US Market to Get A & B
 

Front Wheel Drive Mercedes Model To Be Sold in US

Over the next few years, American customers will get to choose from the Mercedes B-Class (although not the B-Class E-Cell Plus extended range electric vehicle) compact, the A-Class subcompact and a new range of C-Class offerings, which will begin production in Tuscaloosa, AL in 2014.

Hmm, If the A-Class is going to be sub-17k, I would consider it for my commuter.

Those vents look so incredibly cheap and gaudy. Rest of interior is bland. No thanks :-\

Edit: steering wheel looks nice though

Most modern Mercedes interiors inspire narcolepsy, I've always thought of it as being an engineering element. Perhaps that's the reason for the "Attention Assist" system.

They remind me of W123 vents....

or SL (R107) vents?

http://worlduph.com/images/root_images/107dcap.jpg

I am not very well versed in vintage MB air-vents, but yes, they remind me of them.


I dig the car.

Looks more like a Pontiac Grand Am to me :( http://newpontiaccars.net/wp-content...or-300x189.jpg

I do see the connection to the R109 vents...still don't like them though. The design just looks old and outdated, the metal accents don't do anything for me.

IDK. The GM airvents look like this:


http://www.gscreationsllc.com/images...rventBezel.jpg


Those look cheap and cheezy compared to the Benz ones.

It's an entry level MB. Do you want them to be polished aluminum? I like the A and B. Hopefully they come with a nice 4 banger diesel.

To each his own, I guess it just doesn't work with me. I wonder how MB will fare in our market...seems like the toughest and most competitive area these days.

Here are similar vents in the AMG SLS

http://automobilesdeluxe.tv/wp-conte.../07/sls-mb.jpg

and the AMG GT3 Version of the SLS

http://www.carbodydesign.com/archive...Interior-2.jpg

For example here is a competitor in that segment, the VW Jetta wagon:
http://www.tuvei.com/wp-content/uplo...21-950x650.jpg
Clean, simple, very German in its minimalism. THe MB seems over the top blingy, bulbous, and discontinuous.


http://image.motortrend.com/f/350517...s-interior.jpg

Edit: I should add...its not just the vents, its their placement and integration with the rest of the interior. Something just isn't right about them IMO

And you are correct.

http://automobilesdeluxe.tv/wp-conte...-1024x1007.jpg

http://www.lincah.com/wp-content/upl...re-588x305.jpg
http://image.motortrend.com/f/349177...hatch-open.jpg

Those side lines didn't look good on the 3 and don't look good on the B either. Wow I'm a downer today lol...I just really do not like the styling of these cars, I DO hope it ushers in some great diesels though.

The Mercedes star vents are fantastic, you just grab them and adjust, better than anything else around IMHO.

Don't we have another thread for pictures like this ? =)

-John

Oh, and on topic - I am cool with more small cars coming to America. It spurs competition and makes the cars get better or get lost. In particular, the probability of seeing Polo GTI's, Fiat Abarths and AMG-versions goes up, and this IMHO is a good thing.

-John

:D I was thinking that bottom picture would be great for a caption contest

"mom, how are you going to fit all these strange white cubes in there?"
"Hurry the tide is coming up!"

Cool cars, but I would never buy one.

I'm concerned that the A class won't have enough power to throw me back in my seat if I stomp on it at 110.

Do you think a V12 powered Mercedes would better suit my needs?:D I live in a hilly area and need something that can pull up a 7% grade at 110 without downshifting.:cool:

I think a bi-turbo V12 might suit your needs quite well.


I thought you had higher standards... I thought you were looking for something that will throw you back into your "air-conditioned" and "massaging" seat at 110, while maintaining a balmy 42* vent temperature. All while climbing a 7% grade and playing Rammstein.

Well yeah of course, I like my comfort and don't want to give anything up. I want a car that can waft along and cover vast distances in a single bound. 70mph should feel like a slow effortless idle.

Thinking a CL65 AMG might work a bit better than an S65 AMG.

AMG had my needs in mind.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeiLGSB32sU