1.6

STORY

Mercedes unveiled the compact van in September 2001 at the Frankfurt motor show as model series 414, and Ludwigsfelde began building it late that year on A-Class mechanicals. Sales opened in 2002 with three petrol engines, the 1.6 at 60 and 75 kW and the 1.9 at 92 kW, two 1.7 CDI diesels at 55 and 67 kW, and the TREND, FAMILY and AMBIENTE equipment lines. Demand never came close to the planned volume of about 50,000 cars a year; German trade reports put that down to the price, the seats and quality complaints. The B-Class that Mercedes presented at Geneva in March 2005 took over the slot. DaimlerChrysler announced the end in February 2005 and closed the line that summer after roughly 55,000 had been built.