Test Drive Mercedes Benz A-Class W176 since 2012 Hatchback
Test Drive Mercedes-Benz A-Class: Sports in Style
The new Mercedes-Benz A-Class has become one of the most anticipated concern's innovations lately. After all, in Stuttgart, they did not just have a new model, the A-Class has changed completely, including positioning and the philosophy of the younger than the Mercedes family.
For a meeting with a novelty, we went to the European presentation in Slovakia. Mercedes-Benz A-Class is built on the same modular Mercedes FrontWheel Architecture platform that the last B-class. And if the previous generations of these models played the field of small family-owned compactners, dividing among themselves the same customers, now Ashka went into full-fledged hatchbacks to compete firmly substantiated in this segment Audi A3 and BMW 1-Series.
The appearance of the new A-class turned out to five points. It is just the case when the car likes almost to everyone.
As usual, started with the design, which, I must say, it turned out to be surprisingly harmonious! Moderately aggressive, the rapid silhouette looks modern and beautiful rods on the sides, formidable front optics and stylish LED lights give the image of a-class of completeness. But here is not enough, only a large three-beam star on the radiator grille speaks about belonging to Caste Mercedes. Or Mercedes changed politics and sacrificed classiness in favor of the conquest of young European hearts with a new design?
Despite the fact that the style turned out to look at the sight, it is possible to find out what Mercedes before you can only on the three-beam star. There is no continuity here in risen. Probably, Mercedes is trying to win a new audience.
The Mercedesian features are visible in the salon. Finishing materials breathe quality, it is immediately felt that even in the younger model, they decided not to save: all pseudo-aluminum lining, it is not just plastic, and the present electroplating. In the database of the front panel, it is made of conventional texture plastic, there is an option for trimming under the skin, and in the machines with AMG package under carbon.
The quality of the interior of questions does not cause. In the photo version with AMG package, which is the bevelled steering wheel, a red stitch and front panel finish under carbon.
The audio system is typical Mercedes. In the initial execution, the place of the central monitor takes the rack to connect an iPhone, and the versions are more expensive are equipped with a 7-inch display. Connecting a smartphone, the Command Online system allows you to publish the Internet, as well as enjoy popular Facebook and Twitter services.
In the basic configuration, instead of a full-fledged screen, the A-class is equipped with a rack for the iPhone, and a full-fledged 7-inch display is installed on the front panel in versions. Connecting your smartphone, using the Command Online joystick system, you can access the Internet, as well as use Twitter, Facebook and Google maps.
An immodest hint of the sports orientation model of the front armchairs, components of a single whole with head restraints. And there is some truth in it: the seats are really good and by profile and side support, and the adjustment ranges are so great that if you move the front armchair until it stops back, then it practically rests on the rear sofa. By the way, the head restraints of the sofa are made in the same sports key. Stylish! But the practicality here is not enough here: the knees are almost getting to the cover of the front armchairs, between the head and the ceiling remains only a couple of centimeters of free space, and there is even an armrest among amenities.
With the trunk is also not so great. There is only a 341 liter of useful volume and a narrow opening, and under the floor there is neither an octable nor dock, heats the soul, in case of puncture, only neatly laid remkomplekt. It is good that the rear sofa is folded in the proportion of 40:60, increasing the cargo compartment to 1157 liters.
The front armchairs in the form of sports buckets perfectly fix the battles of passengers. In the top versions, they are equipped with an electric memory.
The supply of diesel Mercedes A-Class to Russia is not planned to be planned, so when we learned from the colleague that we were recorded on the version of Mercedes-Benz A200 CDI, I had to ask the organizers about replacing the car that they kindly did. So, my first acquaintance with Ashka began with a Mercedes-Benz A200 gasoline hatchback with AMG package, which includes not only external and internal styling, but also at 15 mm low-glued suspension, as well as 18-inch alloy wheels.
The AMG package version (on the photo on the right) is distinguished by another radiator grille, more aggressive bumpers, threshold overlays and 18-inch wheels.
Already after the first kilometers it became clear that the lion's share of sportiness, which was told so much on the presentation, went on the design. Despite the low-profile wheels and the pursed chassis A-class well smoothes irregularities and boil over the asphalt on Mercedes. And even on the primer, where we moved to make a couple of photos, Hachtbek did not seem unnecessarily shaking.
Suspension as well as in the Nostlatform Mercedes-Benz B-Class: Front McPherson, behind a four-way. The power steering is electromechanical, it can be equipped with a DIRECT STEER function with a variable attitude.
