Bucket Seat: Mercedes Benz A200 Hatch

When the A-Class was first introduced to the world, it served as a more affordable option to own a brand that was seen as elite and a pinnacle of what cars should be. While it didn’t have the allure of the S-Class, it still gave owners the bragging rights to say they drive a “Merc”. The A-Class was an odd looking thing at the time though, to use the American term, “mini van” comes to mind when looking at the first generation of it. Even the launch of the A32K AMG didn’t do much for its image as a whole but credit to them, the A-Class did sell decently in local and overseas markets with it being the ideal type of “city car” for Europeans and “soccer mom” cars for the rest of the world. The second generation saw it get a nice nip tuck with sharper angles and a more neater trim but by then the appeal of it seemed to have died down, Mercedes took cognisance of it and hence the 3rd generation saw a shift in the A-Class’s from being a mini van to hatchback and spurred on an epic rival of the line. This offered the company the ideal platform to take on a whole new segment which was long enjoyed by another German rival. With the 4th generation just receiving a light update, the A-Class, remains one of the more popular models in the Merc range and with the range topping AMG derivatives in the A35 and A45S pushing mind boggling performance figures, the normal A200 and A250 still deserve a fair shout. I spent a week with the A200 hatch in AMG trim and this is what I thought about it.

DESIGN

There’s just something about a good looking car in black. Yes, the colour automatically makes the car look good but when the design of the is great, the colour black just accentuates the design and make it that more bolder. The lines of the A-Class are sublime, from the angular shark like nose flowing with the subtle curves that extend into the body and ties into the rear so well. The headlights feature the new multibeam LED’s which do a little dance when the car is powered up in the dark. While they do serve a very good purpose, the blue hues do add a cool contrast to that front end that’s dominated by the three pointed star emblem which is poised perfectly in the centre. With the AMG trim the grille gets the tri-star treatment ad well. The car came fitted with optional 19-inch multi-spoke AMG rims finished off in black which gave the car a stealth like look. The interior does receive some minor tweaks but nothing too evident, apart from the removal of the track pad that now is just is an oddly shaped storage tray.

PERFORMANCE

Powered by 1.4 litre turbocharged engine, the A200 doesn’t boast big numbers like its AMG siblings, but it does offer a spirited feel to it. 120kW is derived from the engine along with 270Nm of torque which translates to an adequate drive but also maintaining a level of economy that won’t get you visiting the filling station every week. If driven properly, the A200 could be quite frugal I’m told but with only 5 days with it, I wasn’t going to be pussyfooting this things around the streets of Durban. The shape and size of this car makes it the perfect weapon to navigate the twistys and hills and that’s where I went hunting with it. The car is so accurate with the steering, it almost felt like you’re in a go-kart at times, the torque factor gets the acceleration in for the short bursts of speed required and that is what makes the drive in this entertaining. Many will say that yes, while it is fun, its not that fast, yes, if you want fast you buy the AMG's. If you want something that can do your daily drives, but provide that a drive that's not completely boring, you get this. 

COMFORT

Seeing it's the smallest car in the Mercedes-Benz stable, you'd expect it to be a tiny cabin but thanks to modern ergonomic design practices, the A200 is roomy enough to seat 4 adults. There are still some questionable design practices on the dash that I have personal issues with, like the height of the cubby hold that is in front of the front passenger seat. A tall person like myself has to move the seat a bit more back to avoid it hitting my knees, this affects the leg room for the passenger behind me. Mind you, the design does look great but perhaps on the next one they could re-look at this. I did mention that the track pad for the car has disappeared, that is thanks to the new MBUX system that includes a touchscreen infotainment center and intuitive AI which takes commands via voice. It works damn well and can understand just about any voice and any accent without a hassle. I hardly found myself having to repeat myself when giving it instructions as mundane as they were. Apple and Google could learn a thing or two from Merc's tech as I battle with Siri most of the time! The car comes standard with pretty much all the tech you'd expect to find in a modern day luxury car. While some of the materials do feel a bit low quality compared to other models in the Merc line up, one must understand that this is the entry level car you're getting into so you can't have everything at a cheaper price. One thing I must take my hats off to Mercedes for is their ambient lighting, in pictures it looks tacky but when you're sitting in the cabin at night with it illuminated in the colours of your choice, it's just something else. 

