At the Geneva Motor Show, which opened at the end of February 2001, Mercedes-Benz presented the updated version of the A-Class of the W 168 series. The vehicles had benefited from a comprehensive package of technical and stylistic updates – a total of around 980 components of the innovative compact car had been modified or newly developed.
The most striking feature of the exterior appearance was the redesigned front section. With a strikingly contoured bumper including a newly shaped lower air intake, the body of the compact car now looked wider, giving the A-Class a more dynamic appearance overall. The formally integrated, replaceable protective mouldings on the front bumper and the headlamps with a modern clear-glass look also contributed to this.
The interior of the A-Class fulfilled the premium standards of the Mercedes-Benz compact car segment in every respect in terms of value appeal, ergonomics and build quality. The entire cockpit was redesigned and offered a new, harmonious transition to the windscreen at the front, without detracting from the emphatically sweeping lines.
The shape of the centre console was adapted to the modernised interior design. The upper section was now slightly wider than before and protruded into the interior at a flatter angle so that the controls were even more visible from the front seats. The ergonomic layout and design of the switches corresponded to the latest practical driving knowledge. For example, the most frequently operated buttons and the car radio were moved to the top positions in the centre console, while the heating and ventilation controls were now positioned at the bottom. All elements of the centre console were integrated into a decorative panel which, depending on the equipment line, was characterised by a textured surface with a metallic effect (CLASSIC), a surface in fine wood veneer (ELEGANCE) or an aluminium finish (AVANTGARDE).
Further upgrades included the redesigned three-spoke steering wheel, which was now height-adjustable as standard, and stylistically revised door panels, which were fitted with wood or aluminium trim strips in the ELEGANCE and AVANTGARDE equipment lines. In addition, features such as a rain sensor for interval control of the windscreen wipers, an automatically dimming interior mirror and a heated windscreen washer system completed the range of optional extras. The latter also included a newly developed air conditioning system that was controlled depending on the humidity by a so-called dew point sensor – a high-tech system that gave the revised A-Class a unique position in its market segment.
From mid-2001, Mercedes-Benz offered a 170-millimetre longer version of the compact model for all engine versions of the A-Class – with the exception of the A 160 CDI – which had already been presented in the spring. This variant was characterised by the spaciousness of a luxury saloon, exemplary variability and new top values for load volume. The long-wheelbase version of the A-Class thus set a benchmark among compact cars, as no competitor model in this market segment offered such a large amount of space: The 3.78-metre-long body provided up to 1930 litres of space for passengers and cargo – 11 % more than the standard version.
The extension of the wheelbase provided a unique comfort experience, especially for the rear passengers of the A-Class: 170 millimetres more legroom and a total distance between the two rows of seats of 945 millimetres resulted in a freedom of movement that could not be taken for granted even in luxury class saloons.
Thanks to the variable rear seat system, which could be moved lengthways by 111 millimetres, it was possible to opt for either more space in the rear or in the boot, depending on requirements. Even in the foremost position of the rear seats, the A-Class with extended wheelbase still offered 60 millimetres more legroom than the standard version. At the same time, the boot volume in this configuration increased by 80 litres to 470 litres – enough to accommodate three large suitcases. With the rear seats removed, the luggage compartment of the long-wheelbase version had a maximum capacity of 1,530 litres according to the VDA measurement method; a figure that was significantly higher than the average load capacity of larger estate models and set new standards in the compact car class.
In terms of the drive system, the facelift only brought significant changes to the diesel engines. Although the tried-and-tested 1.7-litre four-cylinder OM 688 engines with common-rail direct injection were retained, they were slightly more powerful: The diesel engine used in the A 160 CDI now delivered 55 kW/75 hp instead of the previous 44 kW/60 hp thanks to an intercooler, which was now fitted as standard. At the same time, the power output of the A 170 CDI was also increased from 66 kW/90 hp to 70 kW/95 hp. The average standard fuel consumption of the updated models remained absolutely moderate despite the increased performance and weightier long-wheelbase versions and was limited to values between 4.9 and 5.2 litres per 100 kilometres – in each case with manual transmission. For the first time, the familiar 5-speed automatic transmission was also available for the significantly more powerful A 160 CDI entry-level diesel model.
The four-cylinder petrol engines from the M 166 series, which were still used in the A 140, A 160 and A 190 models, started the second production cycle of the A-Class without any relevant modifications to the technical specifications.
