The production version of the new generation Mercedes A Class has been officially unveiled.

This handsome hatchback is the absolute highlight of Mercedes show at the Geneva show this year. It features a fresh new design, a range of good engines, and a long list of new and exciting features.

Mercedes says the A is for Attack. Crikey!

With a design derived from the Concept A Class with great loyalty, the new A-Class can be classified as good-looking, sporty, premium hatchback. It is premium also because of its high quality – with silver shadow and cool touch trims –  and high-end features, such as smartphone integrity. It even has a special app that makes it possible to use the full functionality of the iPhone.

The interior in fact looks somewhat like the SLS supercar. It has similar “sparkling jewels” air vents!

The AMG Sport version:

The new model’s lineup includes a A-Class Sport AMG version featuring the new diamond grille, 18-inch AMG light-alloy wheels in a 5-spoke design with 235/40 R18 tyres all round and painted high-gloss black with a high-sheen finish, together with red-painted brake callipers. AMG-developed front axle and a suspension that has been configured to match are also provided for the A 250 Sport and the A 220 CDI Sport.

This is not the AMG hot hatch we’re eagerly waiting for, mind you. That is yet to arrive.

The list of engines for the new A-Class includes new generation of petrol engines with a displacement of 1.6 and 2.0 litres ranges from 115 hp in the A 180 and 156 hp in the A 200 through to 211 hp in the A 250.

As for the diesels, the A 180 CDI offers an output of 109 hp and a maximum torque of up to 250 Nm, while the A 200 CDI has a maximum output of 136 hp and torque that rises to 300 Nm. The A 220 CDI has a displacement of 2.2 litres, an output of 170 hp and torque of  350 Nm.

All engines in the new A-Class feature the ECOstart/stop function as standard. The engines can be combined either with the new six-speed manual transmission or, as an option, with the 7G-DCT dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The 2012 A-Class will be one of the safest cars in its segment. The A-Class is the only vehicle in its class to feature as standard a radar-based collision warning system with adaptive Brake Assist.  The democratisation of safety also encompasses an array of other assistance systems which have been adopted into the A-Class from the larger model series. These include:

• ATTENTION ASSIST (standard)
• Brake HOLD function (standard)
• Hill-Start Assist (standard)
• DISTRONIC PLUS
• Adaptive Highbeam Assist
• Blind Spot Assist and Lane Keeping Assist
• Speed Limit Assist (speed limit sign recognition)
• Active Parking Assist
• LINGUATRONIC
• Reversing camera

It’s a really magnificent car, especially in the AMG sport trim. Can’t wait for the full-on, hotted-up AMG version.