Mercedes for the People

While this car looks deceptively similar in profile to the earlier B-class,it shares very few parts with the former. And while it still looks like a cross between a large hatch and mini-MPV,that’s where the similarity ends. The styling on this car is super-fresh,the tight skinning is full of stylish cuts on the flanks and the interpretation of the grille and headlights is very modern as well.

The new sportiness and the outstanding aerodynamics are evident from the side where the bonnet flows seamlessly into the A-pillar and the roof line descends in a sleek manner. The roof also features a swage line (or feature line),which lends the vehicle a longer appearance.

This car also looks very similar to the much more expensive face-lifted R-class sold in India,which is no bad thing because prices of the all-new B-class are likely to start at Rs 18 lakh to 22 lakh.

What’s also impressive is the outstanding drag coefficient of cd = 0.26. With such advanced aerodynamanics,the new B-Class is able to achieve good petrol mileage. Numerous measures have been taken to help attain this,including air flow around the front wheels,the underbody design and the air flow of the cooling system.

At 4.3 metres,the new B-class is also much longer than the car it replaces,and this will improve its value in India considerably. Legroom at the rear is said to be more than the S-class,boot space is considerably more,and Mercedes will make sure the car comes fully loaded. And the interiors are appealing as well. The new innards have overtones of Merc’s more expensive rear-wheel-drive limos,the design of the dash is similar to that of the SLS,and the new CLS. Mercedes says quality standards between the new B and C-class will be similar.

Power for this new B-class will come from a combination of motors — some new,some old. Diesel engines currently powering the C-class will be carried over to this car,but with a reduced capacity of 1.8 litres. A new 1.8-turbo petrol will also makes its debut on the new B and the transmission will likely be a seven-speed twin-clutch box,known as 7G-DCT.

The new four-cylinder petrol marks the launch of a completely new engine series. The combustion process is based on the third-generation Mercedes-Benz direct injection system which was introduced last year with the BlueDIRECT V6 and V8 engines,and its use in the B-Class marks this technology’s debut in the compact segment. The best part is that the maximum torque of 20 to 25 kg approximately comes in from an engine speed of just 1250 rpm; which being just off idle speed is frankly ridiculous.

However,what will be challenging for Mercedes will be the fact this is not the ideal profile for a luxury car in India. Neither MPVs nor estates are regarded too highly by Indian luxury car buyers,and that means the car will have to be exceptional to start a buzz. What Merc will have to bank on however will be the fact that this is probably their most advanced car in the market at the current time. With a new four-cylinder petrol engine featuring direct injection and turbocharging,a new diesel engine,a new dual clutch transmission,a new manual transmission and new assistance systems,the front-wheel-drive car rings in a new technological era for compact cars from Mercedes-Benz.

“No model change in the history of Mercedes-Benz has ever seen so many new developments introduced in one fell swoop,” says Dr Thomas Weber,member of the board.

(The writer is deputy editor,Autocar India)