These Chinese-only variants will only be fitted with petrol engines, and they'll all utilise a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The engine options will be 99 and 118 horsepower versions of a 1.3-litre four-cylinder and a 2.0-litre four-cylinder that will produce 138 horsepower. If they sound like pretty modest powerplants that's because they are, and the smart money suggests none of them will be offered in the A-Class sedans that will eventually go on sale in North America and elsewhere.

Mercedes is adamant that this long-wheelbase variant won't venture outside of China, but it does give the world a very good idea of what the new 2019 A-Class saloon will look like. Basically, the global version will have a boot instead of a hatch and slightly smaller rear doors—a lot like the current CLA.