Preview: 2011 Mercedes-Benz A-Class

The next-generation Mercedes-Benz A and B-Class are having a rough gestation and will likely see their respective release dates pushed back because of problems with securing a final design for their new platform. The cars were originally expected to debut at the end of the decade but because Mercedes can’t find a partner to share development work the new models are now likely to arrive in late 2011.

Mercedes was hoping to co-develop new engines and platforms for the cars with BMW but the talks ended abruptly this week because officials deemed the synergies from such a partnership were too small to make the deal worthwhile. Instead, Mercedes will develop its own platforms and powertrains for the new compact models and will also focus on keeping costs low. One of its key strategies is to move production from the current Rastatt plant in Germany to a low cost site in Eastern Europe.

The cars will be built on a new FWD platform codenamed MFA (Mercedes Frontwheel Architecture), which drops the former sandwich construction for a more conventional car-like design. This means the cars will sit much lower than current models, possibly even lower than the BMW 1-series and Audi A3.

According to German sources there will likely be the regular hatch, a new mini-SUV, a sports hatch, and a possible four-door coupe model all spawned from the new MFA platform. The main reason for increasing the number of fuel-efficient compact models is to help Mercedes reduce its fleet-average carbon emissions as well as boost sales.

2011 Mercedes-Benz A-Class rendering

2011 Mercedes-Benz B-Class rendering