What's all this about?

The covers have come off of the all-new Mercedes-Benz A-Class. A far cry from the tall, somewhat awkward looking original A-Class of 1997, this latest version looks sharp and comes packed with technology.

How does it compare to the last model?

On looks alone, the new A-Class takes on a sharper image with taut bodywork and clean lines. It still looks instantly recognisable as a Mercedes, of course, with a sloping bonnet and wide grille that contains the three-pointed star. New headlights have a similar shape to those seen in the new Mercedes CLS range, but the major changes happen inside.

Go on

For this new A-Class, the design team is giving the car's cabin an entirely new look. What you immediately notice is the distinctive dashboard design. Gone is the traditional instrument binnacle and in its place is a widescreen arrangement made up of two screens. On range-topping models these will both be 10.25-inch displays, offering drivers and passengers an excellent user experience.

Other design flourishes include five air vents that draw inspiration from jet turbines and appear to be exquisitely finished. Like other models such as the E-Class, owners will have no shortage of colour choice when it comes to the cabin's ambient lighting. A total of 64 different shades are available to best suit your mood.

Is it any bigger inside?

Yes. The new cabin has small increases in shoulder room, especially in the rear. Modest improvements in headroom are joined by bigger gains in elbow room front and back, too. Mercedes has topped up the boot capacity to 370 litres, an increase of 29 litres, but it still falls short of being best-in-class.

What other cool features will it have?

Owners will be able to use a more advanced voice control system by just saying "Hey Mercedes". It uses machine learning and further advances in speech recognition to allow users to speak in a more natural tone. So instead of instructing it to "set the temperature to 24 degrees", you can just say "Hey Mercedes, I'm cold".

As you may also expect, the new A-Class will come with a whole host of smartphone connectivity and integration. From getting your alerts to knowing the latest thing that chimed into your work email inbox, the new baby Benz should have you covered.

What about engines?

Initially, Mercedes-Benz will have three new engines in the A-Class, two petrol and one diesel. The petrol range kicks off with a 1.4-litre four-cylinder unit producing 163hp and 250Nm and mated to either a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. A larger 2.0-litre four-cylinder with 224hp and 350Nm will come with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. On the diesel front, there's a 1.5-litre with seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and outputs of 116hp and 260Nm. Buyers will also be able to specify 4Matic all-wheel drive in the A-Class.

Talk to me about safety tech

Mercedes-Benz doesn't shy away from introducing advanced safety systems, and while these often appear in the S-Class at first, many of these are now trickling down into the A-Class. New camera and radar systems will allow the car to see further ahead, up to 500 metres, and it will feature Active Brake Assist, which is its autonomous emergency braking system that helps to mitigate rear-end collisions at lower speeds.

Smarter adaptive cruise control will not only be able to detect speed limit signs, but can also predictively adjust the car's speed when coming up to roundabouts or junctions. If you get stuck in slow-moving motorway traffic, the car will be able to automatically keep up with the car ahead even if stopped for up to 30 seconds. Great if you get lost in conversation with Hey Mercedes!

When will we see them on the road?

Mercedes-Benz will officially start sales in March, and the first customer deliveries are expected to begin during the summer. Closer to when the order books open, official UK pricing and detailed specifications will be confirmed.