Facelifted Mercedes-Benz A-Class launched

By CARSIFU | 3 March 2016

KUALA LUMPUR: Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has launched its facelifted A-Class model range that still retains its internal W176 code as well as its good looks, while welcoming the addition of a new entry-level variant – the A 180 Urban Line.

Four variants are being offered with pricing on-the-road with GST without insurance starting with the A 180 at RM195,888 (RM196,888 with 18-inch AMG wheels), followed by the A 200 AMG Line at RM205,888, the A 250 Sport at RM238,888 and finally the range-topping Mercedes-AMG A 45 4MATIC at RM348,888.

Still maintaining a wheelbase of 2,699mm, also hasn’t changed dimensionally at 4,299mm-long, 1,780mm-wide and 1433mm-tall (1434mm - A 200 AMG Line, 1,438mm – A 250 Sport) – only the beefed-up A 45 is longer at 4,367mm and sits lower at 1,417mm.

The newly added A 180 sees it using a new 1.6-litre (1,595cc) engine producing 122hp at 5,000rpm and 200Nm of torque from 1,250 to 4,000rpm, while mated to a seven-speed dual clutch transmission (7G-DCT) for a 0-100kph time of 8.6 seconds and top speed of 202kph.

In terms of external features, the A 180 receives LED headlamps with adaptive highbeam assist, adaptive LED tail lights as well as Night, Urban and Mirror packages.

Furthermore, it rolls on a set of five-spoke lightweight 18-inch wheels fitted with 225/40 series run-flat tyres (the 14-spoke 18-inch AMG wheels can be had for an additional RM1,000), that obscure the solid disc brakes and the Comfort suspension.

Inside, the A 180 gets, Artico / Fabric upholstery, black roof liner, leather-wrapped three-spoke 12-button multifunction steering wheel with paddle shifters for the electromechanical power steering system, illuminated door sills and a luggage net for the boot.

Also included are electrically adjustable (new seat cushion adjustable depth of up to 60mm) driver and passenger seats with heating, memory and under-seat storage compartments, light and sight package, larger eight-inch media display, Audio 20 with CD player and a media interface.

Convenience comes in the form of Dynamic Select (Comfort, Sport, Eco and Individual driving modes), ECO Start/Stop functionality, cruise control with Speedtronic speed limiter, reverse camera, electric parking brake, active parking assist, tyre-pressure monitoring system and automatic wipers.

As for safety, there’s five airbags, anti-lock braking system, brake assist, electronic stability programme (ESP), attention assist, collision prevention assist plus and pre-safe.

The A 200 AMG Line uses the same 1.6-litre engine, but gets tuned-up to produce 156hp at 5,300rpm and 250Nm of torque from 1,250 to 4,000rpm instead, while mated to the same 7G-DCT – bringing its 0-100kph time down to 7.8 seconds and its top speed up to 224kph.

It also gets stiffer sports suspension, cross-drilled disc brakes, direct steering, Tirefit, AMG bodykit, Dinamica / Artico Black upholstery and AMG floor mats.

With the A 250 Sport, the engine gets sized-up to 2.0 litres (1,991cc) and now pushes out 211hp at 5,500rpm and 350Nm of torque from 1,200 to 4,000rpm.

And to help it go from 0-100kph in 6.4 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 240kph are the wider 235/40 series tyres fitted onto the standard five-spoke 18-inch AMG wheels.

Utilising the same engine, the AMG A 45 4MATIC gets tuned to 381hp at 6,000rpm and 475Nm of torque from 2,250 to 5,000rpm (21hp and 25Nm more than its predecessor) for the AMG Speedshift DCT seven-speed sports transmission to manage before sending it to all four 19-inch wheels with 235/40 series tyres.

With the help of the AMG Performance exhaust system, it reaches 100kph from standstill in 4.2 seconds before getting electronically limited to a top speed 250kph so that the red-painted performance callipers can still effectively bite down on the cross-drilled disc brakes.

Externally, it gets slapped with the AMG Aerodynamics package and an AMG Night package, before adding on red seat belts and leather-upholstered AMG Sport-badged performance seats on the inside.

And after adding the AMG badge to the steering wheel, E-Select shifter and key, the list of upgrades comes to a close with a three-stage ESP, AMG ride control sports suspension and adding Race to its Dynamic Select list of modes.