2012 Mercedes-Benz B-Class

2012 Mercedes-Benz B-Class

The current Mercedes-Benz B-Class has little relevance to the United States market, but that will soon change as the German automaker is planning up to three B-Class variants for the U.S. market. Giving a better glimpse of that future, our spy photographers have just sent us the first interior shots of the next B-Class.
Although the current car is essentially a mini-MPV, the next-gen B-Class will likely take the form of a more conventional hatchback. The move is intended to make the B-Class more appealing to younger demographics.
The hatchback seen in our photos will likely be a part of the B-Class’ U.S. mix, but two other models are still under consideration. Mercedes is planning sedan and SUV variants of the next B-Class, giving the premium compact a broader appeal among U.S. buyers.
It remains to be seen what engines will be offered in the new B-Class but expect diesel and gas offerings, and possibly even a hybrid option. Mercedes is also working on a high-performance AMG B-Class model, which will likely feature a four-cylinder with forced induction.
On the interior photos we can clearly see that the display for the radio and navigation has moved up a bit on the dashboard as well as it seems that the gearstick for the automatic gearbox comes with a steering column gear selector rather than a gearstick in the center console. That will offer more possibilities for storage in the center console.