First Official of New 2012 Mercedes-Benz B-Class

It wasn’t exactly the world's best-kept secret, and now, what appears to be the first (official) exterior photo of Mercedes-Benz's upcoming second generation B-Class, is also doing the internet rounds.

The new B-class will be seen by the public for the first time at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show next month, before sales roll out next year. With this model, Mercedes is targeting buyers who are mostly interested in versatility and comfort.

The German automaker recently published official photos of the interior while also detailing the mini MPV's specifications. Dubbed internally the W246, the new B-Class has grown in size measuring 4,359mm long (+86mm), 1,786mm wide (+9mm) and 1,557mm (-43mm) tall. Unlike the upcoming A-Class, the new B-Class continues to use the outgoing model's modular sandwich floor.

The new B-Class' rear seat backrest can be divided and folded according to the ratio 60:40 as standard. As an option, there's the “EASY-VARIO-PLUS” system, which amongst other things, allows the rear seats to be positioned differently along the longitudinal axis by up to 140 mm.

The five seat model will be offered with a new 1.6-liter gasoline engine delivering 122HP and 200Nm (147.5 lb-ft) in the B180 and 156HP and 250Nm (184.4 lb-ft) in the B200.

Diesel options at launch include a 1.8-liter turbocharged unit rated at 109HP and 250Nm (184.4 lb-ft) in the B180 CDi and 136HP and 300Nm (221.3 lb-ft) in the B200 CDi.

Given that the Frankfurt Motor Show is just around the corner, it shouldn't be long before Mercedes-Benz fully reveals the new B-Class.

Story sources: Mercedes-Benz , Autofans [H/T to Pieter!]

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Revealed All-New 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG

 

The most powerful version of Mercedes-Benz's small hardtop roadster, the 2012 SLK 55 AMG, will receive its world premiere at this year's edition of the Frankfurt Motor Show in mid-September, but the first photos of the V8-powered model have already sprung up on the German car site Autobild.

 

Visually, the AMG treatment adds a new aero kit with bespoke parts up front and at the back along with a smoked out lights and larger set of light alloy wheels finished in black. Inside, you'll find a pair of sports seats and plenty of surfaces covered in stitched leather

And while this is the first time we get to see the new SLK 55 AMG in the flesh and without camouflage, Mercedes-Benz recently shared details on the roadster model's mechanical hardware.

Power for the roadster comes from a new naturally-aspirated AMG 5.5-liter V8 engine that delivers 62 more horses and 30Nm more torque than the previous model's eight-cylinder unit, at 422-horses and 540Nm in European-spec, and 415-horses at 6,800 rpm and 398 lb-ft at 4,500 rpm in North American-flavor.

The aluminum V8 engine also features the AMG Cylinder Management system that can shut off four-cylinders from 800 to 3,600 rpm to improve fuel efficiency.

A 7-speed AMG Speedshift automatic transmission featuring three modes (sport, manual and efficiency) transfers power to the rear wheels.

According to the Mercedes, the new SLK 55 AMG completes the standard 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint in 4.6 seconds and reaches an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h (155mph).

The roadster returns a combined fuel consumption of 8.5 lt/100 km, which is 3.5lt or 30% less than that of the preceding model with the 360HP V8.

H/T to Raphael G.!

Photos via Autobild 

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New Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 CDI with Diesel-Powered

For the first time in the SLK's history, Mercedes-Benz is offering a diesel-powered version of its small hardtop roadster that will be available for order in Europe from September 13, 2011.

The new SLK 250 CDI makes use of the Stuttgart-based automaker's 2.1-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine delivering 204-horses (150kW) and a hefty 500Nm (368.8 lb-ft) of peak torque.

Power is transferred to the rear wheels through a standard 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission, but Mercedes said a six-speed manual gearbox will also be available in the second quarter of next year.

With the 7sp auto, the SLK 250 CDI can go from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in 6.7 seconds, accelerate from 80 to 120km/h in 4.3 seconds, and reach a top speed of 243 km/h (151mph).

And while performance is on par with the gasoline-powered SLK 250 BlueEfficiency that features a 1.8-liter turbocharged four-pot with 204HP (0-100km/h in 6.6 sec, 243 km/h top speed), the diesel SLK really shines when it comes to fuel economy.

According to Mercedes, the SLK 250 CDI returns a combined fuel consumption of 4.9lt/100km (48mpg US or 57.7mpg UK) versus the SLK 250 BlueEfficiency's 6.2 lt/100 km (38 US mpg or 45.6mpg UK).

Like all third-generation SLK models, the SLK 250 CDI also features a start/stop system as standard, and is available with a choice of three versions of the vario-roo, including the panoramic glass roof with MAGIC SKY CONTROL that allows it to be changed from dark to transparent at the touch of a button.

In Germany, the new Mercedes SLK 250 CDI is priced from €41,828.50 (US$60,065). Mercedes did not say if it has any plans to offer the diesel-powered SLK in the States, but we wouldn’t hold our breath.

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Mercedes-Benz Said to Have Approved CLC Small Shooting Brake Model

We're still more than a year away from the presentation of Mercedes-Benz's CLC small sports sedan which will likely compete against the future A3 Sedan, yet Daimler’s boss Dieter Zetsche is said to have already given the green light for a shooting brake version.

And if you ‘re wondering what's a shooting brake model, think of it this way: it is to the station wagon what the four-door coupe is to a regular sedan. In other words, a far more stylish but much less practical five-door model with a heavily raked rear hatch.

Being that the Stuttgart company has already officially confirmed a shooting brake derivative of the new CLS, which it previewed in April with the concept you see in these photos and that was displayed at the China Auto Show, Zetsche's decision to build a similar version of its “baby CLS” sounds reasonable.

Its styling will be a fusion of the CLC and the CLS shooting brake, with the emphasis given on the desugn rather than practicality and outright loading capacity.

Like its four-door sibling, it will likely be available with front or all-wheel drive and turbocharged direct injection engines.

The Mercedes-Benz CLC shooting brake is believed to go on sale in the US in 2014, a year after the four-door coupe version arrives in the market.