Mercedes to introduce a new member of the compact car family this month

Production model to slot between the Mercedes CLA and Mercedes C-Class.

Earlier this year, it was said that a Mercedes A-Class Sedan concept would debut at Auto Shanghai 2017 that opens on 19 April. In the latest, Marco Ebler, the product manager for Mercedes-Benz's compact cars, has confirmed that a new member of the compact car family will be introduced formally this month.

Mercedes-Benz hinted the Mercedes A-Class Sedan concept with the "Aesthetics A" sculpture that was introduced in January 2017. The company said that the Aesthetics A's 'Sensual Purity' design philosophy "will be manifested in the not too distant future." The sculpture is "a sign of new forms in the compact class" because classic saloons are very much in demand in markets outside Europe.

The Mercedes A-Class Sedan will ride on the MFA2 platform and slot between the Mercedes CLA and Mercedes C-Class. Primarily targeted at China and North America, the Mercedes A-Class Sedan will have a right-hand drive version too, meaning that an Indian launch isn't out of the question. Reports suggest that China will get it in an exclusive long-wheelbase version.

Mercedes-Benz will offer the Mercedes A-Class Sedan with conventional engines including the Renault-Nissan Alliance-sourced 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol and 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel units, as well as the M264 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol and OM654 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel units. The range will include the A 45 4MATIC four-wheel drive high-performance variant powered by a new version of the M133 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine.

Also See: 2018 Mercedes C-Class (facelift) shows its new tail lamps [Video]

Mercedes-Benz will likely manufacture the Mercedes A-Class in at least two locations. Daimler and Beijing Automotive should make the car in China for domestic sales, while the Mercedes-Benz Kecskemet plant in Hungary caters the European and other global markets.

The Renault-Nissan Alliance's partnership with Daimler could mean American markets get the Mercedes A-Class Sedan from the shared factory that will open this year in Aguascalientes, Mexico.