Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Lore & Background

The first generation A-Class (W168) was presented to the motoring press late in 1996 and launched at the 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show. Styled by Coventry University trained Steve Mattin, it was his first complete exterior design, for which he was named Autocar magazine's 'Designer of the Year'. The design freeze occurred in January 1995, 32 months before production started in August 1997. The A-Class was unusual for Mercedes-Benz, featuring a front-wheel drive layout and an unusually tall yet short body. It was facelifted in February 2001 with minor alterations and a longer wheelbase version.

The W168 became infamous in 1997 after flipping over during the traditional 'moose test' performed by the Swedish publication Teknikens Värld. Mercedes initially denied the problem but then recalled all units sold (2,600) and suspended sales for three months until the problem was solved by adding electronic stability control and modifying the suspension. The company spent DM 2.5 billion developing the car, with a further DM 300 million to fix it.

The second generation (W169) used high-strength steel alloys with bonded joints and increased cargo capacity by 15 percent over the W168. It featured standard traction control, electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes, and a 'Selective Damping System'. Seven four-cylinder engines were available, with the most powerful achieving 0-100 km/h in 8.0 seconds and a top speed of 218 km/h. The fourth generation (W177), launched in 2018, marked the first time the A-Class was offered in the United States and Canada, and the first to be offered both as a hatchback and sedan.

Reader's Guide

The A-Class represents Mercedes-Benz's first venture into the compact car sector, a market the company had not previously entered. Its development and production involved significant investment, including EUR 900 million in the Rastatt plant and US$840 million in a Brazilian facility. The first generation's moose test failure and subsequent recall became a defining moment in automotive safety history, leading to the widespread adoption of electronic stability control. Despite the initial setback, approximately 3.3 million A-Class models had been manufactured by the 2021 model year. The A-Class also served as a platform for alternative propulsion, including a hydrogen fuel cell version (F-Cell) delivered to Deutsche Telekom and BEWAG/Vattenfall Europe in 2004, and later to Landsvirkjun and Reykjavik Energy in 2007. A DHL version of the F-Cell was unveiled at FC EXPO 2008. The first generation also saw limited AMG versions and the A210 EVOLUTION, a sporty-luxury variant limited to 2,629 units. A 2008 British customer satisfaction survey by Which? placed the 1998–2004 A-Class third from bottom out of 217 models with a score of 65 percent.

Did You Know?

• The first generation A-Class flipped over during a moose test in 1997, leading to a recall and suspension of sales for three months.
• The A-Class was the first Mercedes-Benz model with a front-wheel drive layout.
• The fourth generation A-Class was the first to be offered in the United States and Canada.
• The A210 EVOLUTION, limited to 2,629 units, was the second Mercedes model to bear the 'EVOLUTION' name.