VERDICT

The A200 has a lot to offer, even with it being the entry level Mercedes-Benz, they try to stay true to who they are as a premium luxury brand. While the costs of the cars are quite high, it's nice to see them as a brand taking note of this and offering financial support facility with Mercedes-Benz Agility drive, which can be customised to the individual's spending power. With each car being a direct representation of the owner, given the choices of colours and specifications they can deck their ideal car to be like, it's worth considering if you want an A200 but unsure on how to finance it. Even though my first stint in the A class was the A45S then the A35 AMG's, I took quite a liking to the A200 as it served it's role perfectly as a daily drive that offered everything that one would need, in terms of looks, practicality, space and comfort. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	1.4 -litre turbo, 4 cylinder
Gear Box	8-speed automatic
Torque	270Nm
Power	120kW
Fuel consumption	6.4 liters per 100km
Price	R755,985*

*base price

Bucket Seat: Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe

We attended the launch of the new GLC Coupe in the picturesque Cape, to see what the second generation of this popular Sporty SUV had to offer. The previous generation did well in the local market given its niche segment, while most consumers are opting for SUV's for various reasons, many don't need the wagon look or space that comes along with it hence the Coupe body was created for those with a little more sporty side to them. The sleek silhouette 

Speaking at the launch, co-CEO of Mercedes-Benz South Africa, Mark Raine had this to say about the GLC Coupe, "The Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe undoubtedly resonates with the affluent South African clientele. It speaks to that desire for adventure, both in the urban environment and the greater outdoors. The design is both contemporary and dynamic, it is the ultimate lifestyle accessory from the world’s most innovate and luxurious automotive brand."

The GLC Coupe will be launched in two engine variants locally, namely, the GLC220d and the GLC300d, both being diesel power engines which mild hybrid technology that is a 48-volt electric system to improve efficiency and power delivery, giving the driver a more dynamic and engaging drive from the cars. Both cars have a 2.0-litre diesel turbo engine with different power outputs, with the 220d producing 145kW and 440Nm of torque, while the 300d having 198kW and 550Nm of torque. This is all controlled via the 9-G automatic gearbox which controls the car with ease in the various driving modes. The car comes with a 4-matic four wheel drive system and includes AIRMATIC suspension that increases and decreases the cars ride height given the type of terrain its on. 

As frustrating as Cape Town traffic can be, sitting in the new GLC Coupe was quite nice, seeing its striking design shine among the other cars on the road made it quite the attraction for everyone else. Once the traffic calmed and we found quieter pastures, the GLC was then able to show us its pedigree, maneuvering around the twistys of the M6 freeway heading towards Hout Bay the agile nature of the car shone through, getting the car into manual mode made the car even more responsive and sporty, giving you the sense you were behind the wheel of a sports car rather than an SUV. When we encountered high winds along the famed Chapmans Peak drive was when you felt the bulkyness that comes along with the big body but thanks to that high torque factor and electric boost system, the car made light work of the wind from then out. 

On the interior, users will find themselves in a modern contemporary setting with the focal piece being the large MBUX display which incorporates the latest in tech that Mercedes-Benz has to offer, from its AI assistant that can control anything from switching on the aircon to closing the sunroof, yes, the new GLC Coupe now comes with an option to get the panaromic sunroof, something that wasn't offered in the previous generation. Easy connectivity for mobile phones which includes wireless mobile apps such as Android Auto and Car Play make it easy to communicate while on the move. The seats are all electrically adjustable with dual zone climate control standard. The car has a 15-speaker hi-fi sound system that will be a pleasure to any music fans ears, whether you're blasting Taylor Swift or Opera, anything sounds good that coming through those speakers, can't say the same for our own singing though. 

