2012 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Goes Official At Frankfurt

The German car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz has brought to this year’s edition of the Frankfurt Motor Show the all-new B-Class which is scheduled to go on sale in the United Kingdom next April. It will ride on a brand new FWD platform that is going to be used for the next generation of the upcoming A-Class.

As you can see, the car looks entirely different in comparison to the model it replaces and promises to offer more interior space, better efficiency, greater refinement and updated safety features. The 2012 B-Class measures 4,359 mm long, 1,786 mm wide and is 1,557 mm tall, making it 89 mm longer, 11 mm wider and 48 mm lower than the first generation which was launched back in 2005.

The front seats of the car are now 86 mm lower and the rear legroom measures 976 mm, which should be more than what the S-Class has to offer. It offers 666 liters of boot capacity so you get 121 liters more than the first generation vehicle.

As far as the interior cabin is concerned, expect to see a premium dashboard made out of high quality materials and looks a little bit like the one we’ve seen in the SLS. Some of the new goodies which will be offered include a free-standing color monitor for the entertainment and navigation systems. As an optional feature, the B-Class can have Internet access.

This new platform, dubbed MFA, will be used not only for the aforementioned A-Class, but also for the upcoming CLG, GLC and a few Nissan models. At launch, the B-Class will be available with a selection of 1.6-liter turbocharged engines. The first one produces 121 hp and a peak torque of 147 lb.-ft, while the other one churns 154 hp and 184 lb.-ft. The maximum torque is reached at only 1250 rpm for both models. These power units benefit from the company’s third generation of the direct-injection system as well as the stop/start technology. We’ll see these engines pretty soon in the more expensive C-Class and E-Class models.

Regarding the turbodiesels, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz will get at first a 1.8-liter that unleashes 107 hp and a peak torque of 189 lb.-ft, as well as a more powerful variant with 134 hp and 221 lb.-ft. As standard, the 5-seater’s engine will be fitted to a 6-speed manual transmission, while an optional dual-clutch, 7-speed gearbox will be available. With the latter, the German automaker says that it will be 9% more fuel efficient in comparison to the CVT transmission it replaces.

Source: Mercedes-Benz

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