[parrys]

Mercedes-Benz has launched the Edition 1 limited editions of the A & B-Class priced at 26.17 lakh & 28.75 lakh respectively. (Ex-showroom Mumbai)



High Points:

• The Edition 1 will be a limited edition variant of the A-Class & B-Class, with only 100 cars each.
• The limited-run Edition 1s will be available only in diesel. They will be powered by the 2.2L 4-cylinder engine mated to the 7G-DCT automatic transmission.
• Extras that the A-Class Edition 1 gets: Panoramic sunroof, gloss black ORVMs, 17" alloy wheels, Edition 1 decal, reversing camera, electrically adjustable front passenger seat, Edition 1 badge on the interior & a rear center armrest.
• Extras that the B-Class Edition 1 gets: Panoramic sunroof, gloss black ORVMs, Edition 1 decal, reversing camera, electrically adjustable front passenger seat, two screens for rear seat entertainment & a rear center armrest.
• Edition 1 versions will be available only in three colours: Silver, white and red.
• Almost 2500 units of the A & B-Class combined have made it on to Indian roads by now. Mercedes claims that one out of every five cars they sell is either an A-Class or a B-Class.

[parrys]

The A-Class Edition 1






The diamond grille on the Edition 1, at least at the launch. Unconfirmed if it is actually standard on these limited edition variants.


17" termolite grey 5-double spoke alloy wheels.


Gloss black ORVM housing.


Edition 1 decal on the side skirt.


Reversing camera mounted between the number plate lights.


Dashboard remains unchanged.




Instrument cluster has been changed since our Official Review, and looks plain jane now.


The center screen will show you the reversing display.






Passenger seats are now electrically adjustable.


Inside view of the panoramic sunroof.


Edition 1 badge on the headliner. (On the roof, between the sunroof and its controls)




Rear seat center armrest with cupholders.

[parrys]

The B-Class Edition 1




Front stays identical.


16" matte black + silver / chrome alloys on the B-Class get a glossy black center-hub caps.


Gloss black ORVM housing.


Edition one decal on the side skirt.


Dashboard is unchanged.


Center screen will show the reversing display.


Passenger seats now get electric adjustments.


Edition 1 badge on the headliner.


Inside view of the panoramic sunroof.


Rear seats with center armrest.


Two screens, behind each of the front seats, for rear seat entertainment.


A look at the B-Class boot size.

[Rehaan]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line section. Thanks!

Here are the links to Team-BHP's A-Class & B-Class Official Reviews / Reports:

A-Class

B-Class

cya
R

[Vid6639]

Good additions to the A and B class.

For the A class I've always said apart for the looks, there was nothing else going for it. Engines were just about ok, ride was terribly hard and the car was super cramped to sit in at the back. It just looked damn good. With these fixes, the ride should improve along with ground clearance. It's not a bad option now for someone looking at a second car but does not want the vanilla brands. The owner of a E class or ML class who is usually chauffeur driven might not mind having an A as his weekend drive when the chauffeur is on leave.

The B class is the one I always liked. Practical with good ride, good space and I liked the looks. The B on paper would have been the best chauffeur driven Merc to buy if you could not afford the E class. The B had more legroom than the C and had great ingress/egress. What Mercedes messed up for the rear seat occupants was lack of rear AC vents, rear armrest and the rear seats were too upright. They removed the recline feature from India spec cars.

With the Edition 1, only the rear armrest issue has been fixed, Instead of adding rear AC vents and seat recline, they have added rear entertainment package. Inexplicable if you ask me.

The B still remains a confusing product. The self driven will not look at it as it has MPV stance and is FWD. Not as fun to drive either. The chauffeur driven still can't look at it as the rear seats are too upright and no rear AC vent.

[RohanDheman]

Originally Posted by Vid6639

With the Edition 1, only the rear armrest issue has been fixed.

