Emmanuel, April 20th, 2011
________________________________________
Upcoming A-Class Hot Hatch -
A Serious S4 & M3 Competitor
After years of watching Audi and BMW corner the segment for
small road rockets, Mercedes and AMG are planning to steal the
thunder from those S4s and M3s with a hot A-class that will boast
350 horsepower.
________________________________________
________________________________________
Mercedes unveiled a preview just before the opening of the Shanghai Motor Show. This unveiling
was aimed squarely at the German manufacturer’s key target market, China. Compared to the
staid design of the standard A-Class, the preview of this hot hatch makes even BMW’s M3 look
staid. And with the rumored 350 horsepower mill, it will surely leave competitors straining to
keep pace.
If the rumor mills are correct, it will also have high performance all-wheel drive, like its other
target hot hatch, the Audi S4. This kind of drivetrain is suited for the anticipated power, and is
easy for Mercedes to do as the new A-Class will be based on the same platform as a new
diminutive 4×4 vehicle. Mercedes senior designer Mark Fetherston has confirmed that
85 percent of what you see will be carried over to the production model, which is expected to
make its appearance in 2013.
________________________________________
