Mercedes-Benz B-Class

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Mercedes-Benz B-Class

Manufacturer	Mercedes-Benz
Production	2005–present
Class	Small family car Compact MPV
Layout	FF layout

**First generation**

Production	2005–2011
Model years	2006–2011
Assembly	Rastatt, Germany
Body style	5-door hatchback
Platform	Mercedes-Benz W245
Wheelbase	2006–08: 109.7 in (2,786 mm) 2009-11: 109.4 in (2,779 mm)
Length	168.1 in (4,270 mm) 2009- Base: 168.2 in (4,272 mm)
Width	70.0 in (1,778 mm)
Height	2006–08: 63.5 in (1,613 mm) 2009–11: 63.1 in (1,603 mm)
Related	Mercedes-Benz A-Class

The Mercedes-Benz B-Class (codename W245) is a small family car introduced by German automaker Mercedes-Benz in March 2005. It is essentially an enlarged A-Class keeping some of the engines, but with other more powerful ones available. It has the same basic suspension system. Like the A-Class, and unlike any other vehicle Mercedes builds or has built, the B-Class is a front wheel drive vehicle. The Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive concept car was presented at the 2012 Paris Motor Show. The electric car is scheduled to be released in Europe in 2013 and expected to be launched in the U.S. in 2014.
Mercedes-Benz describes the B-Class as a Compact Sports Tourer instead of hatchback or multi-purpose vehicle, like its R-Class model, which is called a Grand Sports Tourer. It was released in Europe in the late spring of 2005 and in Canada in the autumn of 2005. Plans to import the car to the US through Mexico were put on hold due to a strong euro, but it is likely that a new version of the car will come to the US via a newly constructed Mexican plant in 2014.

First generation (2005–2011)

Design

The B-class is what’s known as a two-box design: one box for the drivetrain and another the passenger and luggage compartments. The B-Class gains much of its comparatively large interior volume through its height, a configuration that makes the most of the vehicle’s footprint.
Having evolved from the even smaller A-Class, a car that was originally intended to have a battery-powered version that would meet California’s since-rescinded zero-emissions mandate. The sandwich floor concept—the structure of the car under the floor where the batteries were supposed to go—was retained in the B-Class.

Sandwich floor concept

The powertrain (engine and transmission) moves beneath the passenger cell (located at high seating position) in the event of a big frontal impact. According to a study: "the front section of the A-Class would have to be considerably longer in order to offer the same impressive level of occupant safety in the event of a heavy frontal impact".
These are two innovations, patented by Mercedes-Benz as:

DE 43 26 396 C 2: motor car with drive unit tilted at an acute angle against the horizontal
DE 44 00 132 C1: Firewall construction for a motor car with front-mounted drive unit

As a secondary benefit, because the seats have been raised by 20 cm, the passengers are taken away from the more common area of lateral impact in accidents.

Driving assistants

Mercedes-Benz B 180 CDI (Australia; pre-facelift)

Mercedes-Benz B 180 (Australia; facelift)

The B-Class presents a wide interior, basically due to the Sandwich floor.
The multifunction steering wheel (standard feature) allows the driver to use his/her thumbs to control the radio, telephone and other systems. The power assisted steering (standard feature) aids in the control of the automobile, varying according to the speed.
The COMAND APS is a system where Route instructions are given to the navigation system, and the information is provided via TMC. The car radio, DVD and telephone controls are combined into a single unit with a 6.5 inch screen. The options are: standard Audio 20 radio/single CD, Audio 50 APS or COMAND APS.
Parktronic emits warning tones and uses multiple LEDs to indicate how far the car is from an obstacle.
W245 defines the Light & Sight package with several benefits:

Bi-xenon HID headlamps (optional feature) with gas-discharge bulbs for the dipped beam
Cornering lights (standard feature) where the main-beam dips at road junctions and tight corners
Active light system (standard feature) where the beams follows the steering movements
Headlamp Assist (standard feature) is a sensor on the windscreen monitoring ambient light levels to automatically switch on the headlamps as required
Rain sensor (standard feature) smoothly adjusts the wiper speed, depending on the intensity of the rainfall.

As a standard addition, when entering a tunnel or an underground garage, the Tunnel Mode closes all windows and the panoramic sliding sunroof.

Inside comfort

The multicontour seat (optional feature) is composed of a set of small air cushions individually adjusted to the driver's body, as he/she wishes.

