A glimpse of the future of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class will be shownat the 2011 New York Auto Show and the 2012 Shanghai Auto Show in the form of the Concept A. The Concept A is an over-styled version of what the 2012 A-Class will look like. And while it is a rather large departure from the current A-Class, the final release version will no doubt be a lot tamer than the incredible images Mercedes-Benz have presented us with in the Concept A.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class to be better than ever before

The Concept A is front-wheel drive and is powered by a direct-injection, turbo-charged 4-cylinder 2 litre engine which pumps out 210hp. The engine is a BlueEFFICIENCY which should result in some impressive fuel consumption figures and low emissions.

Such a fancy concept car would be nothing without some innovation on the inside. The Mercedes-Benz Concept A comes with a radar-based collision warning system that is linked to the adaptive Brake Assist which is a world first in the compact class. The system aims to lower the risk of rear-end collisions by providing a visual and sound warning and will prepare the Brake Assist for precise braking as the driver operates the brake pedal.

Looks-wise the Concept A has a much more aggressive appearance, especially when compared to the current Mercedes-Benz A-Class which looks rather “Soccer-mom” like. Mercedes credit “the wind and the waves” for the design inspiration of the A Concept, with its long hood, low silhouette and interplay of its lines. The front grille is probably the most striking element of the car and is described by Mercedes as “a star-filled sky”, this theme is repeated in the design of the wheels. It certainly looks flash but you cannot help but feel that it will be the first feature to be cut once the 2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class hits production.

The Concept A will be debuting soon, so check back for full details when they are available.