Mercedes Benz A-Class facelift launched - Four models launched, up from Three previously
Friday, March 4, 2016
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Whilst members of the media attended the launch of the Mercedes Benz A-Class yesterday morning , I ended up viewing the cars later in the evening together with invited guests and customers for the launch party over at the newly opened Mercedes Benz Cycle & Carriage Bintang City Store at TREC, KL. I got home pretty late last night which is why you only saw an update of the cars on the Facebook page with the prices. Too busy mixing with people who were enjoying the live band, DJ music, food and drinks. The company was pretty good too.
Anyway, the new facelifted Mercedes Benz A-class for Malaysia. We get four models. One up from before.
The line-up and prices (without insurance) is as follows:
Mercedes-Benz
A180 Urban Line - RM195,888k
A200 AMG Line - RM205,888k
A250 Sport - RM238,888k
Mercedes-AMG
A45 4Matic - RM348,888k
Lets start with some of the basic facts of the A-Class facelift. Exterior, all get new front headlights with LED technology like the latest C-Class. Rear light clusters also sport a different pattern. All get a larger infotainment screen side. Better visibility obviously. Some different animation and software stuff for all too. The interior still looks fresh and premium looking as ever. Better than its competitors in terms of styling and materials used.
The A180 and the A200 feature a 1.6liter turbocharged engine with a 7 speed Dual Clutch Transmission automatic (7G-DCT). The A250 and A45 feature a 2.0liter turbocharged engines with the same 7G-DCT.
The new entry level car is now the A180 Urban Line. Previously, the A200 was the entry level car (now bumped up in specs with an AMG spec kit). The A180 features the same 1.6liter turbocharged engine as the A200 internally but with less horses. About 122ps/200Nm instead of 156ps/250Nm of the A200. Externally, it looks like the A200 prior to the facelift and comes with multi spoke 18 inch wheels. 0-100kmh supposedly takes 8.8 seconds with a top speed of 202kmh.
The A200 gets upgraded to AMG Line specs. Now called the Mercedes Benz A200 AMG Line, you get a flat bottom sports steering wheel, sportier seat finishing, an AMG style bodykit on 18 inch multi spoke wheels. And that very bright metallic green you see in the photos too. It now looks nicely aggressive and a better proposition as the price with the extras is up by around RM7,000.
This is considered as good value. In fact, better value than the A180 which is only RM3,000 cheaper than the previous entry level A-class (the A200). For the extra RM10,000 over the A180 Urban Line, you are getting AMG looks and an extra 30+ horses and a large dollop of torque. Blame the tax structure for this as both run a 1.6liter engine with different boost settings. The A200 does 0-100kmh in around 8.5 seconds and 224kmh top speed.
The A250 Sport is pretty much the same car. According to my sales advisor, the car will come with a different set of wheels from the one displayed at the launch (which was from the pre-facelift model). The bumpers are slightly more aggressive than before. Very slightly. It is priced as it was before so it still represents an option to those wanting a GTI but with a three pointed star. 2.0liter turbocharged engine with 211ps and 350Nm torque. Rapid for most people. 0-100kmh in 6.3seconds and a top speed of 240kmh.
If the A250 isn't enough, there is the facelifted AMG A45. Aside from the lights, bumpers and larger screen, it gets even more power. Pre-facelifted models have 355ps/450Nm. Facelifted ones now get 381ps and 475nm torque. Where the heck does AMG pluck all of this extra horses from that 2.0liter engine? 0-100kmh is now despatched in 4.2seconds (from 4.6) and top speed is limited to the German standard 250kmh. This car is considered as ridiculously fast for a 2.0liter car straight out from the factory.
So the entry level Mercedes Benz gets facelifted and is now available in Malaysia. Most are quite interesting especially the A200 AMG Line which brings in some extra street cred for a slight increase in price. The A45 adds more power for the same price and is still the most powerful hot hatch straight out of the box around. The only let down is the A180. It should have came in at an even lower price as the justification to purchase one over an A200 after you spread the RM10,000 into the final financing figure is minimal. But kudos for the options. You can now hear the other premium hatchback makers sigh, groan and moan at this pretty solid line-up of good looking Mercedes Benz hatchbacks.
A180 Urban Line
A200 AMG LINE
A200 AMG LINE
A200 AMG LINE
A200 AMG LINE
A250 SPORT
A250 SPORT
A45
A45 differs from the regular A-Class, even the A250 Sport. Note the gear knob on the center console. The regular A-class cars get a hand shifter behind the steering wheel (with the addition of pedal shifters) and a cleaner center console.
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