Usually when people think about Mercedes AMG models, they automatically think of a large, powerful vehicle, but these people will be surprised to hear that Mercedes also plans on adding this speedy package to smaller cars like the A-Class and B-Class. The standard A-Class still has a little bit before its debut, but the B-Class has already been unveiled, and the next step is an AMG version for it.
This future car, rumored to be called the 25 AMG, has already been caught testing and features the same exterior treatment previously shown on the A25 AMG. In fact, the two cars will be built on the same platform and will both be powered by a 2.0 liter turbo engine delivering somewhere between 320-350 HP. The power will be sent to all four wheels via a dual-clutch transmission.
Compared to the standard B-Class model, the future B25 AMG will be distinguished by a different front bumper with bigger air intakes, a different rear bumper with a diffuser, larger wheels combined with larger brakes, and the usual AMG package.
The future B25 AMG will be released in late 2012.
The Mercedes B-Class E-Cell Plus Concept was officially introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show with an eye towards production sometime in 2014. The electric B-Class concept carries the same exterior and interior dimensions as that of the standard B-Class, including the five-seat interior lay-out.
As you can imagine, the notable difference between the two lies in the powertrain. Whereas the regular B-Class carries a fuel powertrain, the B-Class E-Cell is powered by a permanently excited synchronous machine that develops 136 horsepower of maximum power and 95 horsepower of contiguous power. On top of that, the B Class E Cell-Plus also has a 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbocharged range extender engine, producing an output of 50 kW (65 horsepower) at 3,500 rpm while also being used to re-charge the vehicle’s battery. Then there’s the lithium-ion battery, which the B-Class E-Cell also has and can be recharged through a socket and a 3.3 kW board charger.
All in all, the vehicle can sprint from 0-62 mph in 11 seconds with a top speed of 93 mph and a CO2 emissions level of 32g/km. The electric range of the concept allows the car to run for just 62 mph, although thanks to the vehicle’s internal combustion engine, that range can be extended up to 600 km (373 miles)
No word yet on how much Mercedes is thinking of pricing the vehicle. Since production has been set for 2014, expect the announcement to come at a much later date.
Mercedes officially unveiled the new generation B-Class in Germany at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. The new model has received a completely redesigned exterior and interior design, as well as a new engine line-up.
The Mercedes B-Class is the larger of the company’s two compact models, the smaller model being the A-Class. It has undergone significant changes to gain some attention out on the market, including redesigned front and rear ends. The aerodynamic changes provide a significant improvement, allowing the B-Class to deliver an outstanding drag coefficient of 0.26.
Power for the 2012 Mercedes B-Class consists of a new four-cylinder petrol engine with direct injection and turbocharging and a new diesel engine. These engines come with a new dual clutch transmission, a new manual transmission, and new assistance systems.
The new B-Class will go on sale in November 2011.
Hit the jump to read more about the 2012 Mercedes B-Class.
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The mad mechanics from Mercedes high end tuning arm of AMG are at it once again. Instead of preparing a brand new CLS63 AMG or putting the finishing touches on the C63 AMG Black Series; the trainees are up to no good with some spare parts and an idea.
The innocent Mercedes B-Class is about to receive a serious upgrade from some talented young men and women. A plant manager at an AMG assembly shop is testing his students by giving them a task they can really sink their teeth into. Peter Wesp thought up the challenge and ended up having some of his talented staff take on the project.
Andreas Wurz is a foreman in the technical vocational training department and it was his idea that lent to such a sinister B-class being built. Specific plans were put together, parts gathered and work started on the B55 AMG.
Hit the jump for more details on the B55 AMG.
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"Everyone wants to be Mercedes-Benz," said Ernst Lieb, CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA. Either Mercedes is getting a little cocky or they are just that confident about their plans for the future. They have already announced plans to build a new generation B-Class for the 2012 model year and now they have confirmed that not only will the hatchback version come to the U.S. market, but so will a coupe, a crossover, and a sedan version. These will be the first FWD models Mercedes will sell on the US market.
The next B-class will also be seeing some changes under the hood. Mercedes has taken advantage of the Renault-Nissan partnership and has had them develop new three- and four-cylinder engines with turbos and gasoline direct injection. The four-cylinder engines will be the first to see U.S. soil in a Mercedes product since no other four-cylinder Mercedes has been offered in the States.
In a previous interview, Dr. Joachim Schmidt, head of sales and marketing at Mercedes-Benz, commented on the upcoming A- and B-Class models, noting that, "In the next couple of years, we will launch additional cars where we don’t currently have predecessors. Our current A-Class and B-Class will be replaced by a new platform for four totally different cars defining new segments for Mercedes." He added, “If you want young customers, you need to have a brand that is sexy and sporty. The reason we didn’t get this customer before was, in my opinion, not a brand issue, but a product issue." We can only guess that they are just that confident in their future products.
