Mercedes-Benz B-Class Launched!

With the launch of the B-Class, Mercedes-Benz has given a ticket to the aspirational youth of this country to enter the premium Mercedes-Benz world. Termed by the German luxury car maker as a Compact Sports Tourer,  the large hatchback offers a spacious and luxurious interior finished in top notch Mercedes quality.

The interiors are ergonomically spot on and afford unobtrusive views ahead to the driver. The multimedia screen at the top centre of the dash give the driver a clear view of all the necessary info while the aeronautical style air vents complete the latest Mercedes design trend. The seats are plush and all in all the little Merc lives up to expectations. Despite its hatchback-like proportions, there is enough space for 6 footers at the back seat, and the high roof and wide opening doors allow easy ingress and egress to satisfy the demands of the discerning luxury car buyer. 

On the outside, the Compact Sports Tourer wears bold design cues with its character line running all the way from the hip to the lower front of the car. The imposing double slat grille with the large three pointed star in the middle along with the upswept headlights give the car an unmistakably unique presence. 

Under the hood, Mercedes-Benz is offering a 1.6 litre petrol engine that churns out 122PS of power  The engine is mated to Merc’s 7-speed dual clutch gearbox with 3 driving modes. The gearbox is linked to paddle shifters for sporty gear changes. Top speed is a claimed 190 km/h.  

Also read: 2013 Mercedes-Benz B-Class : Special Coverage 

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On the safety front, the B-Class comes with features such as Mercedes-Benz Pre-Safe system with reversible belt tensioning which tightens seat belts and closes all windows and the panoramic sunroof in the event of a crash. The Collision Prevention Assist system alerts drivers about obstacles on the road. The new B-Class gets 7 airbags that include new pelvis airbags to protect front passengers from bodily harm during a crash and window airbags to prevent head injuries. The Pre-Safe system also adjusts the memory seats to an ideal position for maximum effectiveness of the restraint systems. Meanwhile, Anti-lock brakes, Acceleration Skid Control and the Traction Control System ensure the vehicle has adequate grip and control at all times. 

Suitable for urban driving conditions thanks to its compact dimensions, the B-Class is ideal for highway blasts during weekends. And there is no need to worry about those run flat tyres as Mercedes is offering a space saver spare wheel to deal with punctures. 

Two variants of the B-class have been launched, the B 180 and B 180 Sport, priced at Rs. 21.49 lakh and Rs. 24.87 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai) respectively. While both share the same technical details and power output, the B 180 Sport gets added features such as chrome on the grille slats, twin tailpipes, sporty pedals, a sporty leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel, bi-Xenon lamps, panoramic roof, lip spoilers for the front and rear bumpers and 17-inch alloy wheels.

Mercedes-Benz says it had alloted 250 B-Classes for India in 2012 and all of them have been sold out! Bookings for the next batch of cars will begin in 2013 and deliveries of the 250 cars booked currently will begin in October 2012.

Mercedes-Benz B-Class details

* ARAI Claimed

** All prices ex-showroom Mumbai

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