On the other hand, the developers had placed particular emphasis on further developing the driving safety technology. The standard Electronic Stability Program ESP® was presented in further improved design. The generation of the system at the time was characterised by particularly comfortable control behaviour and, for the first time, made it possible to combine it with a new type of hydraulic brake assistant, which generated maximum brake pressure in emergency situations and was therefore able to achieve optimum braking distances.
On request, the large window airbags, which Mercedes-Benz had first used in the S-Class, were now also available for the A-Class. More than a metre long and 12 centimetres wide, the air cushion stretched like a curtain from the A-pillar to the C-pillar in the event of a side impact, providing extensive head protection that benefited both the passengers in the front seats and those in the rear. In this way, the window airbags acted as a supplement to the side impact protection concept of the A-Class, which was characterised by the familiar sandwich design, stable member and pillar structures and standard side airbags in the front doors, among other things.
The gross list prices fixed in spring 2001 for the market launch of the updated A-Class models were slightly adjusted and ranged from DM 32,329.87 for an A 140 to DM 40,270.54 for an A 190. As before, the cheapest option for owning a diesel-powered A-Class was the now significantly upgraded A 160 CDI, which sold for DM 34,938.95. An additional price of around DM 2,000 was charged for each of the new long versions added to the range.
As the first and ultimately only addition to the revised model range, Mercedes-Benz presented the new top-of-the-range model, the A 210 EVOLUTION, in March 2002. This was available with both a short and a long wheelbase and, in addition to its superior engine, stood out from the other versions thanks to its special visual accents and exclusive equipment features.
The first thing that caught the eye was the AMG outfit of the new model: These included new 17-inch light-alloy wheels with 205/40 tyres, wind deflector elements on the rear window, bluish shimmering interference indicators in the clear glass headlamps, a wrap-around red trim strip, the new exterior mirrors with integrated indicators and the twin tailpipe of the exhaust system.The only paint colours available were the two metallic shades polar silver and cumulus grey as well as the non-metallic night black paint.
The interior of the A 210 EVOLUTION featured a bicolour interior in dark and light grey. For example, the seats featured light grey Alcantara on the centre panels, combined with side bolsters upholstered in dark grey leather. The standard specification also included a 3-spoke leather steering wheel in light and dark grey with light grey contrasting topstitching, a light grey dial of the instrument cluster, silver-coloured seat belts, brushed aluminium on the centre console and door panels, sports pedals with stainless-steel pads and rubber studs and stainless-steel door sill panels with Mercedes-Benz lettering.
In keeping with the sporty appearance of the top-of-the-range model, the drive system provided a level of performance previously unknown in the A-Class. The four-cylinder petrol engine of the M 166 engine series had been increased to a total volume of 2084 cc by significantly extending the stroke. The new cubic capacity resulted in a peak output of 103 kW/140 hp at 5500 rpm and an increased maximum torque of 205 Nm, which led to correspondingly superior performance: The A 210 EVOLUTION completed the standard sprint from standstill to 100 km/h in 8.2 seconds, and the top speed was 203 km/h; the average standard fuel consumption was stated as 7.9 litres per 100 kilometres. The tried-and-tested 5-speed sports manual gearbox was used for power transmission.
The chassis specification of the top-of-the-range version was adapted to its higher performance potential. The sports suspension, equipped with newly tuned spring/damper elements and a special rear-axle stabiliser, was fitted as standard. The four-wheel disc braking system was also adapted to the increased requirements with additionally perforated front discs.
The gross list price of the A 210 EVOLUTION set for the market launch in spring 2002 was € 24,360.00 – the new common currency had been introduced on 1 January of that year.
The spring also saw the launch of the first special model based on the updated A-Class. It bore the name "CLASSIC style", was positioned between the CLASSIC equipment line and the upmarket ELEGANCE version and offered interested buyer groups a tangible customer advantage.
Exterior features of the special equipment package included the standard choice of galaxy black and cumulus grey metallic paint finishes, 6-spoke 5.5 J x 15-inch light-alloy wheels with 195/50 tyres and a roof aerial. Passenger comfort was enhanced by, among other things, the air conditioning system, the Audio 5 radio system, a rain sensor for the windscreen wiper system, a locking system with radio remote control, a mobile phone pre-installation and velour floor mats with Editions lettering, as found on the gear lever.
The special model was available in combination with all available engines as well as in standard and long-wheelbase versions – with the exception of the two top petrol engines A 190 and A 210 EVOLUTION. The gross list prices of the CLASSIC style models started at € 18,995.00 for an A 140 with standard wheelbase and ranged up to € 22,359.00 for an A 170 CDI in the long version.
