Mercedes-Benz A-Class Likely to Launch in July 2013
Mercedes-Benz India has recently introduced the B-Class Sports Tourer and it is now preparing to launch its second new generation compact car (NGCC) and the smallest vehicle in its international portfolio - the A-Class- by July 2013. Prior to India, the similar vehicle will make its debut in the UK in December 2012. The A-Class has already created milestones for the company in Europe, it has bagged over 70,000 bookings from Europe alone, making it to be the most successful launnch of Mercedes-Benz since its inception.
As per the word on the street, the German auto giant might bring it via CKD route and assemble the A-Class at its Chakan Facility near Pune, Maharashtra with an objective to make it even more affordable for Indian consumers. Our sources tell us that the A-Class hatch will make its Indian entry by the second quarter of 2013.
In India all new Mercedes-Benz A-Class will have both petrol and diesel engine options, however India might not get the direct Injection petrol like the European version. While we are expecting the diesel version of the A-Class to carry the 1461cc mill that mated to a six-speed manual transmission churns out the maximum of 109bhp, there might also be a 1796cc, 109bhp engine with 7G-DCT, 7-speed automatic transmission. Both the engines currently powers the European A-Class. Although, there is one more 1796cc diesel engine made available with six-speed manual in Europe, but that will offer a lesser fuel economy and would cost higher. So we aren't expecting that to come to India.
Built on the German automaker's all new Modular Front Architecture (MFA) platform, the all new Mercedes-Benz A Class is likely to launch in Indian by July 2013 at an expected price of Rs 15-20 lakh. Stay tuned for more updates on the same. Cheers!