Mercedes-Benz is opening up a whole new chapter in the compact segment with a markedly emotive design, powerful engine ranges from 109 bhp to  211 bhp, and extremely efficient, with emissions from just 99 g/CO2/km.

At the same time the new model underlines that for Mercedes-Benz safety is not a question of price - the standard specification includes, among other things, the radar-based Collision Prevention Assist system.

"A is for Attack: the A-Class is a clear statement of the new dynamism of the Mercedes-Benz brand," Ms Bernadette Bonnici Kind, Director at Auto Sales Ltd distributor of Mercedes-Benz in Malta, said during the launch of the all-new model, held yesterday.

Design and dynamism are obvious characteristics of the new A-Class even at first glance, simply in the way it sits up to 18 cm closer to the road than its predecessor. The radical new design idiom that was so enthusiastically received upon its first appearance with the "Concept A-Class" has been rigorously applied for the series-production model.

With their fresh interpretation of the classic two-box design, the Mercedes designers have created an emotive exterior with a pronounced sporty flair. "Applying the new dynamic style of Mercedes-Benz to the compact class was a challenge," Ms Bonnici Kind said. "The almost sculptural lines of the A-Class are very typical for Mercedes. The feature lines, particularly along the sides of the car, then give the A-Class structure and tautness."

For further information contact Auto Sales Ltd, Kind's, Mosta Road, Lija.