Around a year later, in spring 2003, the range of specially tailored equipment packages for the A-Class was substantially expanded, combining further customisation options with customer benefits. In addition to the "Family" and "Family Plus" packages that had been available since the model update, four more packages were now added: "Economy", "Comfort", "Exclusive" and "EVOLUTION". These were linked to specific equipment lines, and with different scopes, were available for all available engines and versions, with the exception of the A 210 EVOLUTION, at gross list prices of between €3032.40 and €3584.40. The most expensive "Exclusive" package, which could only be ordered in conjunction with the ELEGANCE and AVANTGARDE lines, turned the A-Class into a compact luxury vehicle. It included, for example, air conditioning, leather upholstery with heated front seats, a CD radio, a mobile phone pre-installation, PARKTRONIC parking assistance system and metallic paintwork.
Despite all the initial problems, the A-Class celebrated a memorable anniversary in September of that year: Less than six years after the market launch of the 168 series, the one millionth vehicle rolled off the production line at the Rastatt plant, an A 170 CDI with long wheelbase painted metallic comet grey. An analysis carried out on this occasion showed, firstly, that the A-Class had established itself particularly successfully in the European core markets of Italy, the UK and France after the domestic sales market and, secondly, that more than 40 per cent of customers had opted for the long-wheelbase version.
At the International Motor Show (IAA) held in Frankfurt/Main in the same month, Mercedes-Benz supplemented the A-Class sales range with the "PICCADILLY" special model. This upgraded the CLASSIC equipment line or, in the case of the A 190 model, the ELEGANCE or AVANTGARDE lines with a range of additional visual and comfort features and was – again with the exception of the top model A 210 EVOLUTION – available for all engine versions and both wheelbase versions.
The package included newly designed 16-inch 5-spoke light-alloy wheels, the alpine blue and tropical black paint colours provided exclusively for the special model, air conditioning, a stereo car radio, a locking system with remote control as well as a leather steering wheel and leather-covered gear lever. Also included were velour floor mats with PICCADILLY lettering; the special model logo was also found on the triangular panel in front of the two exterior mirrors and on the gear lever.
The PICCADILLY versions available until 2004 were offered at gross list prices of between € 19,267.60 for a standard A 140 and € 23,571.20 for a long-wheelbase A 190.
Also at the IAA 2003, Mercedes-Benz used three A-Class vehicles, which were equipped with the pioneering fuel cell drive under the designation "F-Cell", for the press shuttle service of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA). At that time, 60 of these vehicles had already been built under near-production conditions to start long-term practical testing under everyday conditions at Mercedes-Benz customers in Europe, the USA, Japan and Singapore. The entire fuel cell system was housed in the sandwich floor of the long-wheelbase A-Class. Two compressed hydrogen tanks (350 bar) provided a range of 150 kilometres with a hydrogen consumption equivalent to 4.2 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres. The electric motor, which acted as the traction drive, produced 65 kW/88 hp and enabled acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 16 seconds, with a top speed of 140 km/h. The predecessors of the A-Class F-Cell were the NECAR 3 to NECAR 5 research vehicles, also based on the 168 series, which were built between 1997 and 2000.
Before the changeover to the new A-Class generation of the 169 series in autumn 2004, the model portfolio and all technical specifications remained largely unchanged. In concrete terms, production of almost all versions had already ended by May of the year, with the long-wheelbase variants having already been taken out of production in April. The only exceptions were the two petrol-powered models A 160 and A 190, which continued to be produced at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Juiz de Fora, Brazil, until the summer of 2005 to supply the South American markets.
The production statistics for the 168 series showed that a total of 880,000 vehicles had left the Rastatt plant by the time of the generation changeover to the 169 series and across both production cycles. Of these, around 675,000 units had the standard wheelbase and around 204,000 vehicles had the long wheelbase, which was only available from the model update in spring 2001. In addition, a good 63,000 units with standard wheelbase were built at the Brazilian production site.
Three engines dominated the ranking of the most popular models. The A 170 CDI clearly took first place in both the standard and long-wheelbase versions, with a total of around 207,000 vehicles built. It was followed by the A 140 and A 140 long with an accumulated total of around 134,500 units and the A 160 and A 160 long with a good 133,000 vehicles in total. The significantly more powerful petrol-powered A 190/A 190 long and A 210 EVOLUTION/A 210 EVOLUTION long were a long way behind with a total of around 31,000 and 5.700 units, respectively.
