New Mercedes A-Class to receive electrified variants
Head of A-Class powertrain development confirms electrified versions of new-generation hatchback are in the works, with the firm exploring both hybrid and all-electric options
Electrified variants of the new Mercedes A-Class are in the pipeline, according to one of the chief developers of the car.
Head of powertrain development for the car, Oliver Ebelsheiser, confirmed that the hatchback will soon have a version with some form of battery propulsion.
He said: “We have announced that we will have electrical vehicles in each and every platform in the future. This includes the new compact car platform, meaning it will have an electrified variant.”
Mercedes-Benz currently offers a number of hybrid options across its range — such as on the C-Class, E-Class and S-Class — while its stablemate brand Smart offers all-electric variants of the ForTwo and ForFour city cars.
The firm also revealed the Concept EQA at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, previewing an all-electric hatchback packed with tech.
The new Mercedes A-Class is also launching with one diesel engine, and despite the on-going war against diesel, Ebelsheiser remains confident that more black-pump versions appear in the future.
Ebelsheiser did accept that development of diesel and petrol powertrains is proving harder as a result of stricter emissions tests, saying: “There’s always that same challenge, and it’s getting harder and harder because of emissions regulations —plus the steps you can make are becoming smaller.”