Overall, first impressions of the new GLC Coupe are good, nothing that we aren't used to from the luxury German brand, in terms of innovations there are quite a few and we look forward to putting them to the test properly when we get the car for a long time period. Pricing for the car is as follows. 

GLC220d Coupe - R1,392,350.00

GLC300d Coupe - R1,447,350.00

Bucket Seat: Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe

 

When it comes to coupe's, there is no denying that Merc do it right, I cannot think of one bad looking coupe from them and with their latest CLE which was unveiled not so long ago, they still hold their title quite high in terms of making good looking two-door cars. It wouldn't take long before the guys at the Affalterbach gave it their special treatment. This week we saw the CLE 53 AMG break cover and my word is it stunning.

Fitting from head to tow in bespoke AMG aero styling, the CLE53 AMG coupe is powered by a newly upgraded 3-litire twin-turbo changed in-line six cylinder which produces 330kW and 560Nm of torque. Unlike the C43 which has the 2.0-litre 4 cylinder engine, Merc opted for the bigger boy in this one due to the amalgamation of the two models ( C and E Coupes). All this power translates to a 0-100km/h time of just 4.2 seconds. They have made tweaks to the chassis to make the car more agile and neutral than the previous models and features a more sporty setup which is easily adjustable on the fly allowing it to adapt to changing road conditions. Local availability and pricing is yet to be announced but for now we can look at how stunning it is. 

 

Bucket Seat: Mercedes Benz A35 AMG

As much as we all say that hot hatches are aimed at the youth, ask any grown man, as soon as we get behind the wheel of one, we are also now “youth”. There’s something about them that invigorates our soul, whether it’s the pocket rocket performance or the nimble nature of them that gives you that go-kart like feel, it just fuels a desire inside of us like no other. Also they’re damn easy to park. A few weeks back I got to spend some time with the Mercedes-Benz A35 AMG which just underwent some minor cosmetic surgery, while it shares the same engine with the A45S AMG, the performance levels in this one is toned down just a bit and I wanted to see if it warrants the hot-hatch label.

DESIGN

While very similar to the pre-facelift model, the A-Class hasn’t changed much in its overall shape but there are some cosmetic differences that make this one stand out, the most noticeable one being the horizontal slats in the grille which are synonymous with the AMG models that have now been adopted by all AMG's across the range. The front difusser remains the same with the side air intakes now blanked off. The large Merc emblem adorns the front grille that extends to the lines of the front head lamps. The side of the car has minor tweaks but there is a range of new alloy wheels to choose from, this particular model came fitted with a 19-inch twin spoke AMG light wheel rim which is bi-colour finished in black and silver. It also came fitted with the aero kit that that has fins and lips attached to the front and rear bumps and a big wing on the back which does assist with down force but mainly makes the car look cool. Noticeable differences in the interior see's the removal of the wonky touch pad mouse thing in the center as the A-Class range now comes fitted with the new MBUX system that is touch screen and voice controlled. Extra detailing on the dash with AMG accents along with the sport seats complete the hot-hatch look to it.

