2013 Mercedes A-Class – Click above for high resolution picture gallery

Car Tested: 2013 Mercedes A-Class (A180 Sport)

Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 28 lakhs (est.)

The Mercedes A-Class looks terrific and is easily one of the most gorgeous hatchbacks in the world.

India is a hatchback country, with more than 70 percent of sales coming from this body style. However the concept of a premium hatchback is still not accepted as most people want to quickly move to a three-box sedan. In these times, Mercedes-Benz has its job cut to change the mindset of Indians, with its premium hatchback, the A-Class. The third generation model (W176) is distinctly different from its predecessor in almost every way. The all new Mercedes A-Class is not only important for the German automaker but also important for India, because it can set the trend for big hatchbacks, which are more practical and fun to drive. So does the A-Class have what it takes to create an all new segment? We drive the A180 Sport through the thick and thins of Mumbai roads to find out just that.

Exteriors – The Mercedes A-Class looks very youthful and the design immediately strikes you in a positive way. The vehicle has been influenced from the F800 Concept which was showcased in 2009. The A-Class sits low and is very slippery with a cd of 0.27. It is no longer a tall boy which gives it a very sporty stance. The front features a long bonnet with the highlight being the diamond grille, made of 302 pins. The three pointed star sits on the large grille and is quite big with double slats on either side. The design at the front creates a V-shaped appearance. The headlights are striking with L-shaped day time running lights in them.

The side profile reveals the generous dimensions and one will easily notice how big this hatchback really is (compare it to the Hyundai i20 which is currently the biggest hatchback on sale in India and it looks tiny infront of the A-Class). A line erupts from the headlights and follows through to the rear door, swooping downwards below the door handles. Another line comes out of the wheel arch and moves backwards towards the tail light, rising upwards near the end of the front doors. These lines highlight the body very well. Big 17-inch low profile tyres sit on delicious 10-spoke alloy wheels, they look smashing indeed.

The rear is well detailed with the tail lights having LEDs. There is a huge rear spoiler which is neatly integrated, while twin exhaust pipes sit right below the bumper. The stance of the A-Class is very sporty and it looks every inch like a premium hatchback. Full marks to Mercedes-Benz for getting the design so right, with exteriors having so much attraction, that the company should be able to sell the car on design alone.

Interiors – The focus on design continues on the inside as well and you get a cabin which is rich in quality and sportiness. The all black dashboard gets chrome surrounds on the AC vents, door handles, steering wheel and audio system, which gives the cabin a very rich feel. The steering has good contours making it fantastic to hold. There are three AC vents in the centre and two at the rear, which cool the cabin very quickly. The centre console is very clean with no handbrake or gear lever (right stalk is used to select gears). The 14.7 cm infotainment TFT screen hangs on top of the centre AC vents and can also run apps from your phone. It also offers Bluetooth, AUX and USB connectivity, producing good quality sound via six speakers.

The instrument cluster is like other Mercedes cars, easy to read and understand on the go. You get the usual data from the multi-information display, which is operated using the various buttons placed on the steering wheel. The doors have good feel and are heavy. The front seats get integrated head rests and the bucket like design makes it very comfortable even on long journeys. The car also gets a large sunroof which adds to airy feeling inside the cabin. Mercedes has loaded the A-Class with a ton of features including front and rear parking sensors, reverse parking camera, memory driver’s seat, paddle shifters, attention assist, brake assist, bi-xenon headlights, seven airbags, ESP, ASC, adaptive brake lights, electronic parking brake, tyre pressure loss warning system, start-stop system, hill start assist, etc. There is however no electric adjust for the steering wheel and the co-driver’s seat gets manual adjustment.

The rear seat is a big disappointment. Although there is good amount of legroom and decent headroom for rear passengers, there is simply no under thigh support for tall passengers with the rear seat being too small in length. The rear seat is a tad too upright and to make matters worst, the windows are small and visibility all around is poor, further amplified by the large front seats with integrated head rests. While the use of front-wheel drive helps Mercedes increase rear seat space, we fail to see any advantage as there is a huge hump at the rear. This makes the A-Class a strict 4-seater. Funnily though, the A-Class doesn’t get adjustable headrests, except for the centre seat, which anyway is not usable due to the hump. There is no rear seat arm rest either.

