The new Mercedes B-Class has been extensively discussed here, it was shown at the Shanghai Auto Show, where it found itself upstaged by the requisite Chinese copy. Slowly, it is time to show the production model. Which will happen at the Frankfurt Auto Show. After the rest of the world has seen the B-Class, now Germany can too.
“No model change in the history of Mercedes-Benz has ever seen so many new developments introduced in one fell swoop,” promises Dr. Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management responsible for Group Research and Head of Development, Mercedes-Benz Cars. “Future B-Class customers will benefit from this quantum leap in terms of exemplary low fuel consumption and CO2 emissions combined with driving pleasure, plenty of space and the highest standard of safety that has ever been available in this class.”
The new B-Klasse will be making its way to European dealers in November 2011.
And in case you haven’t seen enough pictures of the B-Class already, here it is, the biggest B-Class picture collection in recorded history.
No,no,no,no…that’s the 2012 CR-V.
I took the old “B” for a test drive a few years ago in suburban Toronto. Within a minute, two guys in a piece of GM iron blew their horn at me. I had the gall to come to a complete stop at a stop sign.
Not only did the older “B” sound like a cheapo, and was no joy to drive, but it never earned a molecule of road respect.
CR-V’s up here? Everywhere. I’m not surprised if two of them are waiting at a red light. “B”s? I might see one every three weeks–and this is in the suburb that should be gravy for MB.
To sell up here? The interior had better be spectacular and the retail price realistic.
Really? In the wealthier suburbs of Waterloo there are a lot of them trundling about.
They trundle about in just about every wealthy Canadian suburb outside of Vancouver and Toronto—where, I’d guess, the B is a bit of poseur and people lease C- and E-Classes instead.
I see them pretty regularly in Peterborough and the surrounding area.
Yup, Markham’s absolutely infested with these overpriced and buzzy little shoeboxes.
I always considered the C Class the ‘Poseur’ car – with something like 70+ percent leased, while the B Class had a bit of utility to it.
When’s the last time you saw a 20 something tooling around TO in a B Class?
That being said anyone (myself included) must be somewhat shallow to consider a B Class over a Mazda 5 – which does pretty much the same thing.
Objectively, I think the 5 actually does some things better…
I like the styling much better than the current B200. I test drove one here in Canada about a month ago (slightly used), and while I really enjoyed the way it handled, ease of entry, as well as visibility and such, I just couldn’t warm to the exterior styling (not to mention the possible costs of long term ownership).
I do like the ‘boxier’ look on this one, though.
I don’t think the US will get this car—they’ll get a sedan instead—and I’m not confident Canada will, either.
I almost bought a B200T for the same reasons you cite, and if not for the Mercedes Dealership Experience I’d probably have bought one. It really is a very nice little car.
What’s with the accent line on the doors? Going to have to see this one in person..
I kind of liked the original (Canadian) B Class, however MB really stuck it to you if you wanted a nice leather interior and the engine was from a riding lawnmower project that never got the green light. Oh, and the dealership experience sucked (drop dead MB Mississauga!)
I’ll wait and see what the drivetrain options are going to be for the new model (hello diesel) and hopefully the CVT gets replaced by a DSG transmission.
Interesting point about GTA Mercedes dealers—and by “GTA” they mean almost Niagara to Barrie to Peterborough—they operate as a cartel. You cannot, say, negotiate with Star Motors in Etobicoke and try to get a competitive quote from Angevaare in Peterborough. Everyone knows what one dealer offered you and they won’t budge from it.
It is my understanding that unlike the US, Mercedes Benz Canada owns/operates many dealerships. In the US factories are actually not allowed to own a retail dealership.
I don’t think they’re factory-operated, just federated in a way that most other dealers are not.
I know the Angevaare in Peterborough most certainly isn’t a factory store, but is part of this silliness.
“Hey, you got Mercedes on my Mazda 5!”
“You got Mazda on my Mercedes B!”
Two great tastes, that, errr… never mind.
Wie sagt mann “one fell swoop” auf Deutsch?
“Wie sagt mann “one fell swoop” auf Deutsch?”
How about “Einer fiel Sturzflug?” Nah, that’s not right. Try:
“Auf einen Schlag.”
Danke sehr!
Not bad, but looks too much like a miniature R-Class.
The new Mercedes B-Class has been extensively discussed here, it was shown at the Shanghai Auto Show, where it found itself upstaged by the requisite Chinese copy. Slowly, it is time to show the production model. Which will happen at the Frankfurt Auto Show. After the rest of the world has seen the B-Class, now Germany can too.
I think you mixed up the A- and the B-Class here: The concept introduced in Shanghai and New York was an outlook to the next-generation A-Class. This is the B-Class. Though they share a common platform, they are two different cars – the new A-Class is coming next year.