2013 Mercedes-Benz A Class Spy Shots

By Viknesh Vijayenthiran

Viknesh Vijayenthiran

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Vik is an Editor at High Gear Media and contributor for a number of sites within the High Gear Media network. He was a co-founder of Motor Authority... More

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2013 Mercedes-Benz A Class spy shots

And Mercedes-Benz has also given us a preview of the new car’s interior, revealing earlier this week that it will come with full Apple iPhone and Siri compatibility.

Now, just one week out from the car’s debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, a final prototype has been spotted doing some last minute testing in the cold conditions of Northern Europe.

The A Class prototype you see here has a fairly conventional five-door hatchback design but with a sloping front-end and Mercedes’ stretched arch design for the cabin. A sportier three-door variant similar to last year’s A Class Concept is planned, and there have been reports that a convertible version may also be launched further down the track.

A high-performance AMG version with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine spitting out close to 320 horsepower is also in the works. As for the standard lineup, expect a selection of turbocharged engines, both gasoline and diesel, as well as the choice of either conventional manual transmissions or seven-speed dual-clutch automatics. The base engine should be a 1.6-liter four-cylinder rated at 122 horsepower.

New Mercedes-Benz A Class spotted while on official photoshoot

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While Europe will get to see the new A Class in showrooms by the end of the year, Americans will have to wait until early next year or later still. This is because Mercedes plans to launch the ‘BLS’ four-door coupe initially in the U.S., with its other compacts like the new A Class and possible BLK crossover coming later.