奔驰A级车去年刚刚进行了改款，现在车厂又开始开发其新一代车型了。新车内部编号为W177，预计将于明年底或2018年初发布。近日，该车合成图曝光，合成图是基于谍照绘制的。从合成图看，新车车头采用一对LED前大灯，为前脸增加一分时尚元素，而长度和宽度都增加的车身也使第四代车型更显高端范儿。同时也是内部驾乘空间和实用性进一步提升，不仅膝部和腿部活动空间更充裕，储物容积也增加，使新车更适合长途旅行。至于内装，预计将采用全数字仪表群以替代目前的模拟仪表，但奔驰很可能推出类似奥迪 A3 Sportback的虚拟座舱作为选装件。2018款A级车将继续使用奔驰MFA平台，因此算不上全新车型。由于更广泛的采用铝制材料，因此可以抵消车身尺寸增加所带来的重量增加，但现在这么说还为时过早。新车将搭载三缸和四缸涡轮增压引擎并提供更高效的插电混动系统。据传奔驰还将推出“A40”高性能版本，功率将达到300马力，该车将填补标准版和A45旗舰级车型之间的空白。后者将于2018年底或2019年初推出，功率将超过400马力。

2018 Mercedes A-Class render proposes stylish design
Having given its smallest car a subtle facelift last year, Mercedes is now focusing on a fourth generation (codenamed W177) scheduled to arrive either by the end of next year or early 2018. Today we are trying to figure out how the next iteration of Daimler’s posh five-door hatchback is going to look like based on the spy shots.

A pair of sleeker full-LED headlights is expected to give the new A-Class a more stylish front fascia, while an increase in size in both length and width will lend the fourth-gen model a more high-class posture. The bump in footprint will also pay dividends in terms of roominess and practicality as the W177 will bring extra knee and legroom as well as an increased cargo capacity making it easier to live with on longer journeys.

Since we’re on the subject of the interior, an all-digital instrument cluster to replace the analog dials is on the agenda, but Mercedes will likely offer it as optional kit, much like Audi is doing with its Virtual Cockpit for the facelifted A3 Sportback.

It won’t be an all-new model taking into account the 2018 A-Class will ride on the second iteration of Mercedes’ Modular Front Architecture (MFA). A more extensive use of aluminum might offset the increase in size, but it’s too soon to know for sure.

Turbocharged three- and four-cylinder engines are on the agenda, as is a more efficient plug-in hybrid derivative. A warm version rumored to be called “A40” has already been spotted and will have somewhere in the region of 300 horsepower to bridge the gap between the regular A-Class models and the flagship A45. The latter is probably scheduled to hit the streets by late 2018 / early 2019 and will have in excess of 400 horsepower.