Behold the face of the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Mercedes has teased the new A-Class so much the poor thing ought to sue for bullying. Here’s the latest in the drip-feed: a shadowy image of the new car’s face. 

Very akin to the new CLS’s face, we think you’ll agree. Similar angular headlights, an almost Aston Martin-shaped grille with a dinnerplate-sized Mercedes star front and centre, and AMG-ish lower grilles. More handsome than the outgoing A-Class, we’d venture. How about you? 

While Mercedes has been relentlessly teasing the new A, it’s also let slip some details about the imminent Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series rival. It’s bigger, for one thing, to answer widespread condemnation of the current A-Class’s cabin space (there isn’t any). 

There’ll be a plug-in hybrid version soon, which will please tech-minded folk almost as much as the stunning interior, complete with twin 12.3-inch freestanding screens in top-spec versions. The A-Class is also the first Mercedes to get a clickwheel-free version of the Comand infotainment centre. Your move, Maybach. 

Naturally, the versions we’re looking forward to most will carry the letters ‘A’, ‘M’ and ‘G’ on their rapidly disappearing tailgate. First up, by the close of 2018, we’ll get an AMG A35, according to performance arm boss Tobias Moers. It’ll be a 300bhp-plus entry-level AMG, which will duel the Audi S3 and VW Golf R – not to mention the best hot hatches from Hyundai and Honda. There’s an embarrassment of talent in the £30k hot hatch segment right now. Dare you enter, A-Class?

Then, in 2019, comes the successor to the feral AMG A45. The new white-hot A is set to stick it to the Audi RS3 by offering over 400bhp from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, and thanks to all-wheel drive (which AMG is on a roll with right now), a quicker paddleshift gearbox and ultra-low ground-effect ride height, seems ready to rip up the hot hatch rulebook. All over again.

Before that, there’s surely more teasing to come. Roll on the big reveal at the Geneva motor show in March…