One of the lesser-known secrets of the automotive industry is that most "all-new" models are anything but; making money requires reusing as many parts as often as possible. Mercedes-Benz says that's not the case with the new A-Class hatchbacks unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, which started with a blank screen and ended with a front-wheel-drive hatchback that lets the driver talk to Siri from behind the wheel -- and it's coming to America.Mercedes hasn't imported a front-wheel-drive hatchback before because of the clash it would cause with its luxury image here. But in Europe, small hatchbacks rank among the few types of cars still in high demand, with Audi, BMW and others rushing out new models, thanks to a need for fuel efficiency in countries where gasoline approaches $7 a gallon, and lower taxes on diesel fuel make it the preferred motive choice.
In typical continental fashion, Mercedes offers at least six engine choices, from 115 hp up to 211 hp, all routed through either a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic. Every engine comes with start-stop, turbocharging and the other roster of efficiency tricks now standard on new models. Unlike the cheaper beam suspension in lower-end hatches, Mercedes used a more-expensive four-link setup so that it could offer all-wheel-drive versions -- and potentially an AMG-designed edition as well.
And no driver with an iPhone ever has to be without a copilot. Mercedes says a custom app will allow Siri to take commands through the A-Class' communications system, and transfer the iPhone's screen to the car's display unit to control music,
Facebook/Twittering and other tasks you shouldn't really care about while driving. Yes, Apple has grown so powerful even the company that invented automobiles wants to get closer.
Mercedes says the first A-Class should arrive stateside in 2013. Mercedes-Benz has paid U.S. government fines for not meeting fuel economy rules, and the A-Class would boost its corporate average -- if it can convince enough American buyers to buy German luxury with a much smaller footprint.