The boot is decently sized but the placement of the spare wheel robs away the usability of the boot and even though the spare tyre is a space saver, you simply can’t keep much luggage in the boot since the tyre placement reduces the flat area in the boot.

Performance – Mercedes-Benz is offering the A-Class in India with two engines, a petrol and diesel. The diesel engine comes from the C-Class and is the 2.2-litre unit, detuned to belt out 110 HP of power and 250 Nm of torque. This engine should give the A-Class sufficient performance while returning terrific mileage. The other engine is the 1.6-litre petrol unit, which produces 122 HP of power and 200 Nm of torque. The output figures are not really fire breathing and hence premium hatchback (not hot hatch) is a more apt word for the A-Class. The Stuttgart based automaker has no plans to offer the A45 AMG in India just yet.

Our test car was the petrol model and delivered decent performance for the city driving cycle. The motor is very refined and is barely audible till you whizz past the 4500 RPM mark, when there is some sporty roar. There is very little lag at low speeds and peak torque is produced as low as 1200 RPM. It’s only past 2500 RPM that the A-Class starts moving and once past 3500 RPM, there is definite urgency too. The short geared nature of this engine means you hit 100 km/hr in third gear, with redline at an early 6200 RPM. In top gear, the A-Class will do 100 km/hr at 1800 RPM, thereby comfortably cruising.

The A-Class is paired to a 7-speed DCT gearbox which offers smooth and quick shifts. There are three modes – E, S and M (Economy, Sport and Manual) and one can take control of things using the steering mounted paddle shifts at any time. In Economy mode, gears shift early thereby boosting mileage (there is a start/stop system which works well and barely makes itself noticed). In Sports mode, the motor keeps itself on the boil, shifting at redline. However for a hatchback of this price, Mercedes should have offered more powerful engines.

Driving Dynamics – The Mercedes A-Class uses the company’s MFA front-wheel drive platform which helps in weight reduction. There is plenty of traction and handling is good, with the A-Class remaining extremely composed at even high speeds. The light yet stiff chassis offers tremendous fun when you push the vehicle to the limits and understeer doesn’t kick in very easily (it is however present when you push too hard). The A-Class is as sporty to drive as it looks and there is little to tell it’s a hatchback, the dynamics are so very mature.

While the handling is excellent, the steering wheel is not very precise. It’s light at low speeds and weighs up well at high speeds but feels a bit dead when you want to take high speed corners, the feedback is simply not confidence inspiring. Then there is the ride quality, which in spite of the vehicle riding on really low profile rubber, is excellent. The A-Class glides over Indian roads and it’s only really bad roads which shake up the car to some extent. The brakes deserve a lot of praise and the A-Class has a very well calibrated pedal with good stopping power.

Verdict – The Mercedes-Benz A-Class might actually start the trend of premium hatchbacks in India. The vehicle drives well and handles beautifully, only being let down by the electric steering which feels dead around the centre. Then there is the styling, which is thoroughly attractive and will easily lower the age group of Mercedes car buyers. The A-Class is equipped with a load of features, which are sure to attract many new people to the German brand. The A-Class appeals in many ways and if buyers are able to accept the high pricing, this baby Benz is sure to create a furore in the Indian market.

The A-Class is a very different Mercedes, it’s sporty and youthful with looks that can make you skip a beat or two.

What’s Cool

* Styling
* Features
* Ride quality and brakes

What’s Not So Cool

* Rear seat comfort
* Price

2013 Mercedes A-Class Specifications

* Engine: 1595cc, 4-cylinder
* Power: 122 HP @ 5000 RPM
* Torque: 200 Nm @ 1250-4000 RPM
* Transmission: 7-speed DCT automatic
* Top Speed: 202 km/hr
* 0-100 km/h: 9.2 seconds
* Fuel Consumption: 9 km/l (City), 12 km/l (highway)
* Fuel Type: Petrol
* Tyres: 225/45/17 Tubeless Radials
* Brakes: Ventilated Disc (Front), Disc (Rear)
* Safety: ABS, EBD, ESP, Seven Airbags, Reversing Camera

2013 Mercedes A-Class Dimensions

* Overall length x width x height: 4292 mm X 1780 mm X 1433 mm
* Wheelbase: 2699 mm
* Turning Radius: 5.5-metres
* Boot Volume: 341-litres
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 50-litres
* Kerb Weight: 1375 kgs

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In the Indian market, both Renault and Nissan product portfolios consists of the same models but with different badges. Badge engineering has been done between the two firms in order to achieve cost advantages. Currently, the cross-badging is being done between the Renault Pulse/Nissan Micra and Renault Scala/Nissan Sunny. The last badge engineering activity is expected with the Renault Duster sibling, likely to be introduced soon under the Nissan badging. The Duster based SUV for Nissan will be restyled significantly in order to differentiate it from the Renault Duster.

