B-Class [Official] Mercedes-Benz B-Class (W246)

[Tarek]

It's gonna be popular among women that's for sure..

 

[Monster]

It's gonna be popular among women that's for sure..

More like housewives and retirees. The younger women will be going for the A-class.

 

[Wolfgang]

I doubt they will sell B-class in USA

True. No B for the USA. (only with electric/fuel cell = very low numbers)

http://www.germancarforum.com/merce...-concept-revealed-shanghai-13.html#post513935

 

[Centurion]

I prefer the stricter and more masculine lines of the outgoing model but each to his own.

 

[klier]

It reminds me a bit of the new ML, which is not so good for the new ML sadly... It's somehow more Van-ish (in that pic) than the old B. Hope it's just the angle and the shot.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Theres a softness to the front end/grill shape on the new ML and B that I just don't like in photos. It's very CL though, and the CL does look good in the flesh though.

I wasn't expecting the B to be super sexy anyway. It will satisfy buyers of the current car and bring in a few more. The A-class is the real main course.

 

[Giannis]

After gradually seeing the first spyshots, then the interior and then the first official exterior photo, I can say that I am impressed with this little thing. I liked the first generation B-Class quite a lot, and this one is a far better looking car. I like the fact that it doesn't try not to look like a mini-van. Instead, those lines make it look like a very sharp and modern one. And with that interior, it's a superb small utility luxury car.

 

[Sovereign]

Another ugly new car from MB designers. Looks very ordinary and the only pretty thing on this car is the three pointed star. It also looks like a facelift rather than a new car from outside.

I am a die hard MB fan. But with each new model I am getting more and more disappointed with the way their cars are now designed. The design elements like the 3 pointed star on the grill and bean shaped headlights now look tired, in fact very pale, as MB has over used it in the last decade with majority of their cars incorporating the same front look.The front bumper is as ugly as on the last generation models. I think the current bumper design started with the facelifted w211 and it didn't suit that car well either. I am ready to welcome a change even in the shape of F700 front end if it becomes the new shape of the S class.

Pity, the company that produced so beautiful, simple and timeless designs over generations are now relying on antics (look at the ugly lines on sides). IMO they have chosen to follow in design rather than lead which they did through out the last century.

As they say and we expect "the best or nothing" from MB and for me design-wise, this is another nothing.

 

[klier]

Pity, the company that produced so beautiful, simple and timeless designs over generations are now relying on antics (look at the ugly lines on sides). IMO they have chosen to follow in design rather than lead which they did through out the last century.

So true. And so sad.

 

[K-A]

Meh, it is what it is, and in nature, I think these kinds of cars are ugly.

Only distinct comments I can make are, that it looks less purposeful but more interesting and obviously sharper than the previous version, and M-B is beating the "Sport grill" so much that it's losing its presence (which is why I fall more and more in love with the face that's now exclusive to the E and S Classes, the Luxury/Sedan grill). Also, and most importantly, why do they need to put an AMG bumper on a car like this? That's another thing they're diminishing the effect of by over-using it. And I really hope that it isn't the standard bumper, as if that's the case, we can kiss the presence of the AMG bumper look away altogether, in due time.

Finally, the side lines are terrible, very nonsensical, and seem to be something that make sense only to the Designers minds. To me, when I see them, I simply see "trying way too hard to be different". Nothing looks more desperate than when you don't convey an effortlessness.

Aside from all that, it'll outsell the previous one I'm sure, especially initially, where the clumsy lines will maybe add more popping-smoke spice, before they date and tire the car quickly (same will go for the CLS IMO, to a much lesser extent as at least that car looks very nice altogether).

 

[deity]

The new B-Class had a great interior compared to the old one. Two lines isn't going to ruin that. Yes, one might sometimes wonder what the designer was thinking, but at the end of the day, I think its the detail that's least noticed. IF interior quality is high, drive quality is good, and the exterior works, that will be all the consumers care about. At this price range, people expect some compromise- whether that is in the form of cheap plastic, dodgy driving dynamics...not the side profiling. It's wrong on a S-Class, which is supposed to be perfect. The old B-Class sold 750,000 units and it was just terrible to drive, terrible to sit in. This one is gonna sell volumes.

 

[Soup]

 

[Nicks]

I don't about all that hate towards side-lines - it looks great. Fresh but not to flamboyant or futuristic.
Although, this car pretty much robs the meaning of R-class, especially if it's true about legroom

 

[Shining Star]

 

[mini_cooper4]

Chief of exterior design deserves to be raped by monkeys. Nice interior on the other hand

 

[SKY]

For God´s shake, these lines are incredibly awful and overdesigned. Specially the lower one.

 

[Merc1]

Doesn't look too bad I guess, for what it is...a little ice cream truck. I still say it can do without one of those side-lines, pick one and remove it and you'd have a better looking (if less distinctive) vehicle.


M

 

[LaArtist]

Looks like that bionic car they made a while ago..

Not my cup of tea..a nice B class though..

PS
Hot ass interior.. and should sell very well

 

[Sunny]

I thought the "cow belly" line in the previous 1er was bad, but that lower line in B sets a new low. It looks like the car is crumbling under it's own weight.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

On the CLS I 'get' the lines. It flows with the proportions and details and gives the car a particular stance. On the B though, the bottom line is clearly there for the sake of being there. It doesn't flow with the shape of the vehicle, nor integrate itself with any of the other design details such as the tail lights or rear wheel arch.

That said, it still looks smoother and cleaner than the previous B. More effeminite, lithe and classier. It just doesn't need that bottom character line. If it exudes the same quality of the other new benzes and provides a relaxed ride it will sell in spades. No need for sporty pretensions here, that's the job of the A-class.