A new “compact class” is approaching us. A compact class that grows entirely out of your own shoes. Probably a more than legitimate successor to the former “Baby Benz”, only with front-wheel drive instead of rear-wheel drive. 

Shanghai 2017 - Mercedes presents the Concept A Sedan

Of course, the press department at Mercedes-Benz can't help but talk about the sensual clarity of the “Concept A Sedan”. It is the generic term for the current design philosophy, coined by Gordon Wagener, the Chief Design Officer of Daimler AG.

Let's say goodbye to the press kit text. Let's get to the facts.

Concept A Sedan shows the upcoming design line of the “compact class”, which will no longer be that compact. The concept vehicle is already 4.570 mm long and 1.870 mm wide. Or to put it another way, it is longer and significantly wider than the W201, the blissful Baby Benz that was then considered the “middle class”. And yet, that's exactly how it will turn out. We will see the Concept A Sedan again as an A-Class sedan. Crafted from Shooting Brake and CLA genes, based on the MFA platform, the youngest Baby Benz will be an elegant sedan.

The Panamericana grille is likely to remain reserved for an upcoming AMG variant, but the slightly forwardly inclined muzzle, the strong flanks, the high sideline and a massive C-pillar stand for sporty elegance. Compact is the maximum scope for the price.

One should squint a little bit anxiously at the upcoming list of surcharges, because without optional 20 ″ wheels with the appearing of the next “compact generation” one can probably no longer get along. If you don't want to let the large wheel arches and wiry side lines wither away completely.

Moreover, the limousine should be ready for the market in the year 2018, so we look forward to Geneva, or even to Detroit in 2018!

And now let's let a few factory pictures "work":