Mercedes A-Class teaser

By Jack Rix

January 2012

Mercedes has revealed a teaser video with a difference for the new A-Class. As you can see in these screen grabs, the normal swirly camouflage has been replaced with a grid of QR-codes.

Video: watch the official teaser for the new Mercedes A-Class

As a marketing stunt, Mercedes is planning to drive a series of these A-Class prototypes into major city centres in Germany, and members of the public are being encouraged to scan the codes on the cars if they spot them. The codes can be registered via a dedicated QR-Trophy smart phone app - and whoever uploads three separate codes will be entered into a draw to win a trip to the A-Class' unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

We've already seen drawings of the new A-Class submitted to the European patent office, but this video is our best look so far at the car in the metal. It's obvious Mercedes has gone for a more traditional hatchback shape, compared to the upright A-Class it replaces - that means it will compete directly with the new Audi A3 (also making its world debut in Geneva) and the BMW 1 Series.

The new A-Class is a hugely important car for Mercedes, as it's the first of five new models to sit on an all-new front-wheel drive platform. The others are a small SUV, a four-door BLS coupe, the new B-Class and three and five-door versions of the A-Class.