(November 13, 2009) Mercedes-Benz may bring a small luxury car to the United States by 2012 intended to compete with the Audi A3 and BMW's 1 series and Mini Cooper, the company's CEO told The Wall Street Journal.

Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche told the newspaper the small Mercedes would offer upscale luxury features in a small package. Under the plan, Mercedes would import at least one of four next-generation compact models it will start selling in Europe in late 2011.

"We believe the future customer will continue to want to show some statement" in the luxury car the customer drives, but "the definition of luxury will be somewhat different," Zetsche told The Journal. "It will be fewer CO2 emissions and more modesty in appearance."