Mercedes abhi bhi apni new compact car range pe kaafi hard work kar rahi hai. Three pointed star wali brand ke paas ab is new entry lineup ke 4 models me se 3 already ready hai, because unhe 2 models ko discontinue karna pada.
Ek tha iconic B-Class, or second honestly launch hi nahi karna chahiye tha, time ne prove kar diya A-Class Sedan ke case me. Ye ek aisi mistake thi jise luxury brand ne kabhi openly accept nahi kiya, but clearly wo unse ho gayi thi.
Jab lag raha tha ki A-Class ka end bilkul paas aa gaya hai, tab bhi Mercedes ne decide kiya ki is five door hatchback ki commercial life thodi extend ki jaye, because iski jagah lene ke liye koi model ready nahi tha.
But har cheez ka end hota hai, time kisi ke liye rukta nahi, or legendary A-Class bhi hamesha ke liye nahi hai. Is model ki life mein ab approx. 1.5 years hi bache hai, or 2027 ke end tak isse discontinue kar diya jayega.
By the way ek brand new model develop karne mein bhi itna hi time lagta hai, toh maybe ye sirf coincidence ho. ya phir nahi. Because three pointed star brand ke ek senior official ne already confirm kar diya hai ki A-Class successor on the way hai.
Five Mercedes cars in the range instead of four
Image Courtesy: Car Magazine
Ek big German news report mein, Mercedes ke head of development Jorg Burzer ne kaha ki new model, jo compact segment mein position kiya jayega, ek "bahut hi attractive vehicle" hoga. Unhone ye bhi bola ki ye "ab tak jo bhi aaya hai usse bilkul different" hoga, clearly classic compact format ki taraf point out karte hue.
Unhone ab abandon ho chuke B-Class ka bhi mention kiya, jo abhi bhi kuch countries mein law enforcement agencies ke liye built ki ja rahi hai. But un agencies ko bhi inform kar diya gaya hai ki iska production permanently discontinue hone wala hai.
Ye announcement ye bhi confirm karta hai ki Mercedes C-segment ko itni easily leave nahi karne wala.
At the moment unke paas new Mercedes CLA hai, ek GLB jo year ke end mein debut hui thi, or ek new generation wal GLA bhi aa rahi hai jo 2027 se before launch ho jayegi.
But abhi unke lineup mein ek aisa model missing hai jo compact cars jaisa "two and a half box" sedan style body rakhta ho. Aur iska solution maybe crossover style mein hi milne wala hai.
Iska matlab ye hai ki pehla plan tha ki unki compact range mein sirf 4 models honge, but ab unhone ek or add kar diya hai, so total 5 models ho gaye hai.
Priced between the CLA and the new GLA, the A-Class replacement is more expensive than the former
Ye Mercedes ke initial plan ke saath match karta hai jahan wo smart #3 ko borrow karne wale the. But wo model sirf electric version mein available tha, hybrid engine ka koi option nahi tha, isliye wo idea drop kar diya gaya.
Ab jo ye future model aa raha hai, wo thoda usi format ki taraf lean karta hai, but abhi tak more details out nahi hue hai.
Jo expect kiya ja raha hai wo ye hai ki ye small Mercedes ki price new GLA se less hogi. Means approx. €45,000 se less nahi hogi, basically around us range mein hi baat ho rahi hai.
Ye mind mein rakhna important hai ki crossover or SUVs, sedans se zyada expensive hoti hai. New CLA ki price abhi €43,500 hai.
Isliye agar koi big surprise na ho, so new Mercedes GLA ki price maybe €50,000 se above hi jayegi. Is price range ko dekhte hue, ye expected karna bilkul reasonable hai ki is new model mein around €6,000 ka price difference hoga.