German business weekly WirtschaftsWoche reported that DaimlerChrysler AG’s Mercedez Benz unit may drop the A-Class and use a B-Class replacement to represent both A-Class and B-Class models in the next generation of that product range to arrive somewhere in the year 2011. In place of the A-Class will be a new compact model more like a small coupe rather town car like the A-class, to go against rivals Audi and BMW, especially since the latter has just announced the 1-Series coupe.
Reuters says when contacted, a DaimlerChrysler spokersperson said he could not comment on the report.
After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. An avid electronic gadget aficionado as well as big-time coffee lover, he's also the executive producer of the Driven motoring TV programme.
quite sad hearing A-Class
personally prefers A-Class over B-Class
Ohhh here goes the more affortable
So sad
i miss u A-class! its like one of the merc family has been lost….sigh.
golf make more sense then A,
A its a compact by the name of a merecdes, nothing have to do with the 'feel' of a mercedes,
3 box saloon is a true mercedes in every sense,
agree…A & B together really confusing. Just combine it together and built in various form
hahaa… Benz car range base on alphabet,, since the A been use and do not have better alphabet use for small coupe class car..
is correct also combine current A and B class.. since the functionality almost the same…
Maybe Proton should consider buy the A class platform and turn it into the all new Savvy. It's a good idea isn't it. Can compete directly with Jazz & Yaris.
it's not a real merc anyway
The A has really never found its place in the Mercedes familty. Its was always the oddball. To me Mercedes means, Heritage, flawless build, Quality, Prestige, Comfort….non of which really fit the A…(and the B in respect as well). The C and the 190E that precceeded that had the same problem.
Perhaps the next A class would be a lightweight BMW Series competitor, but judging on how far BMW has raised the bar, it would be a tough act to follow. They still have the Smart brand, so I really dont understand why they want to dilute the brand. I mean, pop a proper bigger engine into the Smart roadster, and why do you still need a 3 pointed start 1-series competitor?
Then again, anything with a BMW propeller badge and the 3 Pointed star would probably sell like hotcakes so my points are moot….
The A class started off badly, as the test vehicle toppled over during a corner,and Merc's engineers had to hurriedly modify the suspension. It was their first attempt at the small car market and the brand suffered a little bit because of that incident. The A class does not come as a luxury small car to many, and it ended up as a cheap budget car in many countries. You can rent a manual A class in UK for as low as 5GBP a day ( with limited mileage).
In Malaysia, though, because of our punitive import duties, the A class is more expensive than many better cars in the same category.
Malaysians are very brand concious, and many buy inferior products but with famous names. Take the Mercedes Vito, for example. It is made by Merc's truck divison, and with some cosmetics, it passes off as a luxury MPV. The Alphard, Estima, Odyssey, Espace are light years ahead, and yet some gullible Malaysians still buy the Vito.
I'd like to see Merc come out with a Real entry level M-B ala 1 series. Back to sizes of the 190Es. Coupe with the new engines..sweet
i think the A class is overpriced for itself but damn i'm gonna miss this little car.
BMW still better.
no!!!!! dont scrap the a-class
this strategy seems to make more sense.
is it mean,use steam roller on that A's..so then it looks nicer to compete the 1 series coupe..????
tat is a good news bcoz i think tat the B-class is too similarly to A-class.
Maybe they want to use A for another benz family….supersumthin'