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After three successful years, Mercedes-Benz has overhauled the design and
engineering of the B-Class. The facelift programme focused on environmental
compatibility, economic efficiency and comfort, with further advances being made
in each of these areas. Thanks to a series of detailed improvements, the
four-cylinder engines now burn up to seven percent less fuel than previously,
and distinguish themselves with remarkably low exhaust emissions that undercut
the current EU limits by as much as 90 percent. Mercedes-Benz has developed a
new ECO start/stop function for the high-volume B 150 and B 170 models. This
switches off the engine when stopped at traffic lights, for example, producing a
fuel saving of up to nine percent in practical use. Additional new developments
include the bi-fuel petrol/natural-gas drive in the B 170 NGT BlueEFFICIENCY,
along with active parking assist which helps drivers to both find a suitable
parking spot, and then manoeuvre into it.
Since its market premiere in summer 2005, the B-Class has
evolved into the blueprint for a new species of car which harmonises the
benefits of various vehicle concepts: the four-door model boasts the dynamic
design of a sporty saloon, the exterior dimensions of a compact car, the
spaciousness of an estate, the versatility of a mini MPV and, of course, the
trademark safety of a Mercedes-Benz.
The sales figures for the B-Class to date provide clear
evidence that the Mercedes-Benz product planners hit the mark with a concept
that caters to the motoring needs of today's sophisticated society: since
mid-2005, over 325,000 motorists around the world have been won over by the
Sports Tourer.
The restyled front end injects the B-Class
with even more poise and assurance than before. This is primarily down to the
radiator grille with its three chromed cross fins painted in metallic grey and
the Mercedes star integrated into its centre. However, the more imposing
appearance of the B-Class also stems from the new-look bumper – whose design
emphasises the large air intake at the bottom – as well as the modified bonnet.
Design: restyled front end creates a powerful
presence.
This new design idiom makes the front look broad and, as a
consequence, especially powerful, symbolising the sporty attributes of the
B-Class even more clearly than before. Aside from power and performance
potential, these qualities include the car's agility and its forwards thrust,
something which is further underlined by the more pronounced arrow
shape of the bonnet, radiator grille and bumper. This has the effect of
making the entire front section appear to be surging dynamically forwards – a
highly expressive styling element of the current Mercedes design idiom, which
can be appreciated better than ever before in the 2008 model year version of the
B-Class. The front end's arrow shape is continued rearwards in the form of an
understated but effective line running up the centre of the bonnet.
Typical distinguishing features of the current Mercedes
style are also very much in evidence in the side profile of the
B-Class, which presents a thrilling interplay between taut forms and crisp
lines. Of particular note is the character line, which rises progressively from
the front wing to the rear tail light, thereby marking an intriguing divide
between the concave and convex-formed surfaces along the body's flanks. This
line furthermore underscores the body's wedge-shaped form, and thereby gives
added impact to the Sports Tourer's athletic, powerful nature.
In the 2008 model year B-Class, the design at the sides
seems even more harmonious and elegant than before because the exterior mirror
housings, door handles and skirt panels are now painted to match the body colour
on all model variants. The restyled hubcaps and light-alloy wheels add further
touches of class to the exterior looks.
The rear styling picks up on the dynamic
flow of lines at the front and along the sides. A direct visual link is created
by the tail light assemblies, whose upper edges merge seamlessly with the
character line along the vehicle's sides. The tail lights sport a new
high-brilliance look and draw the gaze to the large tailgate, which now comes
with en ergonomically enhanced chrome handle strip. The rear bumper has been
remodelled too, and includes a black-grained plastic insert on its upper face as
standard which serves as a load sill guard. If the B-Class is specified with
either the chrome or the sports package, this insert is made of polished
stainless steel instead to add yet another gleaming highlight to the tail's
design.
Interior: high-grade appointments with new
upholsteries and trims
High-class appeal, attention to detail and a sense of ample
spaciousness – these qualities have always been intrinsic to the B-Class. The
winning blend of forms, colours and materials teams up with the interior's
roominess, the pleasant feel
of all its surface materials and the expansive
window areas to produce a most inviting ambience. This is helped by the high
seating position – which, incidentally, improves the driver's view of the
vehicle too – while the relatively high waistline fosters a sense of security
without making the occupants feel confined in any way.
The Mercedes design team has further upgraded the interior
with a new upholstery fabric, plus a new fabric pattern for the
seat cushions. If the B-Class is ordered with the sports
package, the side seat bolsters are trimmed in ARTICO man-made leather
and the centre panels in fabric. The interior door linings likewise feature a
new fabric trim.