PERFORMANCE

The A35 and A45 always had the 2.0-litre 4 cylinder turbo engines so there was no real uproar with this new model that came with the newer version of it. While the bigger brother the A45 comes with the more menacing version of it, this particular one still has some bit to it. Churning out 225kW and 400Nm of torque, the A35 is very nippy and those dual AMG performance exhaust pipes are quite throaty as well. Acceleration in the A35 is quite something as there is a whole host of emotions that you feel when performing the launch, Merc claim a 0-100km/h time of 4.7 seconds which for a car of this nature is damn good. The AMG Speedshift 8G gearbox is a dream to work with, whether leaving it in auto mode or swapping over to manual with the paddle controls, the power delivery to the wheels is proper and accentuates that go-kart like feel that you want with a small hatch like this. Powering through corners and racing up mountain passes feels like what this car was born to do and while short city stint driving is fun, I managed to take this on a nice long road trip down to the Eastern Cape where I got to see what it could truly do on the open road. Apart from the bumpy ride, it was mountains of fun to navigate on those twistys and inclines. Fuel consumption on these type of cars does leave one with a light wallet but on that long distance run I managed to achieved a respectable 8.8L per 100km. If I had used cruise control and put it in eco mode it could have done better but where is the fun in that? 

COMFORT

Yes, this is a performance hatch back, its low to the ground, has racing seats and stiff suspension so its not going to be Rolls Royce quality comfort when driving around but it's not that bad. After driving for 6 hours I didn't get out with back pain, I was fine and because the drive is so enjoyable I didn't feel tired as well. The drive and front passenger get electronically adjustable seats with the controls on the doors which confused a few of my passengers but its pretty easy to use once you get the hang of it. Dual-zone climate control, seat heating as an optional extra was also fitted in the car. The rear occupants get their on vent in the back for their comfort. While the car size is small, its still spacious enough for 4 adults and the luggage space is not too shabby either. Like most of the manufactures, Merc offers most of its extras as packages to suit their clients, this car came fitted with the AMG night package which included the welcome lights, adaptive LED's and interior ambient lighting. It also came with the Premium plus package which includes the memory seats and premium sound system. The list of standard equipment is a quite a bit as well but my personal favourite is the new MBUX multi media system that can control just about anything from voice commands. It has wireless mobile apps built in as well and pretty cool info graphics about the car to scroll through. 

VERDICT

While it isn't the range topping A45S, the A35 AMG still manages to charm its way around, it is still fitting to wear that AMG badge and does provide oodles of fun for those who want a bit of Jekyll and Hyde in their car. As per my intro, many would think this car is aimed at the youngsters but trust me, it doesn't matter who you are, once you push that start button, you'll realise that this car is worth its name in metal. From its stylish exterior to the well laid out interior, Merc really delivered on this one. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	2.0L 4 Cylinder Turbo
Gear Box	8G AMG Speedshift
Torque	400Nm
Power	225kW
0-100km	4.7 seconds
Price	R1,112,751*

*base price

Bucket Seat: Mercedes Benz C43 AMG

When Mercedes-Benz AMG announced that they were swapping the V6 and V8 engines in their AMG W206 range for 2.0L Hybrid Electric Turbo's, everyone, myself included thought the gents in the Affalterbach had gone mad. When it comes to AMG, especially in the C-Class, range, that roaring V8 from the C63 is something that just got everyone, not only the purist invigorated. It was first introduced in the W204 where we saw variants like the Edition 507 and the Black Series which reached cult status on the roads as being demons on the straight line and rather tail happy when it came to the corners. Merc improved on this tech in the W205 models with the introduction of a slightly calmer variant in the C43 AMG which featured a V6 instead of the brutish V8 in the C63. I flirted with the W204 C63 507 Edition on the open road and had a short stint in the W205 C63S sedan and both cars blew me away with the performance from that engine under the hood so knowing it was going from that to a 2.0L would make anyone feel a bit let down from the group but as people who get to review these cars, we have look at it with an open mind so when Merc dropped off the new C43 AMG with me last month, I was rather excited to see what it had to offer because the figures claimed on the spec sheet really are eye catching. 

