Mercedes-Benz India has launched the new 2016 A-Class facelift in India today. The new car has been priced at INR 24.95 lakh for the A180 Sport (petrol) version and INR 25.95 lakh for the A200 (diesel) Sport variant, both prices ex-showroom Mumbai.
Engine, transmission and drivetrain
The A-Class facelift continues to be powered by the engines that the previous version had under its bonnet. The A180 Sport petrol gets a 1.6 litre 4 cylinder motor with 122hp of power at @5000 rpm and 200 Nm of torque @ 1250-4000 rpm. The 2.2 litre 4-cylinder diesel mill on the A 200 Sport produces a power of 136hp @3200-4000 rpm and 300 Nm of torque @1400-3000 rpm. The A180 can sprint from 0-100 in 8.6 seconds. The Diesel variant too is capable of hitting a top speed in excess of 210km/h.
Transmission duties are taken care of by the 7G DCT dual clutch transmission with shift paddles on steering wheel. DYNAMIC SELECT offers choice of four different drive modes as desired — Comfort, Sport, Eco and Individual. Adjustment of parameters such as engine, transmission, suspension or steering can be done from the upper control panel.
Exterior
On the outside, the A-Class facelift gets redesigned front and rear bumpers, revised grille, LED headlights and will drive on new alloy wheel patterns. Mercedes-Benz have tried make the squat looking A-Class even wider with the tailpipe trim integrated into the bumper. In the rear area, the new lighting design comprising reworked LED bands in the tail-light emphasizes the vehicle’s M-B family connection. There is also a brand new shade on offer – the Elbaite green, which the launch car was painted in, and we absolutely loved it!
In addition to the new colour, the A-Class continues to be offered in Cirrus White, Jupiter Red, Cosmos Black and Polar Silver
Interior
The face lifted A-Class has received substantial upgrades on the inside. The car features a new multifunctional three-spoke steering wheel. The new dashboard design is drawn from the GLA / CLA class and gets new materials and colours for a fresh console decor.
The centre console houses an updated infotainment system and gets an optional 8-inch display which features smart phone integration including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink COMAND navigation. New upholstery, instrument cluster, and ambient lighting with twelve colours and five dimming levels also sum up to the host of new interior upgrades. The car also gets a panoramic sliding sunroof.
The A-Class employs high-quality materials on the inside, which have been further upgraded for an enhanced premium and sporty look and feel. The new leather wrapped multifunction steering wheel now features a 3-spoke design with 12 function buttons for the display menu in the instrument cluster. The shift lever has been finished in leather too.
Mercedes-Benz India has also introduced the Mercedes-Benz Apps, for its entire New Generation Car portfolio. The new inclusion makes for convenient access to a wide range of some of the most popular apps and services on the internet.
Safety
Mercedes-Benz is delivering its world renowned safety aids in the new A-Class with some enhancements and additions. Safety features including 6 airbags, ESP, ASR (Acceleration Skid Control), ABS, Brake Assist System, Attention Assist, Hill Start Assist and Adaptive Brake Lights Flashing among other, making the new A-Class one of the safest cars on Indian roads.
The new A-Class is the last launch by the German carmaker in India for the year 2015, marks Mercedes-Benz’s fulfilling the commitment of launching 15 new products in 2015.
Mr. Roland Folger, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India commented. “We couldn’t have concluded the product offensive of 2015 with a better product. As the most progressive model in the compact luxury segment, the A-Class has been instrumental in making Mercedes-Benz brand more youthful. The A-Class pioneered ‘compact luxury’ in India and with the new A-Class we have just raised the benchmark even higher. We made the A-Class even more appealing and ready for our dynamic new generation customers”
Check out a detailed image gallery of the new A-Class below. Do share your thoughts and opinions on the pricing and positioning of the new model via the comments section or through one of the social channels.
