In April 2008 at the "Auto Mobil International" in Leipzig, Mercedes‑Benz presented the facelifted model series 169, with a modified design and extended standard equipment. Mercedes‑Benz had not only improved the design and equipment but also the technology, economic efficiency and environmental compatibility: at the market launch of the facelifted A‑Class, three models were available as BlueEFFICIENCY models. Series production began in June 2008 at the Mercedes‑Benz plant in Rastatt.
The model's new look was apparent at first glance: among other things the headlamps and tail lights, radiator grille and front and rear bumpers had been redesigned, and the side view now featured newly designed exterior mirrors and rims. Inside, there were new seat fabrics, the AVANTGARDE line featured new trim parts, and the exterior mirror housings and door handles were painted as standard in vehicle colour.
There were still two body versions to choose from, each appealing to different target groups: the five-door A‑Class, designed for everyday adaptability and functionality, and the three-door coupé, which combined the outstanding safety and comfort features of the A‑Class with a youthful, sporty appeal. Other possibilities of tailoring the vehicle to individual requirements were offered by the two lines ELEGANCE and AVANTGARDE, special equipment packages and a series of useful optional extras.
As before, there were seven four-cylinder engines to choose from, combined with a five or six-speed manual transmission, depending on the torque. The continuously variable AUTOTRONIC automatic transmission was also available as an option. The output spectrum of the engines ranged from 60 kW (82 hp) to 142 kW (193 hp). With fuel consumption of 4.5 to 8.1 litres per 100 kilometres (combined NEDC consumption), the four-cylinder engines were among the most economical in their displacement and output classes.
The high-volume A 150 and A 170 models were available as an option in a BlueEFFICIENCY version with a convenient ECO start/stop function which reduced petrol consumption in city traffic by up to 9 percent. The engine automatically switched off when the driver placed the manual transmission in neutral at low speed while pressing the brake pedal. The moment the clutch was pressed or the brake released, the engine sprang back to life in a fraction of a second and almost without a sound. This ability to restart the engine swiftly yet smoothly gave the ECO start/stop function a key edge over other systems of this type. Mercedes‑Benz used a starter generator which was linked to the crankshaft via the drive belt. As a result, the engine started much more rapidly and quietly than with a conventional starter. While the car was on the move, the starter generator fed electrical power to the A‑Class's on-board power supply. From autumn 2008, the A 160 CDI became the third model to be available in a BlueEFFICIENCY version. The BlueEFFICIENCY package for the A 160 CDI improved engine efficiency, aerodynamics, rolling resistance, energy management and weight.
BlueEFFICIENCY was the new term for Mercedes's commitment to reducing fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. In March, Mercedes-Benz had begun with the initial introduction of around 20 new BlueEFFICIENCY models which combined typical brand values such as safety and comfort with exemplary efficiency and environmental compatibility. The programme was offered from the A‑C lass to the S‑C lass and, in addition to the ECO start/stop function, it included aerodynamic optimisation, the use of the electric ECO steering system, an intelligent lightweight construction, the use of tyres with low rolling resistance and sophisticated generator management.
Its safety and comfort equipment set the A‑Class clearly apart from other compact cars. Standard equipment already included adaptive front airbags, head/thorax side airbags, adaptive belt force limiters, crash-responsive front head restraints, a multifunction steering wheel, speed-sensitive power steering, a selective damping system and air conditioning. But in this facelift Mercedes‑Benz also added further standard equipment details and new assistance systems, designed to enhance safety and comfort. These included Hill-Start Assist, adaptive, flashing brake lights, crash-responsive emergency lighting, power windows with one-touch control, Headlamp Assist and ambient and signal lights in the tailgate. Opting for the ELEGANCE and AVANTGARDE created a subtly different feel, with individual comfort and design details.
