PARIS MOTOR SHOW: New Mercedes-Benz B-Class unveiled

The wraps have been taken off of the all-new Mercedes-Benz B-Class, revealing a high-tech small people-mover that features driver assistance wizardry from the flagship Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the MBUX infotainment system of the new A-Class.

On sale in Europe at the end of this year, the niche people-mover will arrive in Australia in mid-2019 with a bold new sports-influenced exterior design and what Mercedes-Benz terms an ‘avant-garde’ interior.

In Europe, the Mercedes-Benz B-Class will be available with a range of four-cylinder petrol and diesel engine options, including Mercedes’ first Euro 6 emissions-compliant diesel engine.

However with the local line-up yet to be decided, the new powerplant is so far unconfirmed for Australia.

While formal testing has not yet been undertaken, Mercedes-Benz says the Euro 6d 2.0-litre turbo-diesel is expected to achieve fuel economy of up to 4.2L/100km and a CO2 emission figure between 112 and 119g/kg.

In addition to sporting the new engine, both the B 200d and B 220d models will also debut Mercedes-Benz’ new eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, the entire B-Class range launching exclusively with dual-clutch transmissions.

• B 180 1.33-litre petrol engine with seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (100kW/200Nm), combined fuel consumption 5.6-5.4L/100km, combined CO2 emissions 128-124g/km
• B 200 1.33-litre petrol engine with seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (120kW/250Nm), combined fuel consumption 5.6-5.4L/100 km, combined CO2 emissions 129-124g/km
• B 180d 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel engine with seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (85kW/260Nm), combined fuel consumption 4.4-4.1L/100km, combined CO2 emissions 115-109g/km
• B 200d 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine with eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (110kW/320Nm), combined fuel consumption 5.4-4.2L/100 km, combined CO2 emissions 119-112g/km
• B 220d 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine with eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (140kW/400Nm), combined fuel consumption 4.5-4.4L/100km, combined CO2 emissions 119-116g/km

Mercedes-Benz says that in future the B-Class will become available with its 4MATIC all-wheel drive system and additional powertrain options are slated for introduction with these likely to include a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).

Reflecting the niche position for B-Class in Australia, it is expected that Mercedes-Benz Australia will offer a reduced range when the vehicle goes on sale here mid-next year.

Total sales for the B-Class so far this year number just 626, the A-Class outselling it at the rate of 4:1 in a small car segment which is being squeezed by SUV sales.

While the local model line-up is yet to be confirmed, only the four-cylinder petrol B 180 is assured of making it to Australia. As the range’s volume-seller, the B 180 currently represents around 40 to 45 per cent of all B-Class sales.

With such a small volume, it is expected that not all the diesel variants will be offered locally, and without significant EV incentives in place, the plug-in hybrid version is probably not going to be seen here either.

Despite lacking the broad appeal of an SUV, Mercedes-Benz says the B-Class has a loyal customer following here in Australia.

David McCarthy, Head of External Affairs and Corporate Communications said B-Class buyers appreciate its high levels of comfort and practicality.

“One thing people often don’t realise with the B-Class is the interior volume. They want a compact car, but they want space and they don’t want an SUV,” he said.

“B-Class customers are very loyal. There’s a lot of family buyers because it’s easier to put in car seats and there’s good access in the rear.”

The new model is 33mm wider which Mercedes-Benz says will convert to a feeling of greater cabin space, while the driver has a better view of surroundings due to a commanding driving position which sits the driver a full 90mm higher than in an A-Class.

Mercedes-Benz says that B-Class will continue to offer SUV levels of practicality with luggage capacity of up to 1540 litres with the rear seats folded -- on a par with the outgoing B-Class model.

Flexible packaging arrangements include 40:20:40-split folding rear seats. A folding front passenger seat will be offered as an option mid-next year to offer better loading for long items such as flatpack furniture.

By the time the B-Class is on sale in Australia, it will also offer adjustable rear seats which will be able to be moved by 14 centimetres to allow the backrest to be folded into a more upright position. This will vary the total volume of the boot between 455 and 705 litres.

The Mercedes-Benz B-Class will be equipped with the MBUX infotainment system that debuted on the A-Class.

Features include updated graphics, ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice control, a standard touch-screen and functions such as MBUX Augmented Reality.

The system uses artificial intelligence to customise the MBUX system for the driver as it learns his or her behaviours.

A touch interface is available through touch screen, optional touchpad and steering wheel controls while additional extras include an available high-resolution widescreen cockpit, head-up display, navigation with Augmented Reality technology plus intelligent voice control with natural speech recognition.

Vehicle tracking functionality helps makes it easier to find a parked vehicle and will even deliver a notification to the driver should the vehicle get bumped or towed away.

Online content such as current petrol station prices can be beamed into the vehicle while the new Mercedes me connect service will connect drivers with information from other Mercedes vehicles, advising of cars that may have recently vacated parking spaces so drivers can spend less time and fuel looking for a space.

At launch three different versions of interface will be available on the Mercedes-Benz B-Class. One includes two 7.0-inch displays, one a 7.0-inch and 10.25-inch display and, in the widescreen version, two large 10.25-inch displays are equipped.

Mercedes is seeking to give the B-Class a high-end appeal and the centre console with touch-based control and input system comes with a black panel appearance mirroring the E-Class.

Configurable ambient lighting with 64 colours and 10 colour worlds are a unique offering in the segment and help to reflect the high levels of technology at play in the B-Class.

Upping the luxury options are seat climate control and multi-contour seats with massage function. New energising seat kinetics can support drivers and front seat passengers with back problems by regularly making minute adjustments to the angle of the seat cushion and backrest.

In addition to borrowing infotainment tech from the A-Class, the new B-Class offers driver assistance systems taken straight from the S-Class limousine.

Camera and radar systems monitor traffic up to 500 metres ahead while the vehicle uses map and navigation data to predict changes that need to be made while driving.

Using the technology, Active Distance Assist will adjust the speed of the vehicle when approaching bends, junctions or roundabouts.

Also available on B-Class is the S-Class’s Active Lane Change Assist that steers the car into an adjacent lane while overtaking where it is safe to do so. Other safety features include a comprehensive airbag package including optional rear side bags.

Mercedes says the B-Class will be both more agile and more comfortable than before.

An adjustable suspension set up includes a lowered comfort setting and active adaptive damping, which lets the driver control the damper tuning. The intelligent system uses an electronic valve to optimise the damping rate individually for each wheel promising enhanced ride comfort.

Wheel packages in Europe will be offered from 16- to 19-inch rim sizes, but expect Australian cars to be offered with a higher spec trim, consistent with the rest of the portfolio sold here.

The 2019 Mercedes-Benz B-Class goes on sale in Australia in mid-2019 and we’ll be taking our first drive in it before the end of this year.