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| Mercedes-Benz
B-Class Europe launch |
Broadcast
dates : 15th May 2005
21st May 2005 |
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Mercedes-Benz
will launch its all new B-Class model in Europe in a
few months time.
The new car marks Mercedes-Benz’s debut in the
conventional hatchback market, although Mercedes is
not officially calling the B-Class a hatchback.
Instead the Stuttgart company literature refers to
it as a "sports tourer", saying that it
combines various concepts into one vehicle.
A touring, family and recreational vehicle combined
in one, is the claim Mercedes makes for the B-Class.
In effect it’s a slightly taller-than-average
hatchback, and in many ways a development of the
A-Class mini MPV.
Central to the B-Class design is the location of the
engine and transmission, partly in front and partly
beneath the front section of the cabin.
This is the same space-liberating design used in the
A-Class and, of course, the new Merc employs
front-wheel-drive.
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A wide range
of engines has been earmarked for the B-Class. A total of
six four-cylinder units will be offered, ranging from a 70
kiloWatt diesel engine to a one hundred and forty-two
kilowatt turbocharged petrol engine.
Performance for the top model should be close to the GTi
league. A nought to one-hundred time of 7,3 seconds is
estimated, with a maximum speed of 225 k/ph.
The cabin of the B-Class is certainly spacious, and
Mercedes says rear leg-room rivals that of its large
S-Class sedan.
Standard equipment includes a multifunction steering
wheel, and a choice of automatic or manual transmissions.
Brushed-aluminum trim on the centre console and door
panels adds a touch of verve to the cabin, as do the
rather sporty speedo and rev counter faces.
It’ll be interesting to see what sort of impact the
B-Class makes on the hatchback market, or indeed the Mini
MPV market.
No doubt because of the three-pointed star on the nose,
the B-Class will be priced above the likes of the Golf,
Astra and Megane, and probably more expensively than BMW’s
1 Series too.
At this stage no decision has been made to bring the new
Merc to South Africa. But if it does go on sale here, it’ll
probably do so early in 2006.
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