Sexed-up Merc A-Class unwrapped in SA

By: IOL Motoring Staff

 
 Cape Town - If there is one word that sums up the updated Mercedes-Benz A-Class, released in South Africa this week, it is 'smooth'.
Engineered to do what it does without fuss while cosseting you in enhanced comfort, even the relatively minor styling 'nip and tuck' is all about a more aerodynamic front bumper, faired-in tailpipes and an understated diamond grille.
But under that, of course, there's an upgraded adaptive suspension that goes from Mom's Taxi to Dad's Dragster, through 'Comfort', 'Eco', 'Sport' and 'Individual' at the twist of a Dynamic Select selector, remapping the responses of the engine, transmission, suspension, steering and even the air conditioning at each setting.
Acceleration sensors measure body movement, steering angle, steering speed and yaw rate, and vary the damping rate at each wheel individually.
Dynamic Select is standard on the A220d and A250, as well as all variants with dual-clutch transmission, AMG-line package or lowered suspension, but it's an extra-cost option on baseline A200 and A200d models
New A-Class: now with added comfort
The A-Class is available here in a choice of two 2.2-litre diesel, one 1595cc and two 1991cc petrol variants, all turbocharged, starting with the A200d (that's right, the CDI badging gives way to a simpler 'd' for diesel), rated at 100kW and 300Nm, while the A220d is slightly upgraded from the outgoing A-Class to 130kW and 350Nm.
It's also more efficient than the A200, recording nominal fuel-consumption of 4.2 litres per 100km versus 4.5 for its detuned brother.
The entry-level 1.6-litre A200 turbopetrol is good for 115kW and 250Nm while warming the globe at a nominal 5.7 litres per 100km, followed by the two-litre A250 Sport, which ups the ante to 155kW and 350Nm, at a cost of 6.3 litres per 100km.
And then there's the Big Dawg of the A-Class kennel, the A45 AMG 4Matic, barking out 280kW at 6000 revs and 475Nm from 2250-5000rpm - good enough, thanks to improved aerodynamic and revised gear ratios, for a 0-100km/h getaway in a whiplash-inducing 4.2 seconds (nearly half a second quicker than its predecessor) while slurping a nominal 7.3 litres per 100km under laboratory conditions.
INTERIOR
The cabin trim has also been upgraded with a new beige/black leather combo for the Exclusive package and a new seat design with red or green highlights in the Style line. A new seat cushion with up to 60mm of adjustment is standard across the range.
There a new instrument cluster with tubular dial housings and new graphics, anodised electrical switchgear and a big, free-standing infotainment display - also optionally available with an even bigger eight inch screen.
LED headlights are standard on the A45 AMG and A250 Sport, and an option on the A220d, A200d and A200. Another option is ambient lighting with a choice of 12 colours and five dimming levels.
More importantly, the driver assistance systems have been upgraded, adding autonomous braking to reduce the risk of rear-ending the car in front of you, while the drowsiness detection system now operates from 60-200km/h, using a five-bar display to tell you exactly how tired you are.
MOTORSPORT EDITION
Available for any A-Class except the A45 AMG, the Motorsport Edition celebrates the achievements of L Hamilton, Esq, with petrol green insets in the front and rear bumper trim and on the AMG rear spoiler, as well as the flanges of the AMG rims and (on the A250 Sport only) the side mirror housings.
Inside, the bezels of the air-vents are finished in petrol green, to match the contrast stitching on the black leather/Dinamica microfibre upholstery and the decorative strips in the seatbelts.
PRICES
A200 - R389 200
A200 AT - R407 200
A200d - R419 200
A200d AT - R437 200
A220d AT - R460 100
A250 Sport AT - R491 500
A45 AMG AT - R683 600