Revealed: 2012 Mercedes-Benz B-Class

According to Thomas Weber, a member of the board responsible for R&D: "No model in the history of Mercedes-Benz has ever seen so many new developments introduced in one fell swoop." Other design features include distinctive headlamps with optional LED graphics, a wide twin-slat grille, high waistline, and heavy sculpting within the body sides. Power will be coming from a range of small-capacity four-cylinder direct-injection gasoline and diesel engines that have been taken from the existing Mercedes lineup.

Some of the new/modified engines include a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder that's fitted to other Mercedes models as a turbocharged 1.8-liter unit. As such, it's been re-engineered to slot transversely into the new B-Class's engine bay. It produces 120hp and 147 lb-ft of torque in the base B180 and 154hp and 184 lb-ft in the B200 model. Mercedes will also be offering a new 1.8-liter version of their popular diesel engine, codenamed OM651. It's been reduced in capacity from 2.1-liters and has an output of 107hp and 184 lb-ft in base B180 CDI and 134hp and 221-lb-ft in the B200 CDI.

A new six-speed manual gearbox, delivering power to the front wheels, comes standard. Buyers can also opt for a new Mercedes-developed seven-speed double-clutch transmission. Each gearbox features automatic stop-start and brake energy recuperation functions. According to Mercedes-Benz, this new MFA platform has also been engineered to support optional four-wheel drive that uses a central multiplate clutch to channel reserves simultaneously to the front and rear wheels depending on grip levels. In the near future, Mercedes plans to offer an upgraded version of their hydrogen-based fuel-cell system in a limited production F-Cell model.

For now, however, the new 2012 B-Class will have its official live debut in just a few weeks at Frankfurt. In the past, the B-Class was never sold in the U.S, but judging by the massive engineering efforts put in, it's very likely Mercedes has firm plans to bring it stateside.