Mercedes-Benz B-Class


The Mercedes-Benz B-Class is a hatchback manufactured and marketed by Mercedes-Benz since 2005, and now in its third generation.
Similar to the A-Class, though larger, and with larger engines, the European New Car Assessment Programme still classifies it as a hatchback.
As of December 20, 2013, delivery of B-Class vehicles reached 1 million since its launch in 2005.

First generation (W245, 2005–2011)

In 2005 it was introduced in spring in Europe and in autumn in Canada. The B-Class uses front-wheel drive with sandwich floor construction, parabolic rear suspension, and a two-box design — one for the drivetrain and another the shared passenger/luggage compartment. The B-Class maximizes its interior volume via its height. Having derived from the smaller A-Class, it retained that car's sandwich floor concept. The A-Class was originally intended to have a battery-powered version that would meet California's zero-emissions mandate, and the batteries were supposed to go between the floors.
All models included passive automobile safety systems including ESP, ABS, traction control, cornering lights, active lighting system, and headlamp assist. In the event of a frontal impact the engine and transmission slide beneath the passenger compartment.
In 2008 it was updated with a start-stop system and a BlueEFFICIENCY option. A new NGT variant was added, which could burn either gasoline or natural gas.
In 2011 Mercedes-Benz did a world tour with three of its Mercedes-Benz F-Cell vehicles, one of which was the B-Class. The hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle was driven more than 30,000 kilometres in a circumnavigation of the globe, starting and ending in Stuttgart.

Engines

The B160 and B180 conform to Euro V emission standards. The rest of the engines conform to Euro IV emission standards. A particulate filter is available as an option for the diesel units.

Specifications

Second generation (W246, 2011–2019)

The second generation B-Class was introduced at the 2011 International Motor Show Germany. European models went on sale in November 2011. Japan models went on sale in April 2012. They are assembled at Rastatt, Germany, and from 2011 at Kecskemet, Hungary. By summer 2013, over 230,000 second generation B-Class cars had been delivered.
It included new gasoline and diesel engines, mated to either a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Drag coefficient was lowered, despite growing in overall dimensions to the benefit of interior space. A new four-cylinder engine was introduced with the model, the M270.
Safety systems included adaptive cruise control, blind spot assist and, a collision prevention adaptive brake system.

Variants and nomenclature

The last part of the model name indicates how the vehicle is powered:
BlueEFFICIENCY is a term used by Mercedes-Benz for a series of measures which reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. These include:
The B 180 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Edition was available from September 2011.

B 200 Natural Gas Drive

Production version includes a choice of manual and 7G-DCT dual clutch transmission, and was available from early 2013. European model was set to go on sale in February 2014.

B-Class Electric Drive

Initial concept versions of the B-Class Electric Drive were developed under the Mercedes-Benz BlueZERO project using batteries from Li-tec and a drivetrain from Tesla, but Mercedes switched to using a drivetrain developed by Mercedes itself soon after. The Electric Drive was previewed at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, the 2013 New York International Auto Show, and the 2013 IAA International Motor Show 2013. Production for retail customers began in April 2014 at Mercedes-Benz Rastatt factory. In May 2014, Mercedes announced the B-Class Electric Drive will be available in Germany and the UK in the first quarter of 2015. In November, Mercedes-Benz announced pricing for Germany and started accepting orders.
The concept has an electric motor rated and, 36 kWh lithium-ion battery from Tesla Motors. The vehicle has a driving range of with a top speed of. The battery can be charged at any standard domestic 230 V power outlet or 400 V rapid charging terminal.
Pricing in the U.S. starts at before any applicable tax credits and other government incentives. In 2015, over 1900 electric B-class were sold in the US. The United States Environmental Protection Agency, under its five-cycle testing, rated the 2014 B-Class Electric Drive with an all-electric range of. The energy consumption was rated at 40 kWh/100 miles for combined city/highway driving, corresponding to a fuel economy of 84 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent - MPGe - . The rating for city driving is 85 mpg-e, and 83 mpg-e for highway.

Engines

ModelYearsTypePower, torque at rpm
B 160 CDI2013- I4 turbo at 4,000, at 1,750-2,750
B 180 CDI 2013- I4 turbo at 4,000, at 1,750-2,500
B 180 CDI 2013- I4 turbo at 3,200-4,600, at 1,400-2,800
B 180 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY2011- I4 turbo at 3,200-4,600, at 1,400-2,800
B 180 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Edition2013- I4 turbo at 4,000, at 1,750-2,500
B 200 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY2011- I4 turbo at 3,600-4,400, at 1,600-3,000
B 220 CDI2014- I4 turbo at 3,400-4,000, at 1,400-3,400
B 220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY2012- I4 turbo at 3,400-4,400, at 1,400-3,400

ModelYearsTypePower, torque at rpm
B-Class Electric Drive2014AC induction motor at ?, at 0

Third generation (W247, 2018–present)

The third generation B-Class was launched at the Paris Motor Show on October 2, 2018 featuring semi-automated driving borrowed from the S-Class.