Quote:
Originally Posted by johnh875
The original Mercedes-Benz A-class would have to qualify with the sandwich floor concept, too bad about the moose test. Quite a contrast from the current car where M-B have joined many other manufacturers in dropping off a Golf as the design breif.
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Glad someone bought that up! 1997 when it happened, so some may be too young even to know about it! Google ‘Mercedes A class Elk (or Moose) test’ for loads of good pics....
The packaging of the original A class was superb, although it did place the driver rather far forward in the car. It’s sandwich floor was very clever, and despite the test roll over debacle the model sold very well. I believe the Audi A2 was their response to the Merc, but although more advanced in some ways (and better handling!) the Audi was not so accommodating for passengers or their luggage.
Apparently the double floor was abandoned for the 3rd gen due to marketing pressures. Merc wanted the car to appeal to younger buyers, and the earlier cars had to be tall due to said floor design. Great for the older generation, but hardly sporty...... As you say, the current and recently announced next gen A class are just Golf clones, some models with wheezy Renault engines to boot......