| Mid-life facelift | Mercedes-Benz A-Class |
The revised Mercedes A-Class goes on sale in the UK in June and will feature changes to make it greener, more economical, safer and more luxurious. A mild facelift distinguishes the revised small Merc, with a new front grille, restyled headlights and rear lights, reshaped bumpers and different alloy wheels.
Mercedes will introduce its BlueEfficiency package of fuel-saving measures as standard on the A150 and A170 models. There will also be a new A160 CDi turbodiesel with an 82bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine.
The BlueEfficiency package includes a start-stop feature that cuts the engine when the car is at a standstill and restarts the moment the driver engages gear or dips the clutch pedal. A brake regeneration system is also used to recoup energy to charge the battery when the car is slowing down. Mercedes also fits low rolling resistance tyres and says the restyled body makes the A-Class more aerodynamic to save fuel.
In the new A160 CDi BlueEfficiency model, the fuel saving measures result in 62.8mpg combined fuel economy and carbon dioxide emissions of 119g/km. The A150 manages 48.7mpg and 139g/km of CO2.
Other changes for the revised A-Class include the option of parking assist, which helps spot parking spaces and will steer the car into a bay without the driver touching the steering wheel. There are also brake lights that now flash automatically during emergency stops and interior lights that come on in the event of an accident to help occupants find their way out more easily.
Mercedes will release UK prices for the revised A-Class range closer to the car going on sale in June.
Alisdair Suttie - 31 Mar 2008
