New Mercedes-Benz A-Class launched at Rs 24.95 lakh

Mercedes-Benz India has launched the new facelifted Mercedes A-Class at a price tag of Rs 24.95 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai). This is the fifteenth three-pointed-star launched by the German manufacturer to attain their ‘15 in 15’ target for 2015.

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class is a luxury hatchback and was introduced in India in May 2013. The new A-Class is an update to the existing car. The changes are subtle with the new A-Class getting LED headlamps and reworked tail lamps along with a tweaked front bumper. The subtle changes continue on the inside as well with new clocks for the instrument cluster and galvanised switches like the CLA-Class. The leather-wrapped steering wheel gets updated while the upholstery is still fabric. The A-Class now gets panoramic sunroof standard along with the Mercedes Apps.

The A-Class will be available in two trims A180 petrol for Rs 24.95 lakh and the A200d diesel for Rs 25.95 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai). The A180 gets a 1.6-litre petrol engine that develops 122bhp of power at 5000rpm and 200Nm of torque from 1250rpm. The diesel mill is the same 2143cc four-cylinder turbocharged engine from the previous A200 CDI that develops 134bhp of power and 300Nm of torque from 1400rpm. The fuel economy figures for the A180 and the A200d are 15.5kmpl and 20kmpl respectively as certified by the ARAI.

The Mercedes A-Class gets four driving modes Comfort, Sport, Eco and Individual and can be selected dynamically to alter the engine, transmission and steering characteristics. In terms of safety, the A-Class hatchback gets 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, ESP with Acceleration Skid Control, hill-start assist and the adaptive brake lights that flash under emergency or heavy braking.

The Mercedes A-Class competes with the BMW 1 Series, the Volvo V40 hatchback, the Mini Cooper D, the Audi A3 sedan and also the Mercedes B-Class in terms of body-type and price point. The A-Class will be available in red, white, black, silver and the newly introduced hue of green.