Renault and Nissan are on a verge to discontinue the strategy of sharing models in India. The cross-badging activity didn’t turn out well for the two giants to deliver big volumes for the company. Both the automakers are now focusing on individual product development plans for the Indian market in the coming years. The companies believe that India is a competitive market and they came in late with their products.

Their aim was to achieve big volumes together from the beginning by sharing products but now the automakers look promising to provide the Indian market with individually developed products. Nissan is now considering introducing four new models in the current financial year for the Indian car market. The new offerings will include the restyled Duster under the Nissan badge, the facelifted Micra hatchback and updates of the existing models. All the new offerings are expected to hit showrooms in the second half of 2013. Meanwhile checkout our rendering of the Duster based Nissan compact SUV.

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The Australian automobile industry is astounded after Ford recently announced its plan to cease production at both its Australian facilities in 2016. The Geelong and Broadmeadows plant, situated in Australia are two of the oldest production units in the company’s history, which rolled out the Model T as first vehicle in 1925. Ford has earned a name for the exclusive Falcon which has been completely designed, built and engineered by Ford Australia.

The company has sold over 30 million Falcon across the world. Interestingly, Ford Australia is the only Australian automaker which designs and manufactures its own engines in the country.

The steep rise in local price of Australian dollar has caused a 141 million Australian dollars loss in the last financial year with total loss of a hefty 1.2 billion dollars in the past 12 years. This bound the company to adjudge the troubled decision. The announcement will distress the Australian automobile industry severely and especially the 1200 Ford employees who will be unemployed after the stoppage of production.

Ford will keep its presence in Australia and will be indulged in import or maintaining the dealerships chain. Ford will employee 1500 people to serve for operations. The critical changes in production plan of auto manufacturers is due to the increase in production cost, diminishing exports and additional taxes by the Government. Free trade tariffs and domestic demands persuade automakers to shift their productions in several Asian countries.

A few days back Ford announced the shift of Fiesta production to Thailand and has also plans to invest 5 billion dollars on four new facilities in China. Emerging markets like China provide a firm platform to automakers that ensure sustained growth and development in coming years.

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The compact SUV segment is gaining popularity in the Indian car market on full steam. The segment leader at present is the Renault Duster, which is enjoying massive volumes every month. To eat up its sales, Ford is struggling hard to localize the EcoSport, which will be launched finally in early June with an aggressive price. Mahindra is also planning to foray into the compact SUV segment with an all new product codenamed S101, which is being developed from ground up on a monocoque chassis.

The Mahindra S101, fully camouflaged, has now been spotted testing for the third time in a month. The latest spy pictures of the Mahindra S101 have been taken in Tirupur, Tamil Nadu. The test mule wears heavy camouflage with temporary headlamps and tail lamps. Unlike the Mahindra Quanto, the S101 appears to have a sporty stance with steeply raked windshield, high window line and curved down roofline. A tailgate mounted spare wheel is likely to be featured on the sub 4-metre SUV.

Expect the baby SUV to borrow some styling elements from the Mahindra XUV500. The interiors of the S101 are said to be designed in a way to accommodate six passengers. Mahindra is expected to offer the S101 with a transversely mounted 3-cylinder 1.5-litre diesel engine. The S101 is also expected with a petrol engine option of a 1.2-litre turbo motor, mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. The Mahindra S101 sub-compact SUV is expected to hit showrooms during 2014 with a starting price of Rs. 5 lakhs.

Source – Motor Vikatan Facebook Page

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Audi is planning to launch its future Q1 SUV as a hybrid model. The Q1 will be the smallest SUV vehicle in Audi stores, positioned below the upcoming Q2. Audi has already unveiled the A3 sportsback E-Tron concept at Geneva Motor Show in February, featuring the same hybrid technology which showed a glimpse of Audi’s future models with hybrid technology. Audi is considering two powertrains for the baby Q1 SUV. One option is Audi’s Dual Mode Hybrid (DMH) engine while the latter is Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) setup which is developed by parent company Volkswagen.

