Mercedes-Benz Australia: A-Class Onslaught Just The Beginning

Mercedes-Benz has just thrown the first punch in its A-Class derived onslaught at the Australian International Motor Show.

Sliding into 2013 on the same shirt-tails as the A-Class is the new B-Class, CLA, and GLA, along with the E 300 Hybrid and Mercedes Benz’ first small van, the Citan.

That original affordable Benz, the A-Class, is now more ‘a conquest car’ than ever.

At $35,600, the entry-level A-Class hatch is priced cheaper than a Holden Commodore and at the mid-point of      the VW Golf range.     

And, in top-shelf AMG form, will rival the best from VW and BMW while sprinting faster than a C 63.

According to Mercedes-Benz’s Senior Manager of Corporate Communications, David McCarthy, the main problem for Benz will not be its heady competition in the segment, but how much of this appealing pointy-priced product they can actually get.

Early in 2012, Mercedes Oz found itself hamstrung by supply issues, unable to meet demand for M-Class and B-Class models. 

The same is expected when the A 180, A 200, A 200CDI and A 250 Sport models arrive next March.

While McCarthy would not be drawn on actual figures, he conceded demand for the hatch will likely outweigh supply by “about 30 percent”.