Mercedes A-Class unveiled at Geneva

Mercedes has unveiled the all-new A-Class at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. The new model is a premium five-door hatchback that rivals the BMW 1 Series, Audi A3 and Volkswagen Golf.

The car has a sportier design and in entry-level A180 CDI form will be the first Mercedes to produce emissions of less than 100g/km.

Six engines will be offered from launch, the A180 CDI and A200 CDI are fitted with the 1.8 diesel unit producing 107bhp and 135bhp respectively. The A220 CDI features a 165bhp 2.0-litre diesel.

Petrol engines include two 1.6-litre turbocharged units – the 113bhp A180 and 154bhp A200, plus a 208bhp 2.0-litre turbo called the A250.

All engines are fitted with stop/start as standard, and come with the option of a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearboxes.

The new model will come in three trim-levels – Urban, Style and AMG Sport. AMG Sport models feature 18-inch alloy wheels and red detailing at the front and rear.

The new A-Class also adopts a range of standard-fit safety features usually found on larger Mercedes models. These include Attention Assist, Brake Hold function and Hill-Start Assist.

Due on sale by the end of 2012, the new Mercedes A-Class is likely to be priced from around £20,000.

To view the full Mercedes range, visit CarBuyer’s Mercedes-Benz reviews page.