|
Price |
|
-- |
Production |
|
-- |
|
Engine |
2
liter 4-cylinder |
Weight |
-- |
|
Aspiration |
turbocharged |
Torque |
-- |
|
HP |
210
hp |
HP/Weight |
-- |
|
HP/Liter |
105
hp per liter |
1/4 mile |
-- |
|
0-62 mph |
-- |
Top Speed |
-- |
(from Mercedes-Benz
Press Release) World premiere at the "Auto Shanghai" show -
Mercedes Concept A-Class: the first heartbeat of a new generation
Stuttgart/Shanghai. In
1993 Mercedes-Benz ventured into a completely new vehicle class with
the revolutionary concept of the Vision A 93. Now the brand is once
again presenting a car that might have come from another planet: the
Mercedes Concept A-Class is the first heartbeat of a new generation
whose expressive design stands for concentrated dynamism. The
Mercedes-Benz Concept A-Class is celebrating its premiere at the
Auto Shanghai show (21 to 28 April 2011). The technical highlights
of this front-wheel drive Concept car include a new, turbocharged
four-cylinder petrol engine developing 155 kW (210 hp), a dual
clutch transmission and a radar-based collision warning system with
adaptive Brake Assist.
A long bonnet, low
silhouette and slim window areas: the proportions of the Concept
A-Class stand for concentrated dynamism. Its sporty appearance is
given particular depth by the interplay between lines and surfaces.
"The Concept A-Class introduces the new Mercedes-Benz design idiom
into the compact class in a sculptured, light and expressive
interpretation," says Professor Gorden Wagener, Head of Design at
Mercedes-Benz. "We use the term 'captured energy' to express the
sheer dynamism exuded by the Concept A-Class. Our formal sources of
inspiration were the wind and waves, as well as aviation
engineering, resulting in this "cool" look."
New turbocharged petrol engine,
seven-speed dual clutch transmission
But it is not only
visually, but also technologically that the Concept A-Class is
ushering in a new compact class era at Mercedes-Benz. This
front-wheel drive model is powered by a four-cylinder petrol engine
from the new M270 series. It was designed for transverse
installation, and thanks to direct injection and turbocharging it
offers a high performance potential together with minimal emissions
and fuel consumption. Other highlights of the all-aluminium engine
include injection pressures of up to 200 bar and fast-responding
piezo injectors.
The Concept A-Class is
equipped with the two-litre variant of the new engine, developing
155 kW (210 hp). This BlueEFFICIENCY unit is combined with the new
Mercedes-Benz dual clutch transmission. As a three-shaft
transmission, this has seven forward gears which are shifted
automatically with no interruption in tractive power. The new
transmission is therefore particularly economical, sporty and
comfortable.
Exterior design with defined edges
and a free interplay with the body surfaces
One major characteristic
of the new design idiom at Mercedes-Benz is the expressive interplay
between lines and surfaces – which the designers refer to as a
"clean" Concept. Thanks to concave and convex surfaces with the
resulting light modulation, this creates a unique sculpture-like
presence. The Concept A‑Class emphatically continues this theme of
defined edges and interacting surfaces, which Mercedes-Benz first
showed in the F 800 Style. The side view is structured by three
prominent lines: the front structural edge forms a dropping line
towards the rear, while the pronounced shoulder muscle over the rear
axle emphasises the car's coupé-like character. A further line
extends upwards in front of the rear wheel arch in a sweeping curve.
These lines lend more depth and dynamism to the side profile. The
door handles are recessed into the doors, and emerge electrically at
the touch of a button.
The unusual, wing-like
structure of the exterior mirrors is suggestive of flow and
lightness. Another prominent feature is the open side skirt, which
creates an unusual light-and-shadow effect. Reminiscent of a turbine
rotor, the large 20-inch wheels reinforce the impression that the
Concept A-Class has been shaped by the wind.
The front end of the
Concept A-Class is a real eye-catcher. The brand logo appears to be
surrounded by a starry sky. Where there are usually apertures or
louvres, the radiator grille consists of numerous metallic silver
"dots" on black stems. This theme is reflected in the design of the
wheels.
The visually wide rear
end exudes power and athleticism, and is likewise enlivened by an
interplay between convex/concave surfaces and pronounced edges. The
tail light clusters continue the lines of the muscular shoulders
towards the rear, emphasising the car's width with their horizontal
orientation. The aerodynamic spoiler lip in the tail lights improves
efficiency, while the diffuser creates a downforce to aid
roadholding.
Interior dominated by associations
with aviation engineering
The interior of the
Concept A-Class, which is flooded with light from the large
panoramic roof, likewise appears to be from another planet. Many of
the unusual features were inspired by aircraft engineering, at the
same time reflecting ideas from the "Mercedes-Benz Aesthetics No. 2"
interior sculpture. Various component groups have been reduced to a
minimum, for example the dashboard and centre console are merely
brushed aluminium structures. The result is a transparent, light,
bionic design effect.
