BRITISH buyers are waiting to place orders for a German car which is still 12 months away from the showrooms.

More than 3,500 potential customers have contacted Mercedes-Benz dealerships to ask for details of A-class, the first supermini model to wear the company's emblem.

As the historic baby Mercedes was finally revealed at the show as a production-ready car four years after first appearing as the Vision A concept, a Mercedes-Benz UK spokesman revealed a scramble among buyers was already under way. 'It will be at least next March before any supplies begin filtering through to our showrooms, but our dealers are already being inundated with requests for information.'