Mercedes-Benz Concept A Revealed for Shanghai

[SKY]

When you talk about progresses in automobile design it reminds me of some of the great philosophists. When they say " Darwin was right"

Chris Bangle was right.

No ofense, I´ve seen a few videos of Chris Bangle talking and sure he knows what he is talking about. But when you see somo of the BMWs he designed, you wonder where were all those great ideas nicely implemented?. I can pretty much say the 3er, 5er, and 7er designed when he was chief of design are the ugliest 3er, 5er, and 7er BMW has released. What he did to the interiors of his cars, leaving some important BMW interior design cues, was far worse that what we had before him.

I believe Van Hoydonck isn´t as brilliant as Bangle, but, IMO, he is much more effective, as the cars he design are way more conservative and way less revolutionary, but hey, they are so nice, which is, at the end of the day, the most important thing.

 

[Deleted member 25]

There's also also a lot of the ex future Mazda language, it looks different to usual merc design, i like the profile, the front not so much, the grill is too big for my taste, all in all, it,s a reaonnably good looking and generic concept.

 

[Centurion]

My initial scepticism was overcome by the beauty of the car in motion. That video really won me over. Entry level hatchbacks are some of most difficult car models to design. The most challenging aspect being the rear and that is where this car is has its weakness. It's a bit expressionless when you see it from the rear and the W204 C-Class suffers the same birth defect. However, the surfacing of the car is gorgeous as with most recent Merc concepts. Given that Mercedes ideally want us to buy the more expensive models I'm doubtful as to how much of the candy we're seeing here will make it to your local Merc dealer at entry level pricing.

It's warming to finally see some tangible evidence that Mercedes intend to bring a youthful hatchback to market. The underpinnings and architecture is probably near identical to B-Class they are currently testing, and thus we should see the two cars launched in proximity.

 

[Shining Star]

New video.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[PHYBENZ]

Just noticed the gas tank cap is on the driver's side of the concept...

 

[Centurion]

If it has the same body shape and sleekness as the VW Scirocco then it will be a smash hit.

 

[Tumbo]

And everybody say... AUUUUUUDI!

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

And everybody say... AUUUUUUDI!

Everybody say VW Sirocco.

 

[K-A]

The man in the video, Mark Fetherston, explains the lines of the car. According to him, the lines definates it's positive and negative surface. I really don't hope the S-Class gets one of these. I like straight lines. However, the A will probably get those bent ones.

Agreed. And the S will be probably somewhat desecrated by these lines.

I'm not a fan of the CLS's upward line, but at least it's straight. IMO, a VERY important aspect in keeping a car like a Mercedes looking sharp, appropriate and timeless is strong, sharp, and confident STRAIGHT lines. Or, muted, elegant, yet still straight lines.

I'm not a fan of squiggly lines, as they don't age well to my eyes, and it's harder to pinpoint the design strategy, unless you actually hear the Designer describe "what he/she was thinking".

I guarantee in the next 10 years of design, people will be so sick of the heavy handed surface work on Benzes, and they will be so much more tiring than the older models to look at, the "next next" gen of Benzes will probably counter with overly slab sided offerings or something.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

^You and these lines.

You know good and well the E-class has them slapped all over it's sides. Benz still got your business. The lines are going to be there whether we like them or not. If you got a problem, talk to Dr. Z and the MB crew.

 

[Sovereign]

The current A class and B class look like dinosaurs compared to the new design.

Never liked A and B classes but this is something which is acceptable as a micro Benz. The design look fresh and attractive and I will be happy with the new elements such as the head light and grill treatement in other Benz cars as well. However, this design language would not suit the traditonal MB grill at all. We have already seen this type of rendition for the next C class and I guess the next C, if it get the same design elements, may not be offered with the traditional grill.

I hope Mercedes develops a simple and clean design language for its traditonal grill models for next E and S class. And if I may suggest something to the Benz marketing experts: since you have made the sporty grill so common by putting it on every new and cheaper Mercedes' models, kindly make the traditional grill more exclusive by offering it only on the higher end E and the S class sedans...kind of reversing the roles from the past when sporty grills were only offered on the expensive SL and SEC models.

In the end thankyou to Merc 1 for for the story and pictures.

 

[K-A]

I hope Mercedes develops a simple and clean design language for its traditonal grill models for next E and S class. And if I may suggest something to the Benz marketing experts: since you have made the sporty grill so common by putting it on every new and cheaper Mercedes' models, kindly make the traditional grill more exclusive by offering it only on the higher end E and the S class sedans...kind of reversing the roles from the past when sporty grills were only offered on the expensive SL and SEC models.