The centre console continues to be
bordered by trim strips on both sides, but they are now made from diagonally
brushed aluminium in a smoke grey finish. The same, meticulously integrated trim
is found again in the vicinity of the gearshift and in the door panelling,
giving the interior an added sense of refinement. Such fine touches demonstrate
just how much attention to detail has been invested in even the basic version of
the B-Class, as well as the high standards to which it has been specified.
Diesel engines: fuel consumption reduced by a
further seven percent
The B-Class continues to be available with a choice of six
engines – two direct-injection diesel units (80 kW/109 hp and 103 kW/140 hp)
delivering up to 300 Newton metres of torque, as well as four petrol engines
with a peak power output of up to 142 kW/193 hp and a maximum torque of 280
Newton metres. The four-cylinder power units have undergone a series of detailed
improvements in order to further reduce fuel consumption.
For the diesel models, this means that the
combined NEDC fuel consumption
of the B 180 CDI and B 200 CDI has dropped by
as much as seven percent – depending on tyre size – to 5.2 - 5.4 and 5.4 - 5.6
litres per 100 kilometres, respectively. The two turbodiesel models will
therefore be an even less seldom sight at the filling station from now on; the B
180 CDI can clock up over 1000 kilometres on a single tank of fuel (54
litres).
Petrol models: new fuel-saving ECO start/stop
function
Depending on the model and engine output, the four
petrol variants of the B‑Class return fuel consumption figures
of between 6.6 and 8.1 litres per 100 kilometres on the NEDC driving cycle. From
autumn 2008, motoring is set to become even more economical with the arrival of
the B 150 and B 170 BlueEFFICIENCY models featuring the ECO start/stop
function (optional). This newly developed function automatically
switches the engine off when the driver shifts to neutral at low speed whilst
depressing the brake pedal. If the criteria for stopping the engine are
fulfilled, a special display appears in the instrument cluster to inform the
driver.
The moment the clutch is pressed or the brake pedal
released, the engine springs back to life almost noiselessly and in a fraction
of a second. This ability to restart the engine swiftly yet smoothly gives the
ECO start/stop function a key edge over other systems of this type. To achieve
this, Mercedes-Benz fits a starter-generator which is connected
to the crankshaft via the belt drive. This allows the engine to start much
faster and far more quietly than with the conventional starter. During the
journey, the starter-generator feeds the electrical system
on board the
B-Class with energy.
In practical operation, substantial fuel savings of up to
nine percent can be achieved with the ECO start/stop function, particularly when
driving in city traffic with frequent stops at traffic lights or in
tailbacks.
Natural-gas drive: a clean and economical
alternative
A further new addition to the B-Class range bears the
initials "NGT" on the right-hand side of its tailgate. They stand for
"Natural Gas Technology" and identify a model variant which is
as economical as it is environmentally compatible, courtesy of its bi-fuel
drive: the B 170 NGT BlueEFFICIENCY is able to run on both natural gas and
premium grade petrol while delivering an identical maximum output of 85 kW/116
hp.
In addition to the petrol tank, there are five natural gas
reservoirs whose total capacity of 16 kilograms equates to a range of over 300
kilometres. With overall NEDC consumption figures of 7.3 litres of premium
petrol and 4.9 kilograms of natural gas per 100 kilometres, the new B 170 NGT
BlueEFFICIENCY is therefore able to attain a total range in excess of 1000
kilometres. The driver determines which power source the engine is run on at the
touch of a button using the multifunction steering wheel; an electronic control
unit carries out the switch instantaneously without any jolts – even while on
the move.
The four-cylinder engine has been modified by Mercedes-Benz
to include additional gas injectors on the underside of the intake manifold. A
close-coupled pressure governor with electromagnetic shut-off valve regulates
the supply of natural gas and keeps the pressure within the system constant.
The installation of the gas reservoirs, which are located
in the rear and underneath the front passenger footwell, reduces the boot
capacity of the B‑Class by 128 to 422 litres (as per the VDA measurement
method), but there is still sufficient space for carrying a family's
luggage.
The lower carbon dioxide emissions and cheaper fuel costs
make natural gas an attractive alternative to petrol and diesel, both
ecologically and economically speaking. On the NEDC cycle, the CO2 emissions are
17 percent lower than in the petrol-powered B 170 at 135 grams per kilometre. If
the 4.9 kilograms (7.5 m³) of natural gas consumed per 100 kilometres by the new
B 170 NGT BlueEFFICIENCY is converted into the equivalent quantity of petrol
energy, the fuel cost per kilometre is around 50 percent less than when running
on petrol.
