Mercedes-Benz to develop next gen A/B-Class alone
Mercedes Benz has decided to develop it’s next generation Mercedes Benz A-Class and B-Class alone, without cooperation with a small car technical partner. The German company previously had talks with BMW and Fiat, but it appears that the plans for the next generation A-Class and B-Class were not “compatible” with the proposed shared platform and engine with the other car manufacturers.
The luxury carmaker will instead rely on internal efficiency measures to achieve a similiar cost-saving effect as platform sharing. The new A-Class and B-Class platform will be “a platform below the C-Class with front-wheel drive and high-mounted transverse-sited engines,” according to Daimler head Dieter Zetsche.
The Mercedes Benz B-Class will grow in size to match the likes of the Volkswagen Touran, while the A-Class is rumoured to be made more sportier, and perhaps offered as a 3-door only. A third car based on the FF platform is said to be in the works, and will be a small SUV to compete against the rumoured Audi Q3 and the confirmed BMW X1.
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December 26, 2007 @ 12:56 pm
while the A-Class is rumoured to be made more sportier, and perhaps offered as a 3-door only?
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Very sad! Anti climate!
December 26, 2007 @ 2:48 pm
I always love Mercedes hehe… as well as bmw
December 26, 2007 @ 5:16 pm
3 doors hatch…love it. but sadly not RWD. Just stick to 1series over this one
December 27, 2007 @ 12:37 am
So, the difference between A and B class cars are just the boot size then? and slight bigger interior. Wheel base will be the same right?
December 27, 2007 @ 8:01 am
I don’t understand why MB insists on watering down its brand with the A class.
The A class is a sorry excuse being a Benz. Even the B class is slightly out of place in the family.
They still have Smart after all.
Maybe history will look at Mercedes with a kinder face. Back then the 190E was thought to be a “mistake”….who knows….
December 28, 2007 @ 2:13 pm
good !!!
so dat mini will still drive btr den any a/b class