Miguel Sánchez
Since the Oil Crisis that arose in 1973 Car manufacturers have increased their interest in savings and efficiency. Thus, from improvements in the application of diesel mechanics to the evolution of different systems related to fuel injection, practically each and every one of the generalist brands have taken giant steps in order to adapt to a more competitive reality in economic terms.
Also, the expansion of the mobile fleet during the sixties among the new middle classes - a process experienced in the United States some years earlier - helped to diversify the ranges, thus creating new concepts beyond the sedans, the small urban utility vehicles or the new compacts inaugurated not so much by the Golf as by the light and interesting alfasud.
At this point, the appearance of minivans was one of the most interesting chapters in this story, coming from the other side of the Atlantic - where Lee Iacocca hit the nail on the head thanks to his Chrysler Voyager– to live an adaptation “to the european"when in 1984 Renault launched its first Espace.
A more than interesting way of working, finally reconciling the space of a van with the comfort and road capacity of a sedan. In short, it is perfect for families in need of a spacious, accessible and even modular cabin, with the only possible drawback being its generous size when it comes to getting into congested city traffic.
COMPACT MPVs ARE COMING
Hybridizing seemingly antagonistic concepts in order to open up new market niches, some European manufacturers were already pursuing the vague but exciting idea of a compact minivan as early as the 1970s. Yes, all the habitability seen in the later Voyager or Espace but on a an even more compact platform and, therefore, perfect for the daily life of families with children in an urban context.
In this way, Lancia -we will never tire of saying it: a reference in terms of innovation- unveiled its minivan in early 1978 Megagamma Designed by Italdesign with Giorgetto Giugiaro at the helm, it is an exercise in the future with a high level of interior space, despite having a wheelbase of less than 2,7 metres.
Unfortunately, that idea did not reach production, although, to tell the truth, it opened the way for a select and spaced-out production. prototype saga where the most urban size - in the style of the minivans created for the crowded Japanese traffic - went hand in hand with the habitability of a minivan.
All this until reaching its climax in 1991 with the presentation of Scenic Concept. An iconic prototype for the house of the rhombus, on which it was conjugated a radically futuristic aesthetic -even more so coming out of the eighties and its characteristic flat surface volumes- with a full equipment of details such as the rear view camera, climate control, all-wheel drive and even a surprising navigator to aim without complexes for the high range.
1990s, Mercedes and Audi enter the world of compact minivans
At the end of the nineties, the market finally seemed ready to absorb not only compact MPVs but also these same ones but with a level of finish typical of the segments "premium”. Because of this Mercedes-Benz and Audi They launched into the creation of their own bets, the first appearing in 1997 in the form of the W168; that is, the first of the A Class.
Equipped with a striking design where the driving position was really high - thus facilitating comfortable access to the passenger compartment as (it is fair to say) SUVs offer today - it added just over three and a half meters of length to a trunk with almost 400 liters and - most importantly - exceptional comfort in each and every one of its seats.
In addition, the set was embroidered with finishes that matched the brand, a notable silence on the road or a more than striking modularity in its seats with up to 71 possible combinations. Regarding the engines, these They were based on four-cylinder blocks based on 82 hp to reach controversial figures in the most refined units or, in a much more logical sense, stay at the 125 hp of the 1.8 version.
However, the high centre of gravity did not make the Mercedes-Benz A-Class an absolutely stable car. This is why it was unable to successfully pass the so-called “moose test” produced by the Swedish magazine Tednikens Varld, which, on the other hand, subjects vehicles to a series of rapid turns that are almost impossible except in very specific driving situations.
A STEP AHEAD IN SECURITY MATTERS
Given the nature of Mercedes-Benz, this test had enormous consequences. What's more, while the first deliveries were halted, the brand's technical team got to work while the communications department showed off its complete honesty by fully accepting the result of that capricious test carried out by a small Swedish magazine.
At this point, from unit 2.500 onwards - approximately - each and every one of the W168s left the factory with an excellent stability control by Bosch, only seen in high-end sedans; a notable step forward in security to the point of establishing a path that would later be followed by even more popular models in the A and B segments.
Furthermore, thanks to the way in which Mercedes-Benz resolved that crisis, this compact minivan became a milestone in terms of safety, thus improving the brand's image in spite of everything as compensation for the poor economic performance of its sales; not so much for the number of them as for the small - very small - profit margin left by each unit with ESP stability control and finishes capable of still being very well preserved today.
AUDI'S RESPONSE
The problem regarding the “moose test" -which, as we have said, was not really so terminal for the model as for the desire for an impeccable image demonstrated by the brand-, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W168) It ended up being an excellent vehicle in many ways. Something to which fellow Audi had to respond by launching something very similar.
The answer was the 2 A1999, modeled after the AI2 prototype from just two years earlier. Attention to detail in its aerodynamics - yes, although it may not seem so, this model is a prodigy in its relationship with the wind, this compact minivan It also stood out for its aluminium base and body, applying no more and no less than the techniques pioneered in the production of the flagship A8.
The result of this was a weight set at just about 900 kilos; simply brilliant. However, what one still cannot explain today is how, after having carried out such work - and investment - Audi did not finish the whole thing with mechanics up to par.
And to tell the truth, although the three-cylinder TDI 1.2 with 61 hp was a technical marvel at consume only about 3 litersThe truth is that the rest of the range had engines that were as noisy as they were lacking in impetus, reaching only 110 hp in the most advanced version.
CHOOSING COMPACT MPVs FOR A COLLECTION
Given the personal nature of their designs - especially that of the Audi - these two models have compelling reasons to be included in collections where inclusion of models with high doses of personality own as well as intelligence and innovation in terms of habitability and adaptation to the urban environment.
Now, which of the two would be the most recommendable as a pre-classical? Well, obviously this is a very personal question, but thinking from this side of the keyboard the overall idea leads us to tip the balance in favor of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class W168 based on a much more interesting engine offering.
So much so that, overall, it is much better suited to the car's requirements than the Audi's. Of course, no fan with a minimum sensitivity to quality engineering could part with the work embodied in the aluminum of the A2The truth is that the ideal option would be to include a slightly more powerful engine on the basis of this one or, simply, accept what there is as long as the rest compensates us.
Well, that's what happens when one of the design sections stands out much more than the rest. In design, as well as in the design itself. daily life, balance between the parties is necessary.
