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The New-Generation A-Class is
now on sale and is safer, more
economical and even greener than
before. The design has been
revised and new technical
developments have further
enhanced levels of safety with
crash responsive lighting and
adaptive brake lights. The car
is even more comfortable as a
result of new interior
materials, with improved
adjustment and support in the
seats. All models have new
infotainment systems with
Bluetooth connectivity, and the
engines are now more fuel
efficient as a result of three
new BlueEFFICIENCY models.
From March 2009 an ECO
start-stop function will be
available on the A 150 and A 170
with manual transmission and the
three-door A 160 CDI will
benefit from an optional
BlueEFFICIENCY package which
improves fuel consumption of the
Coupé by more than 11 per cent,
to 64.2 mpg. Independent experts
have awarded the A-Class with
the internationally valid
environmental certificate
already held by the C-Class and
S-Class.
With fuel consumption figures
between 42.8 and 64.2 mpg, the
new-generation A-Class is
extremely economical to run.
Thanks to the introduction of an
optional BlueEFFICIENCY
package for the
three-door A 160 CDI, the fuel
consumption of the
state-of-the-art
direct-injection diesel engines
has been improved by more than
11 per cent or 6.6 mpg compared
to the previous model.
Available from autumn 2008, the
package features measures to
further improve engine
efficiency, aerodynamics,
rolling resistance, energy
management and weight. It also
features a diesel particulate
filter. The sum of these
measures means that the A 160
CDI BlueEFFICIENCY has an
impressive fuel consumption of
64.2 mpg and as a result the CO2
emissions of the 82 hp Coupé are
116 g/km.
The ECO start-stop
function lowers fuel consumption
and exhaust emissions by
automatically switching off the
engine during idling phases.
ECO start-stop will be available
from spring 2009 for the A 150
and A 170 when twinned with the
five-speed manual transmission
and will both be badged
BlueEFFICIENCY. When travelling
at low speed, the driver only
needs to shift the manual
transmission to neutral and
apply the brakes. The engine is
then switched off, and the ECO
display appears in the
instrument cluster.
The A 150 BlueEFFICIENCY (95 hp)
achieves 48.7 mpg, resulting in
139 grams of carbon dioxide per
kilometre. In city traffic, the
new ECO start-stop function can
result in fuel savings of up to
nine per cent.
The environmental compatibility
of vehicles is not only assessed
on the basis of standardised
emissions and fuel consumption
measurement, but takes into
account the entire vehicle
lifecycle of the vehicle. An
environmental audit
which analyses over 40,000
processes is the basis of the
environmental certificate
according to the stringent
international ISO standard 14062
(Design for Environment).
Mercedes-Benz is the world’s
only automobile brand to have
received this accolade. The
assessment reveals that
CO2 emissions
are around seven per cent lower
than the figure for the
preceding model of 2004, and
nitrogen oxide emissions
have been reduced by 13 per
cent.
Carbon dioxide emissions over
the entire lifecycle of the A
150 BlueEfficiency with
ECO start-stop are
reduced by a further five per
cent, which means that the
environmental audit shows a
remarkable reduction in
CO2 emissions
by more than 12 per cent
compared to the preceding
model.
The
recycling concept of a
vehicle is also considered. 95%
of the A-Class can be recycled
so already meets the EU
regulation coming into force
from 2015 and
renewable raw materials
are used during production
including the use of flax, olive
stones, cotton, coconut fibre,
wood veneers and abaca fibres. |