DESIGN

Before we delve into that electric beast under the hood, we need to talk about the styling on this new performance sedan. Coming off the stunning W206 platform, its already quite an eye catching model, then with the added sportiness from the AMG Styling package on the car just gives it that aggressive nature. Key characteristics of this include the vertical slatted grille with chrome finishes, the large Mercedes-Benz emblem fitted to the center and the large diffuser at the bottom of the front bumper that looks like it just swallows the air as it eats the tarmac in front of it. The profile of the car has a lowered stance with large AMG 19-inch multi-spoke rims. AMG styled side skirts transition into the rear fender which is bulky and houses the quad performance exhausts. The boot lid has a micro spoiler which looks like its adds some aerodynamic edge to the car as it is longer than the norm. This particular car was finished if Graphite Grey Metallic which was more of black but with the speckles looked great in the sun light and menacing in the night. The interior follows the same design cues as the standard C-Class with the material and finishing choices more sporty in nature. There are AMG badges in the cabin to remind you what you're driving. 

PERFORMANCE

Right, lets get to it, a 2L - 4 Cylinder "turbo electric" engine that produces 300kW and 500Nm of torque. Firstly, a 2L in an AMG C-Class sounds underwhelming but then you read the performance figures and wondering what kind of black magic are they performing to get that? We all know of Mercedes Benz AMG F1 dominance over the past decade, using that tech and evolving it into their road going cars has helped them produce engines that meet European emissions standards as well as giving the driver the optimal performance required from a car like this. Let me tell you that the term "don't knock it till you try it" really applies to this car as it is phenomenally fast! Using the electric hybrid tech with added boost from the battery powered electric motor, gives the car and double kick and propels it from a standard start to 100km/h in just 4.6 seconds. The fun doesn't stop there as it just continues to climb in speed as you keep your foot rooted to the floor. Handling on this car is sensational, even with the semi electric feel the car still remains nimble and stable, I suppose the only down side is not having that roaring V6 under the hood but the engineers at AMG got that covered for you as there is an optional extra AMG Real Performance sound package that will set you back a little over R10,000 that makes the cabin come a live with real life engine noises as you accelerate. Its nothing new to cars as we've seen other brands do the same to their hybrid cars, I suppose it also helps with the transition from combustion to hybrid for most drivers. 

COMFORT

The car is based on the mid-sized family sedan so space and comfort isn't an issue with the C43 as there is ample of room inside the cabin. The two toned leather sports seats are not only great to look at but also extremely comfy, the driver and front passenger enjoy electric adjustable seats with 4-way lumbar support while the rear bench seat has two bucket styled sport seats for the rear occupants. The 11.9-inch infotainment screen is a bit of an overkill as its its just large, it would be nice if it was customisable like a phone screen with widgets  so you can set out what you want to see, especially when you running one of the mobile phone apps which it comes built in with that is accessed wirelessly. There is dual zone climate control with seat heating for the driver and front passenger. I still don't like the large plastic panels used on the front dash as they do tend to creek when traveling at high speeds and makes the cabin sound a bit cheap. There is a lot of high gloss or piano black finishes that attract a lot of dust so you always find yourself busy wiping the interior making sure it looks clean. Mercs ambient lighting is something to be admired, at night it transforms the cabin into an luminous spectacle with various colours and tones to choose from. While the boot lid can be opened from the key, I found it disappointing that it was automated, but that's just me, guess I expected to push a button to close it to. 

VERDICT

Overall, its an extremely well put together car, offering the customer a performance sedan with a practical aspect to it. While it might not be as fast as its bigger brother it offers the consumer a nice inbetweener option that also carries the famed AMG badge to it. While the verdict is still out on the 2.0L turbo electric engine that is also being used in the C63SE which is due to come, rumours of Merc returning to the V8 earlier this week were quickly squashed from the brand. While many don't like change, its time to get used to it as the world is evolving at a rapid speed so we need to deal with it and enjoy the perks of engineering performance delivered to us like this. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	2.0-liter, 4-cylinder turbo electric
Gear Box	9-speed automatic
Torque	500Nm
Power	300W
0-100km/h	4.6 seconds
Price	R1,608,810*

*base price

 Pictures by Bongusandisiwe