Stuttgart, Germany - Just a few months after the launch of the new A-Class, Mercedes-Benz has added two ultra-clean-running BlueEfficiency models to its European range.
In fact one of them, the A180 CDI, lays claim to being the most fuel-efficient Mercedes-Benz ever produced, with a quoted average fuel-consumption of just 3.6 litres per 100km and CO2 emissions of 92 g/km from its 80kW, 1461cc turbodiesel four - and any resemblance to Renault's 1.5 dCI engine is, as they say, purely coincidental.
Stuttgart is also claiming similarly impressive numbers for the A 180 BlueEfficiency petrol model, at 5.2 litres per 100km and 120g/km of CO2, from a 90kW, 1595cc direct-injection four.
In each case that's five percent better than the 'standard' A180 version, partly thanks to improved aerodynamics: the upper portion of the is partially blanked off, the suspension has been lowered by 15mm, and the are special “fairings' over the lower spring links to improve the flow of air along the underbody around the rear axle.
CLASS-LEADING DRAG COEFFICIENT
In terms of numbers, the Mercedes whitecoats say they've lowered the Cd value of the A-Class from an already class-leading 0.27 to 0.26 - not earth-shattering but certainly significant.
They've also revised the generator management mapping as well as the manual transmission, with longer ratios for the higher gears.
Visually, the BlueEfficiency models get special round LED daytime running lamps in the front bumper - unless you ask for one of the available options of either bi-xenon headlights or the intelligent light system.
The two new A-Class BlueEfficiency variants will go on sale in Europe from February 1, with first deliveries scheduled for March 2013.
They'll join the C220 CDI BlueEfficiency (4.1 litres per 100km, 109g/km) and the E220 CDI BlueEfficiency (4.5 litres per 100km, 119g/km), already in showrooms since late last year, as the cleanest greenest Mercs money can buy.