Just did some googling to see if I could find any more info on the w205. But then I came across this and thought I'd share with my W203 friends here.





http://www.benzinsider.com/2010/08/d...-next-b-class/


I think its a good idea, but I guess it will be a very small car. Be interesting to see what price range it will be in. Will it drive up the price of the C class?

 

And there is a completely new A Class on the way.

 

As and Bs have been available for years. The new B will be based off the same platform as the new A. Since they've always been there (but just not available worldwide), nothing will happen to the C class, but it will be fun to see dealers in the US hold their noses while talking about the "downmarket" B class when it's available here.

 

w204 seems like a full size sedan, while the w203 was dang close too. The 201/202 was def a small sedan... All for their time :x All cars are just growing so much each manufacturer has to create new "smaller" lines of cars. Just compare a mid size sedan in the mid 90s to a mid size sedan now...

Id be interested in seeing what they do w/ the AMG version. I believe all of the current AMG motors are v8s Smaller car + V8? I could live w/ that :P

 

They were talking about a B AMG with a manny. Mmmm!

 

A B AMG with a manual?! Sedan? I'd be all over something like that. No funky hatchback coupe thing, though.

 

I do believe that they were talking about a 5-door hatch, honestly. But I guess that all could change.

 

That sounds awesome!

 

The nice thing about the new A's & B's is that they will not be mini MPV's like the old ones.

 

I realise they have been around for years, my point is that now they have a sedan.

They used to look like this only:

 

Making them less practical as a sedan shouldn't cannibalize C sales too much, though, I wouldn't think - the size difference should keep the two markets apart. Unlike Glyn, I'd prefer the MPV functionality.

I had a diesel B last year in the UK for a little over the week. Despite the slushbox, it was a fun little thing. Great with luggage, and very forgiving if you've had a couple of pints.

 

Benz intend a compact MPV to replace the B. It just won't be part of the sedan range. They needed to have a go at BMW's 1 Series & the B did not do that.

 

And it still won't if they don't have a B hatch; the 1 series will be sold in Europe as a 3 or 5 door hatch, as it was in the previous version. Then the 2 will come along as a coupe. So if the B is a sedan only, and then there's another MPV coming down the pike, where's the 1 competition? If this is all true, MB is missing the market, especially in Europe.

BMW already said that they won't be bringing over the hatch to the US. I understand their dilemma, as the ti was a huge flop here, but that was an odd ba$tard child of an old platform trying to compete somehow without a lot of ammo. The new 1 hatch is very nice except for the odd headlights, and should be able to compete against the A3, which has done pretty well here.

 

BMW's hatch failed in SA too. Merc is determined to compete in every lucrative segment. That might see them stand back from some but where there is volume/margin - they will be. Their greatest influence will be markets with decent margin which is not the US. I'm afraid that is now Asia & especially China where the Brand strength is stratospheric.

Freightliner makes plenty of money for Benz in the US but they battle a bit on the car side with everybody wanting everything at a Walmart price. Europe, SA, ME markets are still highly profitable.

 

If I had to make the choice between the two, BMW 1 series over B any day. I just don't like the current B design at all. I drove one as a hire car last year. Good little car for what it is, but not the kind of I car I would like to drive. However now that this B sedan is hitting the market in the coming years, I would rethink.

 

I think they will keep the B hatch design (maybe not in USA) but the sedan will be an addition to the fleet.

 

STOP THE PRESS;

This may not be called the B Class Sedan after all, it could be the new small CLC Mercedes.

http://www.insideline.com/mercedes-b...auto-show.html
Video: http://bcove.me/yk3ie9or

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Secret-...in-the-desert/



http://www.autobild.de/bilder/bilder...577.html#bild1

 

Yes - I saw this in Autocar. There is also a rumour that the CLK nomenclature will come back but in a compact/sub compact & likely a 2 door/3 door. All will be on the new scaleable platform.

Benz needs to clearly decide what will be the sedan range & what will be the people carrier range.

 

Gee. Nobody likes mini station wagons anymore. Because in reality thats what the 1-series was. It never was a mini SUV unlike the B-series MB.

 

A true shooting brake or station wagon version of the new CLC or whatever they finally call it is intended.

 

I just don't get the USA's aversion to hatches.
But SUV's, PU trucks, and MiniVans abound. Yuk!
Every time I see a mini van, I want to puke.
And people with their Expeditions, driving alone. Spewing exhaust.
Die! I mean I could understand if they had 6 people they needed to haul around.
The things barely fit in a parking space, and they end up denting your car.
Swine!

But a hatch is bad? And there are so few 3 door hatches.
What makes car mfg.rs think everyone wants 5 doors?

The GTI is butt ugly, but they manage to sell the things, a rolling box on wheels.
And MB owners look down their noses at the 'lowly' coupe.

I had to laugh at the motoring press when it came out.
The interior is nearly identical to the CLK and C sedan, but they
acted like it was not the same car, same interior, same chassis!
Well, if you had cloth, yeah. Other than that, the same.
Granted the view from the back aint the best, but that's the price of practicality.
Somehow the CLK and C sedan were sooooo much better. Idiots.
CLK was just an ripoff. New C Coupe is 38 grand! With a turbo 1.8L 4.
What a joke!
In 2008 a buddy of mine bought a pretty much stripped
W204 C300 Sport. Nice car. 3L 6 cyl stock (!), 6 speed, MB Tex (Oh well)
Sunroof (not pano) Bluetooth, for 33K. What a bargain. A comparatively equipped BMW would've been 10 grand more.
Too bad about the balance shaft gear.
But the new 1.8L is likely just based on the old M271.
Hopefully they got some of the bugs out and added a 2nd row timing chain.

My coupey proved her worth yet again at home depot yesterday,
hauling off a 200 lb shelving unit in a 6' box. Fold seats down, slide in,
drive. Best compromise between an SUV and a sports car in my book.
It's a desert topping AND a a floor wax!
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-li...r-wax/1056743/

 

Ahhh, remember when SNL used to be funny?

 

lol. this is close. it will be the CLC and it looks like a CLS crossed with a Maxima.

I have seen it already. I had the opportunity to take part in a paid 1-on-1 consumer focus group where I was showed the new C205 and A205 (C-Class Coupe and Vert) as well as the CLC. It was pretty secure and I had to empty my pockets, go through a metal detector and was patted down and escorted the entire time, therefore, no pictures.

ALL of the cars I was shown looked DAMN good. The CLC talk has been going on for years already. So, I was expecting it. However, when they showed me the prototype, I didn't recognize it. The CLC is a lot bigger than I expected and when I first saw it, thought it would be in between the C and E, but was advised that it would be placed below the C.

All of the new cars reflect MB's new corporate look, they look very close to the CLS, SLS and SLK. I definitely think MB's future looks very bright.

 

If I were in the market for a teeny sedan, I'd be more looking at the Dodge Dart, which looked damn fine yesterday at the Philly auto show. I was surprised. Maybe the Alfa/Chrysler marriage will work out after all.

Oh, and yes, the Abarth was there. Red leather sport seats, sexy little flat-bottomed steering wheel, mmmm.