The arena of premium C-segment hatchbacks is about to get much hotter, with an all new BMW 1 Series and Mercedes-Benz A-Class due in 2018.
Mercedes-Benz has taken to professional social media platform LinkedIn to preview the next-generation A-Class compact car, with CEO Dieter Zetsche posing next to the development prototype for a selfie.
The A-Class has been spotted by spy photographers in various parts of the world and previewed by a concept at the Shanghai Motor Show in China.
According next to Zetsche, the new car will be revealed during the course of 2018, with a series of pictures depicting a convoy of test vehicles, including the next CLS four-door coupe.
Testing is underway in one of the world’s most capable climatic wind tunnels, that generates temperatures ranging between -40 degrees and +60 degrees Celsius, with wind gusts of up to 265km/h.
While heavily camouflaged for the most part, the prototype shows enough to determine that while the overall shape will be similar to today’s car, the light and grille shapes will be similar to those previewed with the Concept A Sedan.
Eight cars will be spun off the new A-Class platform, expected to include GLA and CLA replacements.
