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

[Soup]

 

[aleks_16]

Will this A-class bring the AMG power to the front wheels or all four ?............The AMG power and "quattro" or RWD then it will be the top in its class..........FWD hmmm then AMG FAIL The Article says 4WD what do you guys think?

 

[Wolfgang]

^ The A-Class AMG will probably drive all four, using a Mercedes developed dual clutch transmission.

Henning’s team felt that achieving the target torque capacity of 350 Nm with a dry clutch system would result in a larger and heavier package with higher moments of inertia, pointing toward inferior shift quality. An oil-cooled multi-plate clutch design would, on the other hand, allow greater torque capacity and a subsequent upgrading to 450 Nm for future and more powerful all-wheel drive derivatives. Specifically, said Henning, the wet clutch system is 10 kg lighter and has 50 percent less inertia than a dry counterpart would have been.

Perhaps even more importantly, Henning felt that a wet clutch arrangement was essential in order to ensure thermal robustness in “critical situations” such as when towing a trailer, giving an all-up train weight of over 3 tonnes, and when stopping or moving off on steep inclines. The likelihood of SUV-type derivatives, currently in the planning stage, was further reason to use a wet clutch to meet these particularly high demands.

Once again, gear pairs are combined so as to reduce complexity; gears five and seven, as well as four and six, each need only a single drive gear. Two gearset variants are offered, with the small gasoline models geared for a ratio spread of 7.16 and the larger diesel and gasoline versions giving a spread of 7.99.

Efficiency is improved by reducing churning losses in the gearbox via a baffle in the differential area. This also cuts down on foaming and, says Henning, leads to improved acoustics and a higher gearshift quality.

Mercedes DCT New-Generation Priorities - Emerging Technology

PS. BTW, the above picture is not an AMG, according to an followup post elsewhere. The real thing will prob feature diff optics.

 

[Kowalski]

So the new A-class is no longer a rival for Polo and Fiesta, but now a rival for Golf, Focus, A3 and 1-series?

 

[Tarek]

So the new A-class is no longer a rival for Polo and Fiesta, but now a rival for Golf, Focus, A3 and 1-series?

Lol..

 

[Kowalski]

Lol..

What? It looks huge compared to the outgoing model. More like a rival for A3 than A1.

 

[Tarek]

What? It looks huge compared to the outgoing model. More like a rival for A3 than A1.

It's just price wise the A-Class never rivaled polo or fiesta..it was like a comfy compact for the rich to drive around busy traffic.

..and focus/Golf for sure doesn't rival A/1 or A3.

 

[Zafiro]

I want that Astra VXR with 280 hp. Let's hope it doenst become expensive.

 

[Tarek]

^26K euros.

 

[Zafiro]

^26K euros.

LOL I meant in Sweden

 

[Levi68]

I want that Astra VXR with 280 hp. Let's hope it doenst become expensive.

*

You mean this Opel Astra GTC OPC making 280 PS ?

Yes, I also think the new A Class has something in common with the Opel Astra.

 

[Wolfgang]

an update from the horses mouth, so to speak

New A-Class to set new standards, similar to the W 201

The A-Class is a new car which is to set completely different standards at Mercedes. "It is similar to the W201 series" - better known as the Baby-Benz from 1982, says Joachim Schmidt in an interview with Automobilwoche. Pricing will start at around 20,000 Euros plus tax. He also confirmed the A-Class will come to the USA in 2014, along with three other variants, including e.g. the B-Class with alternative propulsion. "We expect that more than half of A-Class customers switch from other brands to us," Schmidt said in the article.

Google Translate -- Mercedes-Benz Passion Blog article

 

[Zafiro]

*

You mean this Opel Astra GTC OPC making 280 PS ?

Yes, I also think the new A Class has something in common with the Opel Astra.

Yes the new one. I drove previous version and its a crazy car and I was really affected by the car in a positive way. If the new one is priced rigth I might consider it for my next car.

 

[mave]

 

[Nexus]

Wow!

 

[mini_cooper4]

Still not my cup of tea but looks way better in the official pictures
The AMG-Pack looks great.
Against the weak looks of the competition the A-Class only needed not to look too bad

 

[Human]

Beautiful! In and out nothing that I honestly can say "I don't like"

Looks very much like the original concept and the interior is family, familiar.

Oh, sorry that B-post inner that's painted blue (naked metal) on the inside (as with the B-class), shame on you M-B!!! The A-class is supposedly a PREMIUM product, sis! Cover it up with premium plastic or something

 

[Levi68]

I like it. It could be better but the 1 Series is still ugly (if to forget about RWD) and the A3 is as usually way toooooooo normal. I wonder what the 3 door version will look like, if it will keep the same roofline a get lower one unlike the 1 Series 3 door.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

Oh God, that looks stunning. Can't wait to see it in Geneva when I visit on Friday.

 

[Zafiro]

The rear looks terrible and I could be without the sideline. Other than that it looks okey. Blue color is the best part.