Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Mercedes-Benz A-Class
A 180d SE
Overview
Manufacturer	Mercedes-Benz
Production	August 1997-present
Body and chassis
Body style	5-door hatchback 5-door sedan (2018-present) 3-door hatchback (2004-2012)
Layout	Front-wheel drive Four-wheel drive

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class is a small luxury car made by the luxury car brand Mercedes-Benz.

It is the brand's smallest car, below the B-Class. Since 2018, there has been a sedan option, made for small sedan buyers. The 1st gen is codenamed W168, and started in 1997 the 2nd gen, codenamed W169, started in 2004, the 3rd gen, codenamed W176, started in 2012, and the 4th gen, codenamed W177, with a sedan codenamed V177, started in 2018.

First generation

A-Class (W168)
Before change
Overview
Production	August 1997-2004
Body and chassis
Class	Subcompact
Layout	Front-wheel drive
Powertrain
Engine	Petrol: 1.4-liter straight-four 1.6-liter straight-four 1.9-liter straight-four 2.1-liter straight-four 3.2-liter supercharged straight-four 3.8-liter twin straight-four Diesel: 1.7-liter straight-four
Transmission	5-speed manual 5-speed automatic 5-speed automated manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,423 mm (95.4 in)
Length	3,606 mm (142.0 in)
Width	1,719 mm (67.7 in)
Height	1,587 mm (62.5 in)

In 1994, Mercedes had confirmed a new small car would be made, was first seen in 1996, and was released in 1997 at a motor show in Frankfurt, Germany. Although it is a small subcompact car, it is large and practical inside, like a mid-size car. It was designed by Steve Mattin, who also designed the ML-Class, and the GL-Class. It is unusual for Mercedes to make a front-wheel drive hatchback with a short, but tall body. Its code name is W168.

In between 1997-2004, 1.1 million units were produced, but the problem is that, Daimler had lost €1,440 making each unit.

Life cycle impulse / Change

In early 2001, the A-Class had gotten a change, adding new front and back.

Gallery

• 
  Back (before change)
• 
  Front (after change)
• 
  Back (after change)

Second generation

A-Class (W169)
Before change
Overview
Production	June 2004-2012
Body and chassis
Class	Subcompact
Layout	Front-wheel drive
Powertrain
Engine	1.7-liter inline-four 2.0-liter inline-four 2.0-liter inline-four turbo Diesel: 2.0-liter inline-four turbodiesel I4
Transmission	5-speed manual 6-speed manual CVT
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,568 mm (101.1 in)
Length	3,838 mm (151.1 in) (2004-08) 3,883 mm (152.9 in) (2008-12)
Width	1,764 mm (69.4 in)
Height	1,593 mm (62.7 in)

The new A-Class' codename is W169 and it is constructed with high-strength steel alloys, and has increased cargo capacity by 15 percent, compared to the W168 A-Class. Unlike the previous, or next generation, this generation of A-Class had a 3-door and 5-door option. While the 5-door is codenamed W169, the 3-door is codenamed 'C169'.

Life cycle impulse / Change

In 2008, the A-Class had gotten a change, meaning it had gotten longer, received longer doors, and has new headlights and taillights.

Gallery

• 
  3-door
• 
  5-door

• 
  5-door (after change)
• 
  5-door (after change)
• 
  3-door (after change)

Third generation

A-Class (W176)
Before change
Overview
Production	September 2012 - 2018
Body and chassis
Layout	Front-wheel drive All-wheel drive
Powertrain
Engine	1.6-liter straight-four turbo 2.0-liter straight-four turbo Diesel: 1.5-liter straight-four turbo 1.8-liter straight-four turbo 2.2-liter straight-four turbo
Transmission	6-speed manual 7-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,700 mm (106.3 in)
Length	4,292 mm (169.0 in)
Width	1,780 mm (70.1 in)
Height	1,433 mm (56.4 in)

The new A-Class is completely different from the 2 previous generations. Unlike the previous 2, who used the W168 and W169 model codes, the new W176 has a larger model code. The new car has grown 400 mm (0.4 m) longer. It has new headlights, taillights, body style, refreshed interior, cooler rear lights and front lights, now making it closer to the small luxury car segment and daytime running lights.

The new A-Class is more expressive than the previous models, directly competes with the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series, as they are all German luxury small family cars.

Life cycle impulse / Change

In 2015, the A-Class had gotten a change for 2016, adding bolder, restyled headllights, and better technology.

Gallery

Back (before change)

Front (after change)

Back

Fourth generation

A-Class (W177)
Before change
Overview
Production	April 2018 - present
Body and chassis
Class	Subcompact executive car
Layout	Front-wheel drive All-wheel drive
Powertrain
Engine	Petrol: 1.3-liter inline-four turbo 2.0-liter inline-four turbo turbo 2.0-liter inline-four turbo turbo Petrol plug-in hybrid: 1.3-liter inline-four turbo turbo Diesel: 1.5-liter inline-four turbo 2.0-liter inline-four turbo
Transmission	6-speed manual 7-speed automatic 8-speed automatic 7-speed dual-clutch 8-speed dual-clutch
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,729 mm (107.4 in)
Length	4,419 mm (174.0 in) (hatchback) 4,549 mm (179.1 in) (sedan)
Width	1,796 mm (70.7 in)
Height	1,440 mm (56.7 in) (hatchback) 1,454 mm (57.2 in) (sedan)

The new A-Class is the fourth generation of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, the successor of the W176. Its codename is W177, and features multiple design cues from the previous A-Class.

Sedan

The V177 is a sedan version of the W177 hatchback. A longer version is also only sold in China, codenamed Z177.

Gallery

• 
  Back (before change)
• 
  front (This model is a Progressive/SE trim. It is the lower-level trim, and looks a bit less cooler than the other model. It is a cheaper version of the W177.)
• 
  rear (This model is a Progressive/SE trim. It is the lower-level trim, and looks a bit less cooler than the other model. It is a cheaper version of the W177.)

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  Front (sedan, before change)
• 
  Rear (sedan, before change)

Other websites

• Media related to Mercedes-Benz A-Class at Wikimedia Commons