Although the current B-Class->ke2751 has little relevance to us Americans, Mercedes plans to make up to 3 B-Classes for the US market in the future. And to give you a taste of what might be hitting the states, here's a spy shot of the 2012 B-Class out in the wild.

The B-Class caught in the photos is a hatchback version which is the only model confirmed for the U.S. so far. A sedan and SUV version are still under consideration over in Germany, but we hear a hatchback is also a possibility. Sadly, these new photos are the only news of the 2012 B-Class. Engine setups are still to be determined, but with everyone going green, expect a hybrid version.

Dr. Joachim Schmidt, head of sales and marketing at Mercedes-Benz->ke187, 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->ke452 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.”

The next generation B-Class is set to launch next year as a 2012 model, with a US model expected a year or two later.

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