The Dual Mode Hybrid powertrain features a 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine that churns out 130 BHP. The combustion engine is mated with two electric motors, producing a combined power of 177 BHP. Interestingly, the DMH equipped Q1 will have an expected range of around 90 kms only on electric power, while the average fuel economy will be 100 km/l when the combined power could be taken in use. The second option is Plug-in hybrid powertrain, powered by a 100 BHP 1.4-litre TFSI engine synchronized with an electric motor of equal power.

The PHEV setup seems more efficient with the same consumption of fuel as of DMH system. The Q1 debut depends on the choice between the powertrains as Plug-In Hybrid cars are already running on roads, thereby PHEV Q1 could be introduced by 2015 while the development of DMH based Q1 requires a long span and is not expected to reach Audi showrooms before 2017. The extensive development of hybrid technology on Audi vehicles explains the company’s effort to make vehicles more efficient besides keeping the prestige of perfromance oriented cars. Audi is also working on a hybrid supercar based on the company’s flagship model R8.

Source – AutoBild.de

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Nissan has recalled a total of 22,188 units of the Micra hatchback and Sunny sedan manufactured in its Chennai plant to replace the master brake cylinder in the two cars. The carmaker will replace the faulty component without charging a rupee from the customers and has notified its dealers to address the faulty component issue. Nissan will start notifying individual customers from this month. According to the company, they are focusing on a high level of customer safety, service and satisfaction.

Nissan India claims that no accidents, injuries or deaths have been reported till date and the company is undertaking the voluntary exercise to maintain high level of customer safety and service. A total of 67,089 units of Micra and Sunny have been recalled by the automaker covering its market in Africa, Asia and Europe for the same issue of faulty brake cylinder, which will be addressed soon. Nissan has also recalled around 2.5 lakh units globally but they say that the recall is not part of the Indian exercise and the issue is related to the fuel rail pressure sensor used in direct injection type engines in some of the models.

The global recall includes 9600 units of the Micra that were being produced at Nissan’s Oragadam plant in Tamil Nadu and was sold in the European market. Lately, Nissan had also announced a major recall affecting 8,41,000 cars globally due to an issue with the steering wheel. The models affected include, Nissan March and Cube produced in Japan and Micra produced in UK. The affected cars will undergo a tightening of the steering wheel fixing bolt to the correct torque. The major recall will not affect the Indian market, as the models affected were not manufactured or sold in India.

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Yamaha has just launched three new variants of its existing products. The Japanese automaker has big plans for India. The Ray has been given cosmetic changes like stylish and sporty graphics to appeal to the young male audience, badged as the Ray Z (the Z here is pronounced as Zee). Mechanically the scooter remains the same. The SZ will now be available in two variants only – SZ-S and SZ-RR. The bike continues to be powered by the same 153cc engine, which produces a power output of 12.1 BHP and a peak torque of 12.8 Nm.

The Z family has always been targeted at the young boys. It was FZ, then the SZ and now the Ray Z from the Yamaha house. Yamaha’s strategy with the FZ is to refresh it with new colors. Based on the customer demand, the black and green on the FZ will be brought back into the market. However, comparatively, the SZ would be a more conventional motorcycle. The SZ-S is available in red and black colours, while the SZ-RR is available in red, black and blue colours. The Ray Z will be available in three different colors – red, white and black.

The Yamaha Ray Z gets a smoked-finish visor, aluminium rear wing-shaped tandem rider grab-bars, instrument panel with a carbon fiber patterned background and carbon fiber patterned seat cover material. This scooter offers a mileage of 53 km/l and can do 0-60 km/hr in 10.84 seconds. The Ray Z is powered by the same air-cooled 4-stroke SOHC, 2-valve single-cylinder engine which produces 7.1 PS of power at 7500 RPM and 8.1 Nm of torque at 5000 RPM. It has been targeted towards an age group of 16-24 years. Yamaha will also be offering loads of accessories which includes helmets, gloves, shirts, etc.

Yamaha has toned down the SZ-X to come up with the SZ-S, targeting it towards those who want a more conventional motorcycle. The company has further tweaked the SZ-R to come up with the SZ-RR, which features more aggressive styling. Mechanically both bikes are the same as before, with no alternations to the suspension or the engine. The SZ-S gets a simpler fuel tank design while the SZ-RR gets a smoked windscreen, 3D SZ emblem and aluminium grab rails. The instrument cluster also gets minor revisions.