As an extremely
eye-catching detail inside the Concept A-Class, the dashboard takes
the form of an aircraft wing and has a translucent, stretchable
textile lining. Thanks to this sophisticated fabric, which is vapour-coated
with chrome particles, the bionic cellular structure of the
dashboard remains visible – its design is reminiscent of a
canvas-covered aircraft wing whose underlying struts are
discernable. Dramatic backlighting makes this instrument carrier
appear particularly futuristic. Thanks to the translucent high-tech
lining and lack of a conventional support structure, the dashboard
appears to be free-floating. Its lines continue into the door
panelling like vapour trails from the winglets of a jet.
The form of the air vents in the dashboard is likewise inspired by
the engines of a jet aircraft. The translucent, backlit vents change
their colour depending on the temperature the occupants have
selected for the climate control system: they are blue if cool,
fresh air is vented into the interior, but red if the airflow is
heated. The prominent displays in the instrument cluster, which were
inspired by the afterburner of a jet engine, are likewise in red.
The central control unit is designed as a high-tech flight panel
with a shift lever in the shape of a "thrust control". With their
moulded-over head restraints and very pronounced lateral support,
the seats call the pilot seat in a jet fighter to mind.
Titanium and silver
tones are combined with a light, elegant beige in the interior.
Magenta is used to produce highlights that contrast with the car's
alubeam silver paint finish, which follows the dynamic contours of
the exterior like liquid silver.
The Concept A-Class
makes use of modern materials such as the high-tech lining on the
dashboard, or metallised leather where semi-aniline is dyed with
metallic pigments and embossed, and also high-grade nubuk leather.
This builds a bridge between 125-year tradition of the Mercedes-Benz
brand and its claim to progressiveness.
COMAND Online with
revolutionary graphic design offers ease of use for smartphone
applications
A smartphone is fully integrated into the operating systems of the
Concept A‑Class. When the phone is inserted into the recess provided
in the centre console, it is automatically synchronised with the
COMAND multimedia system. All the functions of the smartphone,
including internet radio, email and social networks such as Twitter
or Facebook, are shown as applications on the 17.8 cm display and
can be operated via the rotary/push control.
The visual presentation
of the screen elements is unique, with a deep, three-dimensional
look created by laser-like, magenta-coloured lines. This near-series
display Concept was designed and realised by designers and engineers
at the Mercedes-Benz development laboratory in Palo Alto/USA. The
menus in the Concept A-Class are in both Mandarin and English.
Headlamps with optical fibres
produce a unique effect
A very special effect is
created by the lights of the Concept A-Class, as the innovative
full-LED high-performance headlamps repeat the starry sky motif of
the radiator grille with numerous lighting points. The daytime
running lamps consist of 90 optical fibres with aluminium sleeves,
and they are arranged in a wing-shape within the headlamp. The
tentacle-like fibres form individual, diffused light sources to
create a dramatic contrast between soft and harsh.
From any perspective an
unusual effect is also created by the LED indicators, which appear
to float freely within the headlamps like an enclosed air bubble in
a perfume bottle. The indicators are mounted in six chambers at the
top of the perspex headlamp unit, and their vapour-coated reflectors
remain invisible.
As already brought to
series production maturity in the Mercedes CLS, the LED
high-performance headlamps of the Concept A-Class combine the
Intelligent Light System with LED technology. The projection module
of these LED headlamps is no longer round, but rather flatter and
more sporty. This sporty impression is reinforced by the matt
carbon-fibre housing, which contrasts with the aluminium surround of
the projection module.
Optical fibres with
aluminium sleeves are also used in the tail lights. 120 optical
fibre lighting points form each C-shaped tail light cluster to
create a unique visual effect with their subtle glow. They are
appropriately lit up for the brake light function. When braking, the
continuous light band between the two tail light clusters also
lights up to make the Concept A-Class appear even wider. The
indicators are self-contained elements in the centre of the tail
lights. The base unit of the tail light is of carbon-fibre, with the
numerous red elements ensuring visual depth.
New assistance and braking system
reduces the risk of rear-end collisions
In the Concept A-Class,
safety pioneer Mercedes-Benz is showing another milestone in the
democratisation of automotive safety technology: the concept car is
equipped with a radar-based collision warning system with adaptive
Brake Assist – a world first in the compact class. This system gives
a visual and acoustic warning to a possibly inattentive driver, and
prepares Brake Assist for an absolutely precise braking response
which is initiated as soon as the driver emphatically operates the
brake pedal.
In contrast to other
systems available in the market for the compact class, the new Brake
Assist Collision Prevention Assist is not merely an urban driving
system designed to minimise the effects of minor collisions. Instead
this innovative solution aims to provide protection against typical
rear-end collisions in all driving situations. Mercedes-Benz expects
the new safety system to have a significant, positive effect on
accident statistics. Following detailed analyses of accident data,
Mercedes-Benz safety specialists estimate that this radar-based
technology can help to prevent around 20 percent of all rear-end
collisions, and mitigate the severity of a further 25 percent.
