Mercedes-Benz B-Class gains V8 firepower
Mischievous Merc trainees create the ultimate one-off B-Class dubbed B55We all know the Mercedes-Benz B-Class as a relatively tame, frugal hatchback, but a dramatic transformation by a group of Merc trainees has yielded this radical one-off -- a V8-powered, rear-wheel-drive road rocket that, at least on paper, all but matches a C63 AMG.
The wholesale makeover was carried out by 12 second- and third-year trainees specialising in production mechanics and 'automotive mechatronics'. Their brief was to carry out the conversion in such a way that the B55 would still be suited to day-to-day driving and not look dramatically different from the stocker.
The 'victim' was a B200 CDI that been delegated to the training workshop for learning purposes. The powerplant it was to receive was Merc's recently superseded 5.5-litre V8, which cranks out 285kW and 530Nm.
The V8 thumper and its original engine mounts were transplanted along with a seven-speed automatic transmission and engine control unit -- but reprogramming the latter for its new application apparently provided major headaches.
The exhaust system -- a twin-pipe system that protrudes from just below the centre of the rear bumper -- is a combination of various replacement parts, and it allegedly emits a beefy burble far removed from the weedy note of the ejected diesel motor.
More mixing-and-matching was required in the drivetrain as the rear axle comes from an older W210 series E-Class and is housed within a custom-made subframe. Elegantly concealed within the sandwich floor, the propshaft of the E-class fit into the B-Class with no further modifications.
The team also struck gold in the replacement parts catalogue for the braking system, this time in the C32 AMG listing. Perforated and internally ventilated discs (345mm at the front and 300mm at the rear) were slotted in, boosting stopping power to offset the V8's grunt.
The brutal B rides on five-spoke 18-inch AMG sports wheels shod with 235/40 ZR 18 rubber at the front and 255/35 ZR 18 at the rear, providing a much larger footprint than the skinny hoops worn by the donor B200 CDI. The coil-over suspension was provided by K&W.
Other mods include a leather/Alcantara-trimmed interior and custom white paint job with dark-painted radiator louvres and smoked headlamp lenses.
With a kerb weight of 1620kg (around 180kg more than the donor car), its makers estimate the B55 should be able to knock off the 0-100km/h dash in well under six seconds.
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