Key B-Class engine, performance and fuel consumption
figures at a glance:
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B 180 CDI
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B 200 CDI
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B 150
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B 170
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B 170 NGT
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B 200
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B 200 TURBO
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Displacement cm³
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1991
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1991
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1498
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1699
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2034
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2034
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2034
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Output kW/hp
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80/109
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103/140
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70/95
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85/116
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85/116
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100/136
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142/193
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Max. torque Nm
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250 at 1600- 2600 rpm
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300 at 1600- 3000 rpm
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140 at 3500- 4000 rpm
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155 at 3500- 4000 rpm
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165 at 3500- 4000 rpm
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185 at 3500- 4000 rpm
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280 at 1800- 4850 rpm
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0-100 km/h s
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11.3
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9.6
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13.2
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11.3
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12.4
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10.1
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7.6
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Top speed km/h
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183
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200
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174
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184
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184
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196
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225
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NEDC consumption l/100 km*
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5.2-5.4
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5.4-5.6
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6.6-6.8
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6.8-7.1
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7.5 m³
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7.2-7.5
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7.9-8.1
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CO2 emissions g/km**
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137-140
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140-148
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158-163
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163-171
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135
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173-180
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190-195
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*combined consumption; **in NEDC driving cycle
Environmental Certificate: first ever lifecycle
assessment for NGT drive too
Mercedes engineers have, for the first time, compiled an
eco balance sheet for the natural-gas drive. It forms one element of the
Environmental Certificate awarded to the B-Class by Germany's TÜV Technical
Inspection Authority. Mercedes-Benz is the only automotive brand in the world to
have been granted this certificate, which is based on the stringent
international standard ISO 14062 "Design For Environment". It
is a confirmation of the Stuttgart-based brand's total commitment to all aspects
of environmental protection. In contrast to just the standardised measurement of
exhaust emissions and fuel consumption on the roller dynamometer, Mercedes
engineers analyse the environmental compatibility of vehicles over their entire
lifecycle – starting with their manufacture, continuing with their many years of
use and finishing with their end-of-life disposal.
In all, over 40,000 individual processes come under
scrutiny, whose analysis, computation and evaluation ultimately produce a
comprehensive eco profile.
This in turn forms the basis for the
environmental certificate of the B-Class.
The results of this integrated analysis over a total
distance travelled of 150,000 kilometres highlight, for example, a number of
clear advantages for the natural-gas drive. The overall CO2
emissions are some 20 percent below the figure for the comparable
petrol-engined model. Nitrogen oxide emissions are eleven percent lower, while
the experts have calculated a 54 percent difference in carbon monoxide emissions
over the entire lifecycle in favour of the natural-gas drive. The greater
ecological cost of the manufacturing process for the new B 170 NGT is therefore
balanced out after a distance of 17,300 kilometres.
The environmentally driven concept of the B-Class is
clearly evident from its use of high-quality recycled plastics,
for instance, or its components made from natural materials,
including flax, cotton, coconut fibre, wood veneer and fibres from the abaca
banana.
Mercedes-Benz has put together a brochure
containing detailed information about the environmental certificate awarded to
the B-Class, and published it on the internet at www.media.daimler.com .
Occupant protection: extensive safety features
enhanced yet further
When it comes to safety, the B-Class sets an example for
all other models of these dimensions to follow: in the European NCAP test
programme, the Sports Tourer was awarded the highest rating of five stars.
The comprehensive safety specification, comprising
two-stage front airbags, belt tensioners for the front and outer rear seats,
belt force limiters plus active head restraints in the front, ISOFIX child seat
attachment points and head/thorax sidebags, has now been complemented by the
addition of crash-responsive emergency lighting in the
passenger compartment. Following an accident
of a predetermined severity,
the lighting comes on automatically to allow the occupants to get their bearings
more easily in the dark and expedite the work of the rescue services.
Active safety: flashing brake lights as warning to
other motorists
Accident prevention is the overriding priority of the
Mercedes safety concept –
a concept that is geared towards motoring reality.
To help them bring critical situations under control safely and with ease,
drivers of the B-Class can count on highly effective, standard-fit technology in
the form of systems such as ABS, Brake Assist and ESP®. The Mercedes engineers
have gone that little bit further though by seeking to devise a way of offering
other motorists added safety too. The result is a simple but highly effective
method of avoiding rear-end collisions: flashing brake lights.
This safety technology is included as standard on the 2008 model year
B-Class.
