Mercedes Will Build Even More Small Cars In The Near Future

German car companies love to find tiny niches; spaces in the car market that you didn’t know existed and you didn’t know you needed.

Not content with five front-wheel-drive models, Mercedes has confirmed to Car and Driver that its next-generation small car architecture will support no less than eight different cars with the three-pointed star on the front. If you’re after a small Mercedes, your choice just got a bit more complicated.

The current FWD platform underpins the A-Class, B-Class, CLA saloon and shooting brake, and the GLA; all of which will be replaced and updated. But Car & Driver speculates that we’ll also get a new A-Class saloon and new small crossover. If you’re in China, a long-wheelbase A-Class saloon could be heading your way as well.

There is already a four-door A-Class in the form of the CLA, but the A-Class saloon will probably take on a more traditional look. Expect the next CLA to look something like ‘Concept A‘, which Mercedes showcased at the Shanghai Motor Show recently.

Luckily, the engines won’t been pared back, as it’s pretty likely that more AMG versions are coming our way. We’ll eat our hats if there aren’t hot four-wheel drive versions of most of the new cars, and Mercedes is also reportedly looking at an “entry-level” AMG range with each car getting around 250bhp.