Mercedes-Benz previews new A-class sedan

Mercedes-Benz has previewed the look of its next generation of compact cars, including an all-new four-door sedan model to be sold in Australia, with the unveiling of the so-called Aesthetics A.
 
The conceptual sculpture has been created to show the new styling treatment to be adopted by up to eight new compact models from the German car maker within the next three years, including replacements for today's A- and B-Class as well as successors to the CLA, CLA Shooting Brake and recently facelifted GLA.
 
Eschewing the heavily sculptured styling treatment and prominent crease lines of today's models, the next-generation of Mercedes-Benz compact cars are set to adopt a much smoother appearance with largely unadorned surfacing and fuller forms.
 
The new look is described as a development of Mercedes-Benz's existing Sensual Purity design lineage and marks the first time it has been applied to a models featuring transverse engines.
 
"Form and body are what remain when creases and lines are reduced to the extreme. We have the courage to apply this purism", says Mercedes-Benz's chief design officer, Gorden Wagener. "In combination with sensual surface design, the upcoming generation of the compact class has the potential to herald a new design era".
 
Although it doesn't go quite so far as the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupe in the reduction of side feature lines, the new design linage marks a significant departure from the current generation of the German car maker's compact models, which are visually characterised by their extreme side feature lines.
 
As hinted to by the Aesthetic A, the only side line remaining on Mercedes-Benz's future compact models will be one running the full length of the flanks. It forms a shoulder that Wagener says serves to stretch the vehicle visually. Despite the change in design philosophy, Mercedes-Benz's chief design officer says the new compact car line-up will continue to reflect what he calls "a rear-wheel drive optic", despite being offered in front- and four-wheel drive guises.
 
The Aesthetics A sculpture also reveals the so-called Panamericana grille treatment, with its vertical slats, to be adopted by future AMG versions of the compact car line-up.
 
As well as previewing the new styling direction to be taken by Mercedes-Benz's compact cars, the Aesthetics A also hints at an all new four-door sedan model confirmed by company chairman, Dieter Zetsche, at the Detroit motor show earlier this month.
 
Based around a heavily updated version of Mercedes-Benz's MFA (modular front architecture) platform, the new A-Class sedan is one of three new compact models to be added to the line-up as a rival to the likes of the Audi A3 sedan and new BMW 1-Series sedan. It is planned to sit alongside a replacement for the existing CLA, which will continue to feature a four-door design, albeit with a more coupe like silhouette than the new four door sedan model.

Other new MFA based models include a compact SUV, which is planned to share the same wheelbase as the B-Class and sit above the next-generation GLA as a direct competitor to the Audi Q3 and BMW X1.

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