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[Three-cylinder coming to next Mercedes-Benz C-Class?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/19/report-three-cylinder-coming-to-next-mercedes-benz-c-class/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/19/report-three-cylinder-coming-to-next-mercedes-benz-c-class/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/19/report-three-cylinder-coming-to-next-mercedes-benz-c-class/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Mercedes-Benz A-Class - Click above for high-res image gallery

According to a report from AutoWeek.nl, Mercedes-Benz is taking a long, hard look at a new three-cylinder engine for its upcoming range of small cars and hybrids. Daimler already offers a 1.0-liter three-banger in the diminutive Smart ForTwo, and this new powerplant would likely be destined for the engine bay of both the next-gen Smart and Mercedes' A-, B- and C-Class vehicles.

In addition to the three-cylinder engine, Thomas Weber, director of group research and car development at Mercedes-Benz, says the German automaker plans to offer a hybrid powertrain option on each of its models - from minicars like the Smart to its line of large luxury sedans and commercial vans. To make that goal a reality, M-B is working to reduce the weight of its hybrid drivetrain by 10%.

The last interesting little nugget from this report is that Mercedes is looking for a partner to help develop this small engine family. We can't help but recall rumors from last month indicating that BMW was working on its own new three-cylinder engine architecture.


Gallery: 2009 Mercedes-Benz A-Class


[Source: AutoWeek.nl]

Three-cylinder coming to next Mercedes-Benz C-Class? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>greenmercedesmercedes 3 cylindermercedes a classmercedes a-classmercedes b classmercedes b-classmercedes benzmercedes three cylindermercedes-benzmercedes-benz 3 cylindermercedes-benz a-classmercedes-benz b-classmercedes-benz three cylinderMercedes-benz3CylinderMercedes-benzA-classMercedes-benzB-classMercedes-benzThreeCylinderMercedes3CylinderMercedesA-classMercedesAClassMercedesB-classMercedesBClassMercedesBenzMercedesThreeCylinderFri, 19 Jun 2009 09:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Mercedes-Benz reconsidering A- and B-Class for U.S.]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/26/mercedes-benz-reconsidering-a-and-b-class-for-u-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/26/mercedes-benz-reconsidering-a-and-b-class-for-u-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/26/mercedes-benz-reconsidering-a-and-b-class-for-u-s/#commentsFiled under: , ,


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

The market for luxury cars is slipping, and stalwarts like Mercedes-Benz are not immune. The German automaker's current projections indicate that overall sales will drop by about 10% for 2008, and '09 isn't shaping up to be any better. On the other hand, one of the few bright spots in the U.S. auto market has been the sales of small cars, which have at least sustained level sales and in some cases increased tremendously. While Daimler has no basis for comparison since 2008 was the first year that the fortwo was sold here, sales of the smart brand have greatly outpaced the automaker's projections.

The success of small but premium cars has prompted MB USA to take another look at its A-Class and B-Class cars. This compact duo are sold in other countries, but have been deemed too diminutive to be widely accepted here in the States. That all may change in 2012. By then, Daimler will have had a chance to rework the two cars for the American market, bringing them more in line with the brand's U.S. aspirations, and that's a good thing since the big concern would be whether the two models would devalue the three-pointed star in the fickle eyes of us Americans.

Gallery: 2009 Mercedes-Benz A-Class


Gallery: 2009 Mercedes-Benz B-Class


[Source: Auto Motor und Sport - translated]

Mercedes-Benz reconsidering A- and B-Class for U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click above to view the new Mercedes-Benz B-Class in hi-res

When, exactly, was it decided that blue would be the new color for hi-tech? Because I wasn't invited or even informed. And it's not just the color, it's right there in the name, so even the colorblind can get on board. With our phones connecting by Bluetooth and our movies coming on Blue-Ray, Mercedes labels their clean diesels as BLUETEC and has now come out with something called BlueEFFICIENCY. What the heck is BlueEFFICIENCY, you ask, and why is it half in caps like it's screaming? Well we can't answer the second part, but as far as we can tell, the name is being applied to Mercedes-Benz' latest blue-green powertrain, running on compressed natural gas and featuring start-stop functionality.

The CNG engine is found in the new Mercedes-Benz B170 NGT BlueEfficiency (yeah, we're done with the all-caps), the headline model on the newly facelifted Mercedes B-Class. The updated B, which succeeds the model that has been on the market for three years now, benefits from a redesigned front end - encompassing a new grille, front bumper and hood - plus new taillights, rear bumper and an updated interior. A new variety of wheels are available as well, while the wing mirrors, door handles and door sills are now painted to match the body color. In addition to the CNG-burning B170 NGT BlueEfficiency (which, by the way, can also run on gasoline), the revised B-Class is available with a range of engines including two turbodiesels and four gasoline motors topped by the 193hp B200 Turbo.

The facelift should hold the B-Class until Mercedes replaces it altogether, but since it's still not available in the United States, you'll have to head north to Canada or overseas to see one in person. If you don't have enough airmiles with JetBlue, though, you can just check out the press release after the jump and the gallery below.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Gallery: 2009 Mercedes-Benz B-Class

Continue reading Mercedes gives B-Class a facelift, natural gas

Mercedes gives B-Class a facelift, natural gas originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>b-class cngb-class natural gasb-class start-stopB-classCngB-classNaturalGasB-classStart-stopb170 ngtB170Ngtblueefficiencyfacelifted b-classFaceliftedB-classmercedes b-classmercedes-benzmercedes-benz b-classmercedes-benz b170 ngtMercedes-benzB-classMercedes-benzB170NgtMercedesB-classupdated b-classUpdatedB-classMon, 17 Mar 2008 11:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Mercedes to pump some extra octane into next A- and B-Class]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/19/mercedes-to-pump-some-octane-into-next-a-and-b-retitle/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/19/mercedes-to-pump-some-octane-into-next-a-and-b-retitle/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/19/mercedes-to-pump-some-octane-into-next-a-and-b-retitle/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

According to the latest reports, Mercedes has finally realized why its A-Class and B-Class compacts haven't been doing so well: they're boring, overpriced and underpowered... and that's a losing combination. So for the next generation of the two model lines that's expected around 2011, Mercedes is reportedly preparing to turn up the volume.

Although the next-gen baby Benzes will reportedly stick with front-wheel-drive, they'll sit lower to the ground - and save production costs - by ditching the expensive current models' sandwich platform. Whereas the 193-hp 2-liter turbo is currently the most powerful engine offered between the two related models, sources indicate that the top engine could offer as much as 230 hp, possibly sourced from BMW off all companies whose 1-Series Mercedes hopes to target with the sportier new A and B-Classes. Meanwhile, reports also suggest that competition from the up!coming Volkswagen models could compel parent company Daimler to bring back the previously slow-selling and subsequently discontinued Smart ForFour.

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport via Motor Authority]

Mercedes to pump some extra octane into next A- and B-Class originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Feb 2008 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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