A few years ago, we thought the Mercedes-Benz lineup had been stretched to its limits, and even the company’s executives told us that there was no compelling reason to expand beyond the 15-or-so body styles offered at the time. Well, that was then.
The intervening time has seen the brand introduce even more vehicles, and Mercedes-Benz brand chief Ola Källenius has confirmed to us that eight models will be spun from Daimler’s next-generation front-wheel-drive platform alone. Right now, the current FWD architecture is used under five vehicles, three of which are offered in the U.S.: the CLA-, the GLA-, and the B-class. Offered in other markets are the CLA-class Shooting Brake and the A-class hatchback.
Källenius didn’t confirm exactly which models come from the so-called MFA2 bones (for Modular Front-wheel-drive Architecture 2), but we have some insight based on sources and our own knowledge of the situation. Here are the cars we believe Mercedes-Benz will fire into the compact segment over the next couple of years:
• A-class hatch (new generation)
• A-class sedan (all-new)
• A-class L long-wheelbase sedan (all-new)
• B-class high-roof people mover (new generation)
• CLA-class “four-door coupe” sedan (new generation)
• CLA-class Shooting Brake station wagon (new generation)
• GLA-class crossover SUV (new generation)
• GLB-class off-roader (all-new)
Among the newcomers, the A-Class sedan will be a sleek, elegant compact sedan, with more traditional proportions than the CLA. It was recently previewed by the concept A four-door. And while the long-wheelbase A-class is designed for China only, the regular version will be sold in the States.
The U.S. also will get a small, rugged vehicle known up to this point as the GLB, although there are as many skeptics of this name internally at Benz as there are fans. It will be a compact off-roader modeled after the massive Energ-G-Force concept from a few years ago, and was initially designed to evoke the G-wagen. But we hear that the series-production version has been toned down significantly following product clinics. Customers want Mercedes to play this one safe, and the company is listening.
In fact, the styling language of all MFA models will be less bold than that of the current models. For example, the upswept kink that characterizes the A-class will be gone. Meanwhile, the front fascias will adopt a sportier look more comparable to the current SL. The MFA 2 models are intended to look more elegant and mature, where the current cars’ purpose was to signify a clear aesthetic break from Benz’s older small products designed on a taller and more upright architecture.
The powertrain portfolio will grow in an evolutionary manner; Mercedes will continue to rely on its alliance with Renault for the smaller engines, and transmissions will include a the six-speed manual and the same dual-clutch automatic used today. (Don’t count on stick-shift versions in the U.S.) What about the sportier variants? Full-fledged AMG versions in the spirit of the current CLA45 and GLA45 will continue, while the company is exploring the possibility of entry-level AMG models producing around 250 horsepower. Small is still big at Mercedes-Benz.
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