so many directions, I'm dazzled! Let me buy one!*.

^^^^ What M-B's Design team seems to strive for.

 

[Centurion]

The A and B-Class will be the Mazdas of the premium segment.