Consumers can be a very fickle lot -- and their tastes do change from time to time. There might be some way to predict this, although most of the time, it is nigh impossible to do so. Having said that, Mercedes-Benz, the luxury automobile manufacturer, has already widened their collection of vehicles that are available for purchase, and look set to continue to diversify their portfolio in order to appeal to an even wider audience. Word has it that Mercedes-Benz has plans to roll out an all-new A-Class sedan to North America -- followed by other important global markets such as China, among others. Just which part of the Mercedes-Benz hierarchy will the new A-Class sedan fit in? It is touted to be right smack in between the CLA and C-Class sedans.

According to Autocar, their anonymous sources have mentioned that the new A-Class sedans will arrive at dealerships some time at the end of 2018. Yes, you read that right -- not only will the fourth generation A-Class hatchback be introduced by then, it will also be accompanied by the new A-Class sedan. It is still some ways left to go of course, at least two more years on the calendar before that happens, and this particular model is tipped to boast of gas, diesel, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid powertrains. It is certainly a pretty comprehensive lot to choose from, so no matter which kind of fuel or energy source you prefer, there should be a model that fits you -- and your budget, of course. How about breaking down the choices to include front and all-wheel drive options? Things certainly start to get more complicated then, doesn’t it?

Right at the top of the pile would be the A45 4Matic sedan -- which will carry the existing M133 turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that was developed by AMG underneath the hood, delivering a heart stopping 400 hp. With a six-speed manual and nine-speed automatic being made available worldwide, the upcoming A-Class sedan will sport the second-generation MFA platform that is shared by the B-Class, CLA, and GLA vehicles.

It does seem as though this new A-Class sedan will go up against the likes of the A3 sedan, although it might be mighty long in terms of its dimensions. Word has it that the A-Class sedan will be longer than the current CLA, which at this point in time, is already the longer vehicle compared to the Audi A3. In order to cater for the fast growing Chinese market, there will be a long-wheelbase version of the A-Class sedan which will be introduced -- and that comes across as no surprise to us.

As for the interior space afforded by the A-Class sedan in 2018, it will most probably come close to the C-Class which is larger in its size. Chances are Mercedes’ plant in Hungary would be where the new A-Class sedan enters production.

So far, Mercedes-Benz has remained mum on the sedan version of the A-Class, but that is all right. We expect to hear an official word from them in due time.