B-Class (W246) 2012 Mercedes-Benz B-Class (Spy pics & info)

[Merc1]

What a stupid little car to wear a Mercedes-Benz badge. I pray that they have something sexier based on this platorm. FWD and ugly, not a Mercedes-Benz in my book and it will surely flop like a fish on a boat deck.

M

 

[Der Hofmeister]

Could you, please, stop being so irrationally pessimistic?

This model does not mean the destruction of the Mercedes myth, as well as the 1er or the A3 weren't the swansong for BMW or Audi in terms of their premium car philosophy. I know you are pissed off by the fact the car is FWD;believe me, I was too. But that's it, you cannot change the situation. Criticizing all the time, "whining" are not solutions.

So, why not wait longer until we see more camouflage is pilled off?

 

[Beemer B773ER]

Why don't they just move towards creating a proper looking hatch like the 1er, A3 or Mazda 3...rather than producing a slab-sided micro people-mover ??

 

[Der Hofmeister]

Why don't they just move towards creating a proper looking hatch like the 1er, A3 or Mazda 3...rather than producing a slab-sided micro people-mover ??

B-Class will remain MPV. If you want a proper looking hatch, wait for the new A-Class.

 

[klier]

I agree with Merc1

MB should just stop producing the A and B under their own name, but keep them and change the looks to funky modern and brand them as Smarts.
CLC should be the cheapest MB brand passanger car, with proper RWD.

 

[loco@circo]

As far as I can see it's gonna be a simple successor for the current model which isn't exactely a flop. In the third quarter of 2009 it was on the 26th place of new car registrations in its home market Germany.
That's not bad at all... and definitely a reason to produce a sucessor.

But to be honest: In my opinion A- and B-Class are absolutely horrible.

 

[loco@circo]

I agree with Merc1

MB should just stop producing the A and B under their own name, but keep them and change the looks to funky modern and brand them as Smarts.
CLC should be the cheapest MB brand passanger car, with proper RWD.

I'm not too sure if that would be a good idea... A and B do definitely profit by the name of their maker. Another label might derogate their sellings.
A and B have relatively old buyers who associate a very high quality with the name "Mercedes".

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Some of you guys still completely miss the point.

 

[Merc1]

All I'm saying is that you can't put but so much "Mercedes-Benz" dna in a cheap, fwd hatchback, it simply isn't their thing. So why bother? A VW, Honda, Toyota or Ford will make much more sense to most buyers if this thing comes to the U.S. Same thing with Smart. The Toyota IQ is going to murder it unless they update the Smart quickly, like next model year.

I just hope the rumors of a coupe (a true coupe, not some hatchback BS), sedan and small suv are true, otherwise they can keep this thing over there.

Why doesn't Mercedes do something fun like a modern take on the 190E. A true coupe, i.e. the new "CLK" and small SUV. All with radical interior designs (for a Benz) and some real fun in their drive characteristics.

This tall wagon thing they can keep.


M

 

[tennmb]

MB should just stop producing the A and B under their own name, but keep them and change the looks to funky modern and brand them as Smarts.

Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner.

 

[Wolfgang]

Why doesn't Mercedes do something fun like a modern take on the 190E. A true coupe, i.e. the new "CLK" and small SUV. All with radical interior designs (for a Benz) and some real fun in their drive characteristics.

The 190E is the C-Class.

A CLC successor might make it with the next C-Class.

The C based SUV is already here, the GLK.

PS. Not sure if the A/B come stateside. The main market is Germany, Italy, France and the UK.

 

[Merc1]

The 190E is the C-Class.

A CLC successor might make it with the next C-Class.

The C based SUV is already here, the GLK.

PS. Not sure if the A/B come stateside. The main market is Germany, Italy, France and the UK.

I know all of this Wolf, I mean a retro design like the 190E, not a replacement for it. Or a design like the SLS, some modern with retro thrown in.

There was a rumor of a SUV based on the A/B platform. I know the C is based on the GLK. Not talking about the C never mentioned it.


M

 

[tennmb]

There is a new C-coupe coming, and it will be sold in the US.

 

[Beemer B773ER]

The A and B-class range makes much more sense when you look at it from a non-USA centric perspective. I don't like the overall shape and design, but it's clear that the A/B-class definitely has a feasible market in Europe and other countries such as Australia. It may not be a huge seller, but it does fill the role that Mercedes had originally planned for the A/B-class.

It's not that hard to figure out... just look at why BMW hasn't brought the 1er hatch to the States.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

There is a new C-coupe coming, and it will be sold in the US.

This is good news. Especially if it looks more like a coupe and less like an hatchback.

 

[Mr Robert]

The US will soon enough be a perfect market for the B-class.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

The US will soon enough be a perfect market for the B-class.

Probably will be, on the other hand it may be looked down upon. Then again if the quality is good then it might have a shot. Doubt you will see it any music videos, but there will be a customer base for it.

 

[Mr Robert]

Probably will be, on the other hand it may be looked down upon. Then again if the quality is good then it might have a shot. Doubt you will see it any music videos, but there will be a customer base for it.

I think even people in the US will soon start to look down upon thirsty cars that are three sizes to big. That is when cars like the B-class will start taking more market shares. The same thing happened here in Europe some years ago, then due to high price of fuel. People wanted smaller cars because they are cheaper to run, therefore, the change will not be as big here. We already have small premium cars - and people love them!

That is what is comming to the USA...

 

[Beemer B773ER]

It'll take about a decade to change the American mindset on hatchbacks and other premium small cars. Let's first see how long it takes for the US to change it's ingrained perception of diesel engines.

Fiat's got some interesting plans for the US market in a few years, so maybe the US will finally see more premiums brands take the plunge and launch their hot hatches and baby people-movers.

 

[cawimmer430]

The A- and B-Class aren't about "fun-to-drive" or performance. FWD is completely fine therefore (and reduces the overall weight too). The current W169 A-Class is however fun to drive in my opinion. I've driven every model except the A200 Turbo. They don't look like handlers but they handle very nicely for a car of its size and height. You can throw these little A-Classes into corners and push them quite hard and they'll easily cope. Yes, I realize how "untrue" this may sound but I guess I can comment on this since I am driving a BMW 118i on a daily basis. The 1-Series handles way better, naturally, but the fact that the A-Class is so impressive in cornering at sporty speeds says a lot about the car.

The B-Class on the other hand is a sedated grandpa car. The steering feedback is very vague, the suspension too soft and the handling is nothing impressive either. It's a very comfortable little MPV that's versatile, safe, roomy and appeals to young and old alike. That's about it.