Odds 'Good' That Mercedes Brings A-Class to U.S.
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Mercedes previewed the next-generation A-Class concept last night at a Mercedes-Benz dealership in New York City. It�s a round hatchback whose shape resembles something closer to the Volvo C30 than the current, upright A-Class sold overseas. If it comes to the U.S., the front-wheel-drive compact would signal a stark departure from Mercedes� traditional rear-drive offerings.
That looks to be the case.
I asked spokesman Dan Barile last night: If he were a betting man, what are the odds the next A-Class makes it here? Barile�s response: �Very good.�
Small, fuel-efficient cars from luxury nameplates are quite popular in city-clogged Europe, but they�ve been met with mixed success here. Cars like the C30, the BMW 1 Series and the Audi A3 sell, but only at a small fraction of their larger counterparts, the 3 Series and A4/S4.
Some models, like the Mini Cooper, strike up a dedicated fan base, but the likelihood that U.S. shoppers will snap up the likes of an A-Class appears dubious. Still, luxury carmakers persist: Recent introductions include compacts like the Buick Verano sedan and the hybrid Lexus CT 200h. The CT 200h has been a surprising early sales success.
�It�s premium small cars � that�s the question,� Barile said. �It�s all about bringing that average age down.�
Nat Sijanta, head of product management for Mercedes� compact cars, characterized the new A-Class as �completely different� from the 1 Series and A3.
�Practicality is more or less the major driving force for today�s [European] A-Class,� Sijanta said. In attracting younger customers, its successor could ride a wave of �growing demand for premium small cars.�
Expect news on the production A-Class � and information on any U.S. version � in the not-so-distant future.
go to carmax.blogspot.com review
Mercedes previewed the next-generation A-Class concept last night at a Mercedes-Benz dealership in New York City. It�s a round hatchback whose shape resembles something closer to the Volvo C30 than the current, upright A-Class sold overseas. If it comes to the U.S., the front-wheel-drive compact would signal a stark departure from Mercedes� traditional rear-drive offerings.
That looks to be the case.
I asked spokesman Dan Barile last night: If he were a betting man, what are the odds the next A-Class makes it here? Barile�s response: �Very good.�
Small, fuel-efficient cars from luxury nameplates are quite popular in city-clogged Europe, but they�ve been met with mixed success here. Cars like the C30, the BMW 1 Series and the Audi A3 sell, but only at a small fraction of their larger counterparts, the 3 Series and A4/S4.
Some models, like the Mini Cooper, strike up a dedicated fan base, but the likelihood that U.S. shoppers will snap up the likes of an A-Class appears dubious. Still, luxury carmakers persist: Recent introductions include compacts like the Buick Verano sedan and the hybrid Lexus CT 200h. The CT 200h has been a surprising early sales success.
�It�s premium small cars � that�s the question,� Barile said. �It�s all about bringing that average age down.�
Nat Sijanta, head of product management for Mercedes� compact cars, characterized the new A-Class as �completely different� from the 1 Series and A3.
�Practicality is more or less the major driving force for today�s [European] A-Class,� Sijanta said. In attracting younger customers, its successor could ride a wave of �growing demand for premium small cars.�
Expect news on the production A-Class � and information on any U.S. version � in the not-so-distant future.
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