The new Mercedes-Benz A-Class has officially arrived in South Africa, with the local range comprising two derivatives at launch.
Of course, we brought you local pricing back in July (and even had a little fun seeing just how expensive we could spec a base model), but now we can add that Mercedes-Benz plans to add a third variant to its A-Class line-up in early 2019, in the form of a diesel model (this is likely to be the A180d, which makes use of an 85 kW/260 N.m 1,5-litre turbodiesel engine).
As we reported in that initial story, the A200 (which makes do with a torsion beam rear suspension set-up) will be priced from R499 000, and is powered by a 1,3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, which generates 120 kW and 250 Nm, and is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission as standard. This arrangement results in a claimed 0-100 km/h time of 8,0 seconds and a fuel consumption of 5,2 L/100 km.
The R593 300 A250 Sport, meanwhile, is also mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch ‘box “developed further” from the transmission used in the outgoing model. This derivative employs a 2,0-litre turbopetrol mill churning out 165 kW and 350 N.m, which is enough for a claimed 0-100 km/h time of 6,2 seconds. It features a four-link suspension set-up at the rear (plus adaptive dampers) and sips at a claimed 6,2 L/100 km.
The new Mercedes-Benz A-Class is also the first model from the Stuttgart-based brand to be offered with the latest MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) multimedia system. This system “learns and adapts” to suit the user and offers voice control with “natural language comprehension”.