Very much agreed. IMO the Sport grille has gotten quite boring and plebeian (in comparison to the Luxo grille). I think they are already practically there in keeping the Luxury grille exlusive to the E and S-Classes.

^You and these lines.

You know good and well the E-class has them slapped all over it's sides. Benz still got your business. The lines are going to be there whether we like them or not. If you got a problem, talk to Dr. Z and the MB crew.

It is, and it took me a while to get into that. However, look at the E's lines then the A-Class or even CLS's lines. The E's are mostly tied together, or following the same movement (not confusing or contradictory), while the A's are literally making sense only in the Designers head.

 

[go0gle]

Did Mercedes get a new design team or something ? Their latest concepts along with the CLS have been really solid. Good job!!!

 

[Merc1]

You guys should give Mercedes a break here. You forget that Mercedes-Benz has never been able to do small well. It took from the 1983 until 2012 to finally make the 190/C-Class a complete car. Interior, styling, coupe, engines...all finally comes together for the 2012 model year and we're getting not one, but two Black Series variants! Can you believe that?!!


Anyway a small hatch is something Mercedes really has no history to go on here, considering that I think they did a hell of a job, at least on the concept. The A/B since day have been terrible little things compared to their similarly priced competition. This has the makings of a hit for them, not only in sales but in respectability. This hatch and the mini-CLS they've already shown in concept form have the potential to really explode for them. Now bring on the small SUV and the convertible.


M

 

[Sovereign]

Very much agreed. IMO the Sport grille has gotten quite boring and plebeian (in comparison to the Luxo grille). I think they are already practically there in keeping the Luxury grille exlusive to the E and S-Classes.

Yes the traditional radiator grille is now "becoming" more exclusive, but what I meant was that the company make it exclusive deliberately as their design/product portfolio. Even the lowly E class models such as E with 4 cylinders may get the sport grille like something in the current C class (which gets both type of grills) and reserve the traditonal radiator grille for upper end E class models and exclusive for the S class. I think if this becomes the practice, Mercedes dont even need Maybach name to compete with Bentley and RR. Offer highend coupes and sedans with beautiful and simple designs like W100 or Ocean Drive and the Mercedes Embelem on the top of the hood. Mercedes had offered many beautiful coupes with the traditional grille in the past.

 

[K-A]

I agree, although I'd hate to see any E-Class with a Star grille. I do like that the Luxo grille is becoming the "rare" fixture for the cars nowadays. In the U.S, we don't get the low-end E-Classes, so out here the setup works perfectly, with the E and S separating themselves from the lineup with the proud standup Star and Classic/Luxury Grille.

.... That, and I personally don't know if I can have a Benz without the hood Star always reminding me of what I'm driving.

For the record, this A-Class is MUCH nicer so far than the original one, and I think it'll be a huge winner for M-B, at least comparatively speaking. And it's true, they have no heritage in this field to harken back to, so they are obviously "Me-Too"'ing other successful models to try and gain some Market-Share. This is an entry-entry level, so I don't expect it to look "Mercedes" in that classic and traditional classy sense, but it's gotta look appropriate with the Benz name IMO.

My beef is just in the side lines. Foolish looking, otherwise, it follows winning formulas in aesthetic it seems, whilst putting their own stamp on it (literally).

I'm not big on the low-rent Benz models, as I like to see the brand maintain its status as a Luxury Automaker, but as long as the execution is right, I don't see it diminishing the brands perceived status/value.

 

[Human]

Don't get me wrong, I find this concept stunning.

Just that to my surprise last night showing my wife the photo's of the Concept A on my laptop she responded with: "Look at the side profile, isn't that uhm..flame surf something...looks like a BMW"

There you have it! Mr. bangle may have left the building, yet his 'legacy' lives on-and-on

 

[NarutoRamen]

After having some time to look at the design, I must admit that I think it's already the best looking vehicle in it's segment, if it doesn't get watered down too much.

Not a fan of the interior though.

 

[martinbo]

Folks, how close do you really think this concept car will be to the actual A-Class?

Please help bring me up to speed (I don't follow the A/B Class stories closely at all as I ignore the ugly, ugly-to-drive, ugly-to-own little farkers) but are we now to expect a whole line up of A-Classes? Familiar breadvan, two-door and drop-top? Is that where MB is going with this product line? For the VW A6-platform jugular I expect? Or maybe the breadvan shape is reserved for the B-Class?

 

[NarutoRamen]

^^For one, that mesh grill DEFINITELY won't be there.