Air conditioning

The W245 units have a powerful car air conditioning system, with separate temperature adjustment for driver and front passenger.
Standard CDI models include a Heater Booster System (standard on CDI models) that instantly floods the interior of the B-Class with hot air. The most advanced system is the Thermotronic (optional feature) that maintains and regulates the temperature in accordance with a sophisticated set of sensors which measure temperature, sunlight, humidity and even pollutant levels in the ambient air, causing all openings to close automatically.

Sunroof

The new optional sunroof is divided in small panels that can be displaced individually. Each one can be controlled separately to selectively administer the shades inside the W245.

Reliability

Breakdown statistics reported by the German Automobile Club in May 2010 placed the Mercedes B-Class at the top of the lower middle-sized car class in respect of the low break-down rates achieved for cars aged between 0 and 4 years,^[4] narrowly beating the Audi A3 and the BMW 1-series.^[5] However, the car review website dogandlemon.com gave the B-Class a 'not recommended' rating, citing multiple problems with the manual transmissions, CVT transmissions, air conditioning and interior fittings such as door locks.

Safety

High-strength and ultra-high-strength steel alloys are combined with high-strength bonded joints.

Airbags

The B-Class has several airbags. The front airbag is adaptive with two-stage gas generators (standard feature), where the system evaluates the severity of the accident. The B-Class also includes side airbags for head and thorax (standard for driver and front passenger).
Two other additions are optional: Rear Sidebags (optional feature) for side-on collisions in the back seats and Windowbags: large airbags expanding like a curtain from A- to C-pillars in side-on collisions.

Belts

The Adaptive Function (standard feature for driver and front passenger) adapts the force exerted by the belt, relaxing dynamically during the collision. On the other hand, the Tensioners (standard feature) continuously adjust to remove any possible slack, and increase the tightness if necessary. The driver is notified if all the belts are buckled (standard feature).

Head and neck

Lastly, the active head restraints (standard feature) respond actively to a collision, assuring even more protection.

Other standard features

While driving there is the Acceleration-Skid Control (ASR) (standard feature) and Electronic Stability Program ESP (standard feature) that reduce the risk of skidding. There are disc brakes on all four wheels, and emergency stops are improved with the Anti-lock braking system (ABS) and Brake Assist System (BAS), standard on the Mercedes Benz A-Class. BAS detects emergency braking (most drivers apply the brakes quickly but without enough pressure) and exerts maximum brake pressure.

Making room

To make more room for transporting goods, it is possible to fold the seats forward and then level them at two different heights. They provide different final modular space combinations.
Its implementation is provided by two systems:

Easy-Vario: Both rear-seat cushion sections are folded forward, while the luggage compartment floor can be set to one of two different heights. (Optional feature)

Easy-Vario-Plus: Both rear-seat cushion and the front passenger seat are folded forward. This increases the load capacity to as much as 1995 litres. (Optional feature)

Second generation (W246; 2011–present)

Second generation

Production	2011–present
Model years	2012–present
Assembly	Rastatt, Germany Kecskemét, Hungary^[9]
Body style	5-door hatchback
Platform	Mercedes-Benz W246
Engine	1.6L I4 1.8L Diesel I4
Transmission	6-speed manual 7-speed DCT
Wheelbase	106.3 in (2,700 mm)
Length	171.6 in (4,359 mm)
Width	70.3 in (1,786 mm)
Height	61.3 in (1,557 mm)
Related	Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Mercedes-Benz B 180 (W246; Germany)

In September 2011, Daimler-Benz announced a complete replacement for the W245-model Mercedes B-Class, and was unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show. The platform is shared with the new (2012) model A-Class, remain front-wheel-drive, and support a variety of body formats from mini-MPV to coupe. Unlike the W245-model B-Class, the replacement is able to share engines and ancillary components with larger models in the Mercedes range, albeit mounted transversely, an initiative aimed at reducing overall costs.
In July 2011, Daimler AG released more details about the next Mercedes-Benz B-Class, called the w246 internally. The entry-level, petrol-powered B180 uses the 122 hp M270 1.6 four-cylinder and the B200 is powered by the same 1.6 as the B180 but pushed to 156 hp. For glow plug fans, the B180 CDI uses the OM651 1.8 common rail diesel, an engine that will be mounted transversally for the first time, while the B200 CDI uses same engine but with the power raised to 136 hp.

B-Class Electric Drive

The Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive concept was unveiled at the 2102 Paris Motor Show.

Mercedes Benz

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