2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Caught Without Camouflage On Camera

Thanks to a series of revealing spy photos and a show-all application with the European patent office, there's little left unseen of the all-new Mercedes-Benz A-Class - except for the glossy promotional shots and the technical details, that is.

This week however, a cyclist on the Spanish island of Lanzarote caught Mercedes doing exactly that, spying an undisguised 2012 A-Class hatch seen undergoing a video and photo shoot ahead of its Geneva Motor Show launch in March.

The cyclist's on-board camera reveals the new A-Class surrounded by film crews and more than a few support vehicles.

The shot also reveals that while the earlier patent application shows a lower-spec version of the car with Mercedes' regular grille and bumper design, a sports version of the car will also be offered with the same grille design of last year's original Concept A-Class.

Judging by the familiar five-spoke wheels here, we might even be looking at the top-shelf "A 25 AMG" version of the new A-Class, rumoured to be powered by a brand-new twin-turbo 2.0 litre engine, producing figures in the realm of 240kW.

Australia

The current A-Class is no longer offered in Australia, the larger B-Class filling the 'small car' niche in the German carmaker's local line-up.

The new A-Class represents a significant step forward for MB's plans in the segment; we'd reckon an Australian debut for the new model is likely.