The Little Giant Flexes Its Muscles The newest champ in the Mercedes-Benz A-class is the A 190. Its new 1.9-liter four cylinder engine with 92 kW/125 hp ideally combines two essential design objectives - driving enjoyment and economy. A new, tighter 5-speed sporty transmission adds to the A 190's agility, accentuating its peppy and dynamic personality. The A-Class lineup has a new star: the new A 190 affords the ideal combination of fun, dynamism and economy. The A 190 comes to the starting line loaded with innovations. A newly developed four-cylinder engine delivers high performance. A new five-speed manual transmission with close gear-ratios adds agility while the expanded standard equipment package and innovative engineering provide safety and comfort. The upshot is an attractive, dynamic, comfortable and safe automobile. This top-of-the line model marks the beginning of a new era in comfort and appointments for the successful A-class series. A more powerful engine and a new manual transmission lend the A 190 its sporty, dynamic character. The new 1.9 liter engine develops 92 kW/125 hp, propelling the A 190 from 0 to 100 kph in just 8.8 seconds. Acceleration from 60 to 120 kph takes 13.3 seconds and the car has a top speed of 198 kph. Fuel consumption in the NEFZ driving cycle is a mere 7.7 liters per 100 kilometers driven. The new five-speed manual transmission achieves excellent performance and permits use of ample torque. The ratios in third, fourth and fifth gear are more directly linked with the front-axle ratio- The transmission will be available as an option on the A 140 and A 160 models starting in September of this year. The A 190 is available in the Elegance and the Avantgarde versions. Both versions will offer a fuller line of standard equipment starting in June. The A 190 features front and rear disc brakes, 16-inch alloy wheels and wide 195/50 R 16 tyres as standard equipment. This is in addition to the leather accents in the interior and the new colours, both of which are elements of the expanded Elegance and Avantgarde lines. As in all A-Class models, the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with integrated anti-spin regulation (ASR), anti-lock braking system (ABS) and the braking assistant (BAS) are standard equipment on the A 190.