Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Mercedes-Benz A and B class considered for 2011 launch in U.S.]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/28/mercedes-benz-a-and-b-class-considered-for-2011-launch-in-u-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/28/mercedes-benz-a-and-b-class-considered-for-2011-launch-in-u-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/28/mercedes-benz-a-and-b-class-considered-for-2011-launch-in-u-s/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 A class.

Like almost every automaker, Mercedes-Benz is feeling the pinch of high gas prices and an economic slow-down in the States. Daimler AG expects M-B's sales in the U.S. to fall in the second half of the year and in order to keep things in the black, vehicle prices in the U.S. are going to rise.

To counter the shift in demand from larger, thirstier vehicles to smaller, thriftier rides, Mercedes is reconsidering its previous decision not to offer its next generation compact and sub-compact vehicles in the U.S. Mercedes originally planned to bring the B class over, but the weak dollar caused the automaker to hold off. With the entrance of the 1-series, the forthcoming X1 and small crossovers from Audi on the way, Mercedes is looking to bring it front-wheel-drive A and B class vehicles to U.S. consumers that might be open to a compact vehicle from a luxury automaker.

The A class hatch was recently revealed and the B class got a facelift earlier this year, however, both models will have to undergo some revisions to be ready for sales in the U.S. With more derivatives on the way, including 230 hp, turbo'd two-liters and a B class possibly sharing the C's underpinnings (similar to the 1 series using the 3 series' platform), don't expect either model to hit U.S. shores before 2011.

Gallery: 2009 Mercedes-Benz A-Class


Gallery: 2009 Mercedes-Benz B-Class


[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Mercedes-Benz A and B class considered for 2011 launch in U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jul 2008 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a classAClassb classBClassmercedesmercedes-benzMon, 28 Jul 2008 08:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Mercedes planning 1-series rival in 2011]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/27/mercedes-planning-1-series-rival-in-2011/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/27/mercedes-planning-1-series-rival-in-2011/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/27/mercedes-planning-1-series-rival-in-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's no secret that the Mercedes-Benz A-class hasn't been a resounding success and that the automaker is looking to revamp its entry-level line-up to better compete with rivals. According to Autocar, M-B boss Dieter "Dr. Z" Zetsche has green-lighted a new model that's taking aim at the BMW 1-series and Audi A3, and will accompany the rest of the revised A-class models when it debuts in 2011.

The new model will replace the aging, if just recently facelifted, CLC and will initially come to market sporting a coupe body style instead of a three-door hatch. Mercedes plans to expand the rest of the A-classes to include at least three different body styles of each model, coinciding with the launch of the new B-class, which will be designed to compete with the upcoming BMW X1.

Power will supposedly come from a combination of direct-injection gasoline and diesel powerplants, with output ranging from 120 to 200 hp. Pricing should be competitive with BMW's 1-series models, with the new A-class falling right around the £19,000 mark.

[Source: Autocar]

Mercedes planning 1-series rival in 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a classa-classAClassaudi a3AudiA3b classb-classBClassbmw 1-seriesbmw 135iBmw1-seriesBmw135imercedes benzmercedes-benzMercedesBenzThu, 27 Mar 2008 13:22:00 EST<![CDATA[CR says Mercedes B200 could be U.S. bound]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/14/cr-says-mercedes-b200-could-be-u-s-bound/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/14/cr-says-mercedes-b200-could-be-u-s-bound/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/14/cr-says-mercedes-b200-could-be-u-s-bound/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Not actual CR car. Their tag says "CR4SHZL."

If you see a white base-model Mercedes B200 tooling around Connecticut, don't get too excited. Yet. You see, that one was bought in Canada (for almost $29k U.S.!) and driven across the border by Consumer Reports for their upcoming small car issue. The CR folks mostly like the little Mercedes and called it a "baby minivan." The big news is that, without citing sources, the magazine's website says the German B-class could be imported into the States.

Which we think would be great. More choice is always better. But Automobile.com drove a 2005 version of the car and said, "The B200, fortunately, is not offered in the U.S." Ouch.

[Sources: Consumer Reports, Automobile.com]

CR says Mercedes B200 could be U.S. bound originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 May 2007 10:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>b classb-classb200BClassconsumer reportsconsumer reports b-classconsumer reports carsconsumer reports mercedesConsumerReportsConsumerReportsB-classConsumerReportsCarsConsumerReportsMercedesmercedes b200mercedes economy carMercedesB200MercedesEconomyCarMon, 14 May 2007 10:54:00 EST<![CDATA[The U.S. B-segment car Mark Fields axed]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/09/the-u-s-b-segment-car-mark-fields-axed/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/09/the-u-s-b-segment-car-mark-fields-axed/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/09/the-u-s-b-segment-car-mark-fields-axed/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Back in January at the L.A. Auto Show Mark Fields promised the audience at his keynote speech that Ford would soon be unveiling a new product to compete in the fast-growing subcompact (or B-segment) market in the U.S. Well, here we are in August and Ford is still without the promised small car to compete with the Chevy Aveo, Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit. What happened?

Well, it turns out that Ford was rushing to market a version of the Fiesta-based EcoSport small SUV (pictured) that its subsidiaries sell in Mexico and Brazil. According to The Detroit News, the already fairly basic EcoSport would have been stripped down even further as Ford tried to come up with a price leader for the market. Fields (wisely, in our opinion) canned the project, saying this week that he'd rather wait for Ford to "come in with a product that's distinctly Ford" and not "just another econo-box."

[Source: Detroit News]

The U.S. B-segment car Mark Fields axed originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Aug 2006 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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