Mercedes-Benz previews new B-Class ahead of Frankfurt debut

[Bill Wood]

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Technology, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

2012 Mercedes-Benz B-Class preview - Click above for high-res image gallery

Mercedes-Benz is all about technical advancement. And the new B-Class, according to the German automaker, will encompass more new innovations than any other in the company's considerable history.

The new luxury hatchback is set to debut in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show, with European deliveries set to begin in November, but Mercedes has given us more than a little glimpse at what to expect, with a full raft of technical details and a batch of teaser images to go with 'em.

For starters, the new B-Class will debut the fresh M270 family of compact engines for Mercedes-Benz. In this hatchback, they are to be offered initially as 122-horsepower 1.6-liter and 156 hp 2.0-liter direct-injection turbo fours, as well as 109 hp and 136 hp turbo diesels, mated to either a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

In what Daimler terms as "the democratisation of safety," the car will also include such systems as adaptive headlights and cruise control, blind spot assist and, for the first time, a Collision Prevention adaptive brake system as well. The new B under development also has a lower coefficient of drag than the model it replaces, despite growing in overall dimensions to the benefit of interior space.

Beyond these salient points, there's plenty more to delve into in the press release after the jump, as we start counting down to Frankfurt and wait for word on whether this next B-Class will make the trip across the pond - or across the Canadian border - to the U.S. market.Continue reading Mercedes-Benz previews new B-Class ahead of Frankfurt debut

Mercedes-Benz previews new B-Class ahead of Frankfurt debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



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07-12-2011 02:29 PM