In order to position their products in the hearts of customers, Yamaha also announced its new global brand slogan – ‘Revs Your Heart’ which means revving engine through the RPM range, thereby creating excitement. India is one of the most important markets for Yamaha. Last year, Yamaha made its first step into the scooter segment. This helped them grow by 22 percent at the same time when the overall industry went down by 0.2 percent. The launch of the Ray Z and the new SZ series will help them to continue with that growth.

Yamaha has made a new TV commercial to highlight its new tagline which features dominoes. As India is a big country, the Yamaha Motor Sales was established recently, which helps the company in improving area marketing. To increase its production capacity, the company has also set up a new plant in Chennai which is expected to be functional by 2014. In the future, it should not come as a surprise if Yamaha announces new products. Last year, Yamaha focused mainly on deluxe customers and with Ray, they will be able to cater to a larger market.

Prices (ex-showroom, Delhi) -

* Yamaha SZ-S – Rs. 59,500/-
* Yamaha SZ-RR – Rs. 62,500/-
* Yamaha Ray Z – Rs. 48,555/-

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There have been numerous speculations on the upcoming new scooter from Yamaha and the same has been discussed over the internet for a while now. However, the launch is near and Yamaha has surprised the enthusiasts with something else. The Yamaha Ray gets a dose of “style”. Yes, the new variants of the existing Yamaha Ray have been tweaked in a typical “Yamaha Style”.

The Yamaha Ray gets a new sticker and multi color job. The scooter comes with a small windshield on the top of the handle piece. The colors seen in the pictures are white-black and red-black with chequered flag, racing strips are being used to give it a sporty and racy appeal. The blunt steel wheels and the telescopic suspension have also been painted in black. As seen, Yamaha has left no stone un-turned to give the Yamaha Ray the sporty touch it deserved from the day one.

We hope, it’s not the new scooter Yamaha is about to launch in the coming days and hopefully something new and exciting comes from the Yamaha stable along with this RAY Z style edition. A 113 cc motor producing 7.1 PS and 8.1 Nm of torque powers the Yamaha Ray. The scooter comes with electric and kick start as standard. With these minor tweaks, Yamaha hopes to woo male buyers to the brand but what we really need is a 125cc scooter from the Japanese automaker.

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The Range Rover is Land Rover’s flagship vehicle and costs a whooping Rs. 2.2 crore plus in India. This super luxury SUV is filled with technology and performance, thereby being the most capable yet comfortable SUV you can buy today. The Range Rover has always been about off-roading in comfort and the new model takes this to an entire different level altogether. Not only is the new Range Rover filled with gizmos and electronic systems, it also offers almost Rolls-Royce levels of luxury. Being such a high-end vehicle, it’s delivery to customers is no ordinary feat.

The Range Rover handover centre is located at Land Rover’s Solihull facility in the UK, where the company invites the buyer to take delivery of their new Range Rover. The centre was inaugurated by Ratan Tata a few years back. The centre is quite big and one can also purchase Land Rover merchandise there.

The most unique aspect of the delivery is the unveiling of the customer’s car. The buyer and his family/friends are invited inside a theatre, which is not lit. A Range Rover body is visible which a silver sort of cover on it. The car starts spinning round and there is 3D program mapping on the cover, which highlights the vehicle. This goes on for around five minutes and the cover is pulled off and voila, your own Range Rover is standing right in front of you. Land Rover will take you for an off-road experience (similar to THIS) in their own Range Rover to show you the capabilities of the SUV. By the time you are back, your Range Rover is completely ready (number plates and other formalities are completed) to be driven off.

Left – In the handover centre, there is a screen on the first floor which shows Land Rover’s contribution to the environment. Right – The Evoque looks as stunning in small scale as it does in full size.

There is a Meridian sound theatre at the handover centre too, which displays the sound capabilities of Meridian, Land Rover’s audio partner. The company uses Meridian sound systems in all its cars. We got a chance to see the first five minutes of James Bond’s latest movie Skyfall and witnessed the clear and sharp audio belted out by the Meridian speakers. The Solihull facility is big and also incorporates Land Rover’s PLA plant, which produces the new Range Rover and Range Rover Sport. In earlier days, employees and their families used to go off-roading at the Solihull plant to celebrate key milestones.

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