Mercedes-Benz Officially Introduces the New A-Class Hatch, gets up to 208HP [Photos & Videos ]

The Geneva Motor Show's second worst kept secret after the Volvo V40, the all-new 2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class hatchback, was finally revealed today.

The new A-Class represents both a radical and a conservative departure from the two previous generations of Mercedes-Benz's compact model series.

To explain, conservative, in the sense that it abandons the tall sandwich platform and mini-MPV-like body of the outgoing model for a more traditional hatchback shape, but also a radical departure because of the far more sportier and sexier design inside and out.

Previewed by last year's concept model of the same name, the new five-door A-Class is based on Mercedes' new MFA (modular front architecture) platform. It measures 4,292mm long, 1,780mm wide and 1,433mm tall, which makes it 32mm shorter but 15mm wider and 12mm taller than its main rival, the BMW 1-Series hatchback.

However, unlike the BMW model that uses a rear-wheel drive setup, the A-Class is driven by its front wheels, which means it should provide more ample space inside.

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2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class is a Secret No More as Official Photos Leak Online

We've been chasing around the next generation of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class ever since the German firm previewed the series with a three-door concept model at both the New York and Shanghai auto shows last April, but now at last, we can bring you the first official photos, courtesy of a Spanish forum.

As indicated by the patent designs we showed you almost a year ago, the styling of the production version of the A-Class is very close to the original concept and marks a departure from the two previous generation MPV-like models as Mercedes went for a traditional hatchback design.

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Another Photo of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Leaked, Could it be the AMG Model?

Mercedes-Benz may be gearing up for a world premiere of the all-new from the ground up A-Class hatchback at next week's Geneva Auto Show, but over the past few months, we've shown you everything from the official design patents to a video of the car filmed during an island photo shoot.

The latest picture comes courtesy of Hungarian auto site Automobil, and it shows the rear end of the new A-Class hatch. The editor of the site told Carscoop that the picture was attached to an email sent by a Mercedes-Benz dealer.

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