Mercedes-Benz has just unveiled the facelifted A-Class, which reconciles the conflicting aims of sporty performance and enhanced comfort: numerous new features such as DYNAMIC SELECT and the suspension with adaptive damping adjustment are now also available for the B-Class, CLA and GLA. At the same time the model range of these model series has also been extended. New on the scene are frugal entry-level versions plus output-enhanced top models. The new compact models can be ordered with immediate effect, and deliveries will start in September. From the beginning of 2016 Apple® CarPlay® and MirrorLink® will also be available for all the compact cars.
The success of the compact car family from Mercedes-Benz continues to go from strength to strength: in June a total of 54,379 customers opted for a model in the A- and B-Class, the CLA, CLA Shooting Brake and GLA (+29.8%). In the first half of this year the brand with the star sold around a quarter more compact cars than in the first six months of the previous year (269,527 units, +25.2%). With similarly strong growth the CLA achieved a sales record (+25.5%). The CLA Shooting Brake enjoyed enormous popularity in the first months following its market launch.
Now Mercedes-Benz is making the compact car family even more attractive. Firstly the enhancements affecting all model series:
New for all compact models: DYNAMIC SELECT and adaptive damping adjustment
DYNAMIC SELECT is now available for all models in the compact car family. With this the vehicle characteristics can be adjusted in seconds at the touch of a button, as the system modifies the engine, transmission, suspension, steering and air conditioning at the driver’s behest. The four driving modes “Comfort”, “Sport”, “Eco” and “Individual” can be conveniently selected using the switch in the upper control panel. For the GLA there is the additional “Off-road” driving mode. DYNAMIC SELECT allows a particularly broad range of setting options in combination with the new suspension with adaptive damping adjustment (also available as an optional extra for all compact models). In this case the driver is able to modify the vehicle’s damping characteristics using the DYNAMIC SELECT Switch.
As part of the modification measures for the compact models, Mercedes-Benz is also launching the new nomenclature for the drive system in these model series. Whilst the petrol versions remain without a supplement, the lower-case letter “d” supersedes the abbreviation “CDI”. The Electric Drive model of the B-Class is now called B 250 e, the natural-gas variant B 200 c.
The dynamic top models of these model series are also available with a manual transmission on request, this applies to the B 250, CLA 250 (Coupé and Shooting Brake), CLA 250 Sport (Coupé) and GLA 250.