A 156-strong 1.6-liter turbo engine on diesel is quite well pulls from 1250 rpm, but it does not happen further than the expected turbo-cutting. Completely, reliable, but emotional. Top 2.0-liter A250 with a capacity of 211 hp In the nature of the twin brother, but due to the 55-strong advantage, as if he was playing in another weight category. Dynamics of acceleration If not a hurricane, at least 6.6 seconds declared by the manufacturer 6.6 seconds before hundreds of further confirmation. And what is the sound here. Both four sing no worse than six-cylinder engines. Yes, and with the wiggled timber here clearly worked separately. That's just the gas pedal in all A-classes is not in German sluggish, without intent to the reverse effort.
In Russia, the new Mercedes A-Class debuts only future in spring. So far, only two gasoline versions A200 (1.6 liters, 156 hp) and A250 (2.0 l, 211 hp) are confirmed. Both motor turbocharged and have a rather smooth characteristic in the entire turn range. Transmissions are offered two: six-speed mechanical and seven-speed 7G-DCT robot with two couplings.
Toli business brakes. The slowdown is powerful and efficient, to dose the effort is simpler, and the effectiveness is not lost even after combat races at the landfill, which Mercedesovs organized on one of the airfields under lyful.
Robotic seven-step transmission with two clutches of the 7G-DCT works smartly, does not twitch on the start and quickly breaks down. There is only a small delay when the robot needs to reset several steps at once. If you want to react that transmissia is better to translate into the sport. Electronics immediately lifts the turnover, holds the transmission to almost the cut-off and is more efficiently inhibited by the engine. Well, for those who are accustomed to independence, but dislikes the mechanics, the 7G-DCT has a manual mode, which can be controlled using stealing petals. True, it is impossible to call it honest to achieve maximum or minimum revolutions transmissions switches without waiting for the driver team.
The top version of the Mercedes A250 Sport can be found in red stripes on the bumper and grille with glitters. The engineers of the AMG division engineers were engaged in the direction of the Sport modification chassis. This is undoubtedly the most gospel version, but even it is distinguished by the proper level of comfort.
In turns, Mercedes A-Class fell off with Lenza, the truth on the arc stands confident almost without rolls. AMG package and optional DIRECT STEER with an alternating steering is well responded to the steering action, but the real use of the Direct Steer is felt only in the parking lot and in the bundle of completely sharp turns. For example, a similar system at BMW 1-Series is hard, but more and more efficient.
After the machine with AMG package, we take the usual A200 without an active steering wheel and on 17-inch wheels. It crumbs harder in turns, less actively responds to driving driving and demonstrates even better smoothness. This a-class is first of all Mercedes, and then an athlete.
Special pride of Mercedesovtsev - a new system of preventing the distance from behind Collision Prevention Assist. Unlike a similar system at Volvo, operating at urban speeds up to 30 km / h, the range of work of know-how from Stuttgart is from 30 km / h and to the maximum. With a quick approximation to ahead of the car, an orange mark lights up on the panel, then the warning beep is coming, after which the driver at least slightly pressed the brake pedal, the system helps to make the car to avoid a possible departure.
Can the top Mercedes A250 SPORT show real predatory habits? After all, engineers from the AMG division were engaged in the setting of his suspension. Outside it is a copy of the machine with an AMG package, and you can identify the Sport version only in red stripes on the bumpers and glamor grille with rhinestone. In fact, the habits became only a little sharper than that of the car with the usual AMG package. A250 Sport is still might comfortable, lazy at the entrance to the turn and slips outward all four wheels, a little earlier than this.
European sales Mercedes-Benz A-Class start in autumn, the top modification A250 Sport will come to Europeans in December, and in the spring the charged version of Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG will debut. By this time, we will only start selling ordinary aushki. Until only two versions are confirmed: Mercedes A200 and A250. Perhaps later will appear and the basic modification A180 with a 122-strong motor.
Of course, a new A-class will not claim the title of Sports in the classroom. Modern realities are such that sports suit, a good level of comfort and excellent performance, is now quite enough to succeed.
The basic price of Mercedes-Benz A-Class in Germany will be 23,978 euros and 50 cents! In truth, German accuracy! Prices for Russia have not yet been announced, and our Mercedes office is only to decide what to enable a special series in the package in order to create a BMW 1-Series competition and a new AUDI A3.
A source: Carclub.ru.