I really don't understand this gimmick by Mercedes. The MY 2014 B class has the rear arm-rest and the camera as standard. Why are they advertising this as something being special to edition 1. I posted this update back in March or April on the B class thread. Clear case of a communication gap between the guys at the factory and their PR/marketing teams.

Cheers

Rohan

[GTO]

Originally Posted by Vid6639

For the A class I've always said apart for the looks, there was nothing else going for it.

I disagree. The A-Class (and Mini Cooper) are the ultimate city hatchbacks for the uber rich. Small & chuckable in the city, excellent quality inside out, great styling, light controls (super easy to drive) and smooth transmission. For self-driving millionaires, it's a superb city car.

But yes, the back is cramped and it's best as the 2nd / 3rd car of the house. Not to forget, the A-Class is ridiculously priced.

[Vid6639]

Originally Posted by GTO

I disagree. The A-Class (and Mini Cooper) are the ultimate city hatchbacks for the uber rich. Small & chuckable in the city, excellent quality inside out, great styling, light controls (super easy to drive) and smooth transmission. For self-driving millionaires, it's a superb city car.

But yes, the back is cramped and it's best as the 2nd / 3rd car of the house. Not to forget, the A-Class is ridiculously priced.

Agreed, and that's the thing. The A class works as a second car or third car for the uber rich. They may already have a S class, ML or E class and when they self drive they want something smaller but not have to go to vanilla brands. The A class works in that situation.

The B class on the other hand can be the family car if you need one luxury car and already have another car. You can sit in the back with chauffeur driven or drive it yourself on weekends. It would have been dual purpose had they not removed the rear AC vents and rear seat recline feature.

[racer_ash]

Originally Posted by Vid6639

Good additions to the A and B class.
With these fixes, the ride should improve along with ground clearance.

Sorry if I missed this part. But there is no mention of any mechanical changes in terms of ground clearance or the talk of providing softer suspension anywhere in the report. Can you point out to where this is mentioned?

[Baddychat]

Nice shots from the launch event parrys. A special edition called the Edition 1 sounds a bit weird though.
From what I read it is spruced up A- Class with no change in power output. A special edition with a higher state of tune would indeed make these special.

What premium are MB charging for this ?

Cheers

[GTO]

Originally Posted by Vid6639

The B class on the other hand can be the family car if you need one luxury car and already have another car. You can sit in the back with chauffeur driven or drive it yourself on weekends.

Difference is in the level of desirability (most important when spending 30 lakhs or over). The A-Class has tons of it, the B-Class has none. The B-Class' boring van-like looks aren't going to win anyone over.

[sahakar]

Originally Posted by GTO

Difference is in the level of desirability (most important when spending 30 lakhs or over). The A-Class has tons of it, the B-Class has none. The B-Class' boring van-like looks aren't going to win anyone over.

The price diff between A and B of just 2 lakhs or so, would make most of us practical Indians to go for the B.

A is only for the diehard Merc fans with lots of money to spare. Of course get the A around 15 lakhs and it may just start selling like hot cakes.

Cheers

[vb-saan]

Originally Posted by sahakar

The price diff between A and B of just 2 lakhs or so, would make most of us practical Indians to go for the B.

Both these cars appeal to different sensibilities IMO. A is a cool hatchback, and the B is practical but its more of a MPV than a hatchback. The badge value is there, but for all practical purposes a D-segment sedan maybe a better choice (compared to the B).

[Diesel_convert]

Other than the Mini the A is the best looking hatch by a mile.

I was recently following one being driven hard and the body control seemed to be superb.

If only they had priced it well :(

[Thad E Ginathom]

I liked the original A Class very much. Although it was unaffordable to buy, there was a UK hire company that had a leasing agreement for a large number of them, and hired them at ridiculously low daily rates. Thus I was able to spend quite a few weekends and several holidays with one, the crowning example of which was a 1.9 automatic for a couple of weeks.

I desired, but I could not afford. In the Indian market, the unafordability can only reach new hights!