Mercedes-Benz Looks to Add a New Entry Level Sub-Compact by 2018

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. - March 27, 2013 - PRLog -- The team at Mercedes-Benz of Hoffman Estates (http://www.mercedeshoffman.com/index.htm) is looking forward to being able to offer an entry-level subcompact from the famed German luxury automaker. It won’t be for a few years, though; the new car, tentatively called the X-Class, is slated to come out around 2018. The vehicle will likely be a product of the partnership between Nissan-Renault and Mercedes-Benz, who have agreed to share technology. The vehicle is expected to target younger, ecologically and economically conscious consumers who prioritize fuel economy and value over size and luxury features. The new car would fill a gap in the current Mercedes-Benz lineup between the recently unveiled A-Class, which is not yet available in the United States, and the Smart lineup of minicars.

The Nissan-Renault group and Mercedes-Benz have agreed to share technology, and as a result, the new X-Class will likely be related to the next generation of the Renault Clio. There’s a good chance that it will feature either a three-cylinder 1.0L or four-cylinder 1.5L engine, and maybe a hybrid or diesel powertrain in some markets, though currently there are no plans announced for those alternative-fuel vehicles. Chances are that the new car will be available as a sedan and a small crossover. The Mercedes-Benz X-Class will likely be priced somewhere between $20,000 and $30,000, with a targeted volume of between 100,000 and 150,000 units annually worldwide.

As with most Mercedes-Benz models, the X-Class will likely debut in Europe first. Even the current entry-level Mercedes-Benz vehicle has yet to make it to the United States, though in 2014 a version of that car called the CLA-Class will make its North American debut. The partnership between Mercedes-Benz, Renault, and Nissan, will likely also result in some cross-pollination of ideas and technologies that may add to the current smart lineup, and bring more hybrid technology to the Mercedes-Benz lineup (http://www.mercedeshoffman.com/showroom/index.htm), though no official announcements have been made.

To find out more about new and upcoming Mercedes-Benz vehicles, area drivers should contact Mercedes-Benz of Hoffman Estates, one of the leading Chicago area Mercedes-Benz dealerships. Located at 1000 West Golf Road (http://www.mercedeshoffman.com/dealership/directions.htm) in Hoffman Estates, the dealership provides new Mercedes-Benz vehicles and a large selection of pre-owned cars, as well as maintenance and repair services.