During testing, Mercedes engineers were able to ascertain
that the braking reaction time of motorists is quickened by an average of 0.2
seconds if they see a flashing red warning signal instead of conventional brake
lights in an emergency braking situation. This shortens the stopping distance by
around 4.40 metres if they are travelling at a speed of 80 km/h, and by a whole
5.50 metres or so when braking from 100 km/h. Brake lights flashing at a high
frequency therefore prove to be an effective means of alerting drivers behind to
the risk of a rear-end collision.
The flashing brake lights are triggered automatically if
the driver initiates emergency braking when travelling at a speed of 50 km/h or
more. And if the B‑Class is braked to a stop from a speed of over 70 km/h, the
hazard warning lights will come on too.
Assistance systems: automatic parking with
ultrasound and electric steering
The Electronic Stability Program has been expanded to
include a new, standard function: the automatic hill-start
assist. This prevents the B-Class from rolling backwards as the driver
switches from the brake to the accelerator pedal when starting off uphill. In
such situations, the ESP® briefly maintains the brake pressure to make pulling
away easy.
Reverse parking will also pose less of a challenge for
motorists in future. The new active parking assist (optional)
searches for an appropriate spot at the side of the road as the B-Class drives
by, than takes care of all the steering manoeuvres as the driver reverses into
it. How it works: at speeds below 35 km/h, ultrasonic sensors at the sides of
the car scan the zones to the immediate left and right of the B-Class, and
measure the length and depth of any potential parking spaces. Once a suitable
spot has been found, the system flashes up a message in the display to inform
the driver. When the driver engages reverse, confirms the display and presses
the accelerator, the active parking assist takes over the steering and
automatically manoeuvres the B‑Class into the space. All the driver has to do is
operate the accelerator and brake; the PARKTRONIC system's
ultrasonic sensors provide further assistance by indicating how much room there
is in front of and behind the B-Class.
To be able to use the automatic parking feature, the
parking spot only has to be 1.30 metres longer than the B-Class – an indication
of the technology's tremendous precision.
The newly developed assistance system comprises a total of
ten ultrasonic sensors in the front and rear bumper, as well as an electronic
control unit that processes the sensor signals and calculates the best path to
take into the parking space. This information is supplied to the
electromechanical power steering in the B‑Class, enabling its electric motor to
perform the necessary steering movements.
Infotainment: new systems for digital listening
pleasure and Europe-wide navigation
It is not just the spacious interior, the high-grade
materials and the standard automatic climate control that make the B-Class such
a pleasure to travel in: the new generation of infotainment
systems has an important role to play too. There are four different
options to choose from: Audio 5, Audio 20, Audio 50 APS and the COMAND APS. All
units from the Audio 20 upwards incorporate a radio with dual tuner, colour
display, Bluetooth interface for mobile phones, CD player, automatic volume
adjustment, plus a connection for external audio devices in the glove
compartment.
The Audio 50 APS additionally features a
Europe-wide DVD-based navigation system and DVD player, while the
top-of-the-range COMAND APS offers even more functions,
including the even faster HDD navigation system, the Music Register, a slot for
SD memory cards as well as voice control.
To cater for motorists who have their personal music
compilations stored on an MP3 player, a USB stick or any other external audio
device, Mercedes-Benz has developed an interactive media
interface. It can be specified as an option and allows iPod & Co.
to be linked up to the Sports Tourer's infotainment system. This has the
advantage of allowing the external audio devices to be operated by simply using
the buttons on the multifunction steering wheel, while the track titles are
shown in both the instrument cluster and the centre console's colour display.
The sophisticated infotainment systems may be optionally
combined with the "Logic 7" surround sound system , which
transforms the passenger compartment of the B-Class into a concert hall on
wheels.
The facelift measures* at a glance: new features in the
B-Class
Design
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Front end: restyled bonnet, radiator grille and
bumper
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Side profile: new-look exterior mirrors and new light-alloy
wheels
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Rear: tail lights in new high-brilliance look and
remodelled bumper
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Interior: new seat fabrics and diagonally brushed aluminium
trim
Equipment
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Body-coloured exterior mirror housings, door handles and
skirt panels
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Headlamp Assist as standard
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ESP® with automatic hill-start assist as standard
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Steering column manually adjustable for
reach
Safety
· Flashing brake lights as standard
· Crash-responsive emergency interior lighting as
standard
Drive
system
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Advanced engines with fuel savings of up to seven
percent
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ECO start/stop function as an option for B 150 and B 170
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New B 170 NGT BlueEFFICIENCY with bi-fuel
petrol/natural-gas drive system
Technology
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Active parking assist as an option
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New infotainment systems including many extra
functions
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Surround sound system as an option
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COMAND APS with standard features including voice control
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Interactive media interface for linking up external audio
devices
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