WeeklySA_AdminREJUVENATED STYLING: More grown up the latest generation offers an immersive user experience
By Ali Mphaki
The rejuvenated Mercedes-Benz A Class retains its youthful and dynamic character, yet it is also more grown up and comfortable than ever. The front view is dominated by the forward-sloping bonnet with its two power bulges and steep ‘shark nose’.
The sporty character is underlined by externally flush wheels with four additional rim designs in sizes up to 19 inches. For the style focused driver and sports enthusiast, optional high-gloss black painted light-alloy wheels in multi-spoke design and with a high-gloss rim flange are on offer with the AMG Line.
Equally as striking as the front, the rear design features a redesigned rear diffuser with new and standard LED rear lights. The interior offers a high-quality comfort seat with new, three-dimensionally embossed ARTICO upholstery which further emphasises the sportiness of this vehicle.
The AMG Line features bright brushed aluminium trim and red contrasting topstitching in the ARTICO/MICROCUT seats. The absolute highlight is the standard freestanding dual-screen display with a 7-inch and the larger 10.25-inch display taking centre stage. The latest A-Class has also been given an update in terms of advanced safety assistance systems. With the upgrade of the Driver Assistance Package, for example, the control of the Lane Keeping Assist is much more comfortable by using the Active Steering Control. The next generation of the Parking Package supports longitudinal parking and offers, among other things, 360-degree visualisation for camera-assisted parking using 3D images.
Locally, the new A-Class will be available with a choice of either a petrol or diesel engine while the AMG models benefit from a high-performance 2.0-litre unit that has garnered high praise from performance enthusiasts.
The A 200 develops 120 kW and 250 Nm from its turbocharged 1332cc motor. This model boasts a combined and impressive fuel consumption figure of 6.4 – 5.8 l/100km in hatchback guise and 6.3 – 5.7 l/100km in saloon guise. The diesel option, in the form of the A 200 d provides 110 kW and 320 Nm from its 2.0-litre turbo diesel powerplant. Combined fuel consumption of this frugal model is claimed at 5.4 – 4.8 l/100km in accordance with the WLTP.
The Hyper-hatch A 45 S 4MATIC+ develops considerably more power than the A 35 AMG variant. A total output of 310kW and 500 Nm allows for a 0-100km/h sprint time of just 3.9 seconds.
Recommended Retail Pricing:
Hatchback
A 200 – R 791,550
Sedan
A 200 – R 846,550
A 200 d – R 916,200
AMG
Mercedes-AMG A 35 4MATIC Sedan
– R 1,128,750
Mercedes-AMG A 35 4MATIC Hatch
– R 1,234,550
Mercedes-AMG A45 S 4MATIC+ Hatch
– R 1,381,550
The purchase price displayed includes the price of a 5 year/100 000km Service Plan and Maintenance
MOTORING:
Briefs
MANUAL WORK FOR TOYOTA GR SUPRA
Toyota says it has listened to sports car fans and customers who love the control and rewards offered by precisely timed manual gear shifts. As of May this year, the Toyota GR Supra is available in manual transmission.
Power output has also been upped in the straight-six 3.0-litre engine – increasing from 250kW to 285kW. The benefit is both to the auto and the newly-introduced manual.
The introduction of the GR Yaris a couple of years ago, followed by the GR86 coupe, as well as the imminent launch of the GR Corolla have reinforced the special qualities that define the GR brand – cars which draw directly on the world championship-winning expertise and experience of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing.
Its addition to the line-up means Toyota now offers all four of its GR models available in South Africa with manual transmission and three pedals either as standard (GR Yaris, GR Corolla) or as an option (GR Supra, GR86).
BABY DEFENDER ON WAY
There’s a smaller Land Rover Defender on the way, and it’ll be electric, a Jaguar Land Rover executive said at a recent investor conference, according to Autocar.
The “baby” Defender, as Autocar calls it, will be built on JLR’s Electric Modular Architecture (EMA) platform and is expected to arrive in 2027. It’ll be one of four models built on the EMA platform, joining the next-generation Range Rover Evoque, Range Rover Velar, and Land Rover Discovery Sport, Autocar reports.
Based on the EMA platform’s dimensions, the new, smaller Defender (which could possibly carry the Defender Sport nameplate) will be about 15 feet long and 6.5 feet wide, making it a bit smaller than a BMW X3.
HUGE HYUNDAI AND KIA RECALLS
WASHINGTON – Hyundai Motor and Kia said on Thursday they are recalling more than 113,000 newer vehicles in North America because of fire risks and urged owners to park outside and away from structures pending repairs.
The recall covers the Hyundai 2023-2024 Palisade, 2023 Tucson, Sonata, Elantra, and Kona vehicles and 2023-2024 Seltos and 2023 Kia Soul, Sportage vehicles.
About 52,000 Hyundai vehicles and nearly 40,000 Kia vehicles are covered under the recall in the United States, along with 11,000 Hyundai vehicles and 10,700 Kia vehicles in Canada. The Korean automakers said electronic controllers for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump to overheat.
Owners will be notified in late September and dealers will inspect and replace the electric oil pump controller as needed. Kia said it has six reports of potentially related thermal events but no accidents or injuries while Hyundai has four similar reports.
The automakers told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration a suspect part was eliminated from production in March.
LAMBO GOES 100% ELECTRIC
Lamborghini has confirmed that “the new concept of its first 100 percent electric car” will be on display at Monterey Car Week next week, and that this will be the “first prototype of our fourth series production car.” This comes just weeks after the company confirmed a new electric 2+2 grand tourer, which is scheduled to go on sale sometime in 2028.
What this new electric concept car might look like, or even what will be powering it, remains to be seen. It could be a four-seat GT in line with the most recent news.
It would be the second all-electric concept after the Terzo Millenio (pictured here) and yet another four-seat concept car in Lamborghin’s lineage, alongside other relatively recent examples like the Estoque and the Asterion.
