2012 Mercedes-Benz B-Class coming to Australia in Q2

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By Tim Beissmann | July 12th, 2011

The first details of the upcoming 2012 Mercedes-Benz B-Class have been revealed ahead of the compact MPV’s world premiere at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

The second-generation B-Class will hit European showrooms in November.

Mercedes-Benz Australia’s Jerry Stamoulis confirmed the new B-Class would arrive in Australia in the second quarter of 2012.

Mr Stamoulis said timing of the smaller, all-new third-generation A-Class had not yet been confirmed, but said it was likely to reach local showrooms about 12 months after the B-Class, around mid-2013.

Mercedes-Benz has confirmed two new turbocharged four-cylinder engines in four different tunes will be available from launch (depending on the market).

The petrol engine is a completely new design. The 2012 Mercedes-Benz B 180 will feature a 90kW/200Nm 1.6-litre engine, while the new B 200 will get a 115kW/250Nm tune. Both will produce maximum torque from a super-low 1250rpm.

The 1.8-litre four-cylinder diesel engine is an evolution of the engine used in larger models like the C-Class, E-Class and S-Class. The B 180 CDI produces 80kW and 250Nm (from 1400rpm) while the B 200 CDI makes 100kW and 300Nm (at 1600rpm).

The engines will be teamed with a six-speed manual transmission and will be available with an optional 7G-DCT seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Start/stop technology will be standard on all four engine tunes.

Mercedes-Benz admits the new B-Class has been designed to accommodate ‘alternative drive’ systems, with the floor incorporating what Mercedes calls an ‘energy space’. With the new B-Class architecture expected to survive for most of this decade, expect hybrid, EV and fuel cell models to join the line-up in the future.

The 2012 B-Class will get a host of new safety features, many debuting in the compact class for the first time, including Collision Prevention Assist, Brake Assist and Pre-Safe, as well as Blind Spot and Lane Keeping Assist, speed limit sign recognition, Active Parking Assist and reversing camera.

More details of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz B-Class will be revealed at the vehicle’s Frankfurt unveiling in September.

More interior and exterior spy shots of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz B-Class can be seen here.

CK

Expensive bread van.
MattP

Cue all the uninformed bogans such as CK above to insert useless comments.

In terms of practicality, safety and reliability, the A and B Classes are brilliant. The space they offer and high resale price is difficult to match.

These new models should be no different.

Shak

Very true. But they are also unattractive, highly priced and do not do much for the even slightly enthusiastic driver. Guess the boring small market has to be catered for by someone.
CK

I am neither uninformed, nor a Bogan, PMat.

The current A and B classes are safe – yes, but overpriced and underwhelming to drive. Your last line is the only thing I agree with in your contribution to the entertainment in this forum – “These new models should be no different.”

This new model may change some of those aspects however, but at the end of the day, it is still going to look like a bread van and in the Cashmere Beige colourway, will appeal to 65 year old women who live in Toorak and Vaucluse and pick up their groceries at the local and go to their church groups on Wednesday’s.
Phil

MattP, Your right on the space and safety, but the handing is poor and the engines are absolute crap.

Looking at the specs for this one, it seems that the new one will have pretty lacklustre engines too.
“The B 180 CDI produces 80kW and 250Nm “…….yea, the Hyundai i30 1.6 Diesel – which has been around for several years now, produces 85KW and 255NM for 1/2 the price. Plus 90KW from the entry level petrol? That’s about the same as a current Fiesta or i20 1.6 and far less than the upcoming Kia Rio 1.6. Of course these cars will be far lighter too.

CK

HAHAHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA you crack me up CK
john

When the original A class came out it was a real tardis, esp in lwb form. It was a brilliant design, now it’s just another bread van

Phil

Mercedes stopped selling the A class in Australia.

Luke

It’s not a popular thought but I like the B-class. Really useable space.
F1MotoGP

The new Mercedes-Benz B-Class, which will make its debut at the Frankfurt International Motor Show (13 to 25 September 2011) and go on sale in Europe in November, will offer a number of new technologies to lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, including a new series of four-cylinder gasoline engines with direct injection and turbocharging; a new diesel engine; a new 7-speed dual clutch transmission; a new 6-speed manual transmission; and new assistance systems.
The B 180 CDI generates 80 kW (109 hp) of power, while the B 200 CDI has an output of 100 kW (136 hp). The maximum torque stands at 250 N·m from 1400 rpm for the 80 kW variant and 300 N·m (221 lb-ft) from 1600 rpm for the 100 kW variant.
F1MotoGP

The new Mercedes-Benz B-Class, which will make its debut at the Frankfurt International Motor Show (13 to 25 September 2011) and go on sale in Europe in November, will offer a number of new technologies to lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, including a new series of four-cylinder gasoline engines with direct injection and turbocharging; a new diesel engine; a new 7-speed dual clutch transmission; a new 6-speed manual transmission; and new assistance systems.
The B 180 CDI generates 80 kW (109 hp) of power, while the B 200 CDI has an output of 100 kW (136 hp). The maximum torque stands at 250 N·m from 1400 rpm for the 80 kW variant and 300 N·m (221 lb-ft) from 1600 rpm for the 100 kW variant. Source: Green Car Congress
jamest

Perfect transport for those who are within a year or so of a hip or knee transplant! Not a bad car, just an incredibly dull one! Yawn…
Nath746

Those engine power and torque outputs are terrible for a german brand, surely they would have squeezed a little bit more power out of them… Will be overpriced though, like all other mercedes’ in Australia.