The list of optional equipment included high-tech systems which can by no means be taken for granted in this vehicle class. For example the newly developed infotainment devices, which, depending on the model, featured a colour display, a Bluetooth interface, a telephone keypad and a connection for external audio devices. The new top-of-the-range Audio 50 APS and COMAND APS models offered additional functions such as Europe-wide navigation and a DVD player. COMAND APS also featured voice control as standard. The new Parking Assistant helped the driver when reversing into a parking space by automatically taking care of the required steering manoeuvres.
Mercedes‑Benz had also put together various equipment packages, made up of different optional extras, for the A‑Class. Customers could opt for the Light and Sight package, the Sports package and the new Selective package which included leather appointments, electrically adjustable, heated front seats and THERMOTRONIC automatic climate control.
From model year 2009 the designations of certain models of the series 169 line-up were changed. Petrol models with a 1.5-litre displacement became the A 160 BlueEFFICIENCY and A 160 and those with a 1.7-litre displacement became the A 180 BlueEFFICIENCY and A 180.
In spring 2009 Mercedes‑Benz introduced the A‑Class "Special Edition 2009", manufactured in a limited edition of 5500. The look of the special model was characterised by exclusive elements such as black radiator louvres, titanium silver-painted 16-inch light-alloy wheels in a new 9-spoke design (tyre size 195/55 R16) and a "Special Edition" label on the mirror triangle. Standard equipment for the exterior also included fog lamps and a free choice of metallic paintwork. Inside, the two-tone colour scheme in black and grey and the high-quality materials underlined the special status of the Special Edition 2009. The multifunction steering wheel, shift/selector lever and hand brake handle were trimmed in leather. The equipment also included the Audio 20 radio with a CD player and a Bluetooth hands-free system, plus a Light and Sight package. Another standard feature was the Seat Comfort package, with height-adjustable front passenger seat, seat cushion angle adjustment and lumbar support for the driver and front passenger. With all of these features fitted as standard, the new special model resulted in a saving of 36 percent on the price of the series-produced version. The Special Edition 2009 was available for all model variants of the A‑C lass, including models with a standard-fit BlueEFFICIENCY package.
In summer 2009, the A-Class then celebrated another production anniversary: at the Rastatt plant the 750,000th vehicle of the169 model series rolled off the assembly line. The diesel share of the A-Class at that time was around 40% worldwide, with the most popular engine variants the A 160, A 180 CDI and A 180. The top model in the Saloon range, the 142 kW/193 hp A 200 Turbo, was always the more exotic choice. Its annual production figures had fallen to fewer than 500 units by this time. As a consequence, production of this version was discontinued at the end of 2010.
The W 169 also played an important role in the development of alternative drive systems at Mercedes-Benz: in 2010, the Stuttgart brand introduced the A-Class E-Cell, a five-door A-Class with battery-electric drive. The start of series production was scheduled for October 2010. The initial plan was to build a small series of more than 500 vehicles that would be leased to selected customers for four years (or 60,000 kilometres).
The A-Class E-CELL was based on the A-Class in the Avantgarde equipment version. Externally, the new electric-drive variant was characterised by, among other things, the absence of an exhaust and exhaust cut-out in the bodywork, a uniform, fine paint finish in cirrus white and the designation "E-CELL" in silver lettering on the tailgate.
The A-Class E-Cell was powered by electric motors with an output of up to 70 kW and a torque of 290 Nm. The state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery made a range of more than 200 kilometres possible on one charge. As the batteries were housed in the sandwich floor of the vehicle, the passenger and luggage compartment, and thus the corresponding customer benefits of the A-Class, were fully retained.
Just a month after the completely redesigned and developed next generation of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class (model series 176) had celebrated its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2012, the era of the previous A-Class launched in 1997 came to an end. A total of around 2.2 million vehicles of the two model series, 168 and 169, left the production facilities during a production cycle that lasted more than 15 years. The last unit completed at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Rastatt, an A 180 CDI in the colour polar silver, was ceremoniously bid farewell on 19 April and delivered to a buyer from France.
