In an effort to make its famous brand available to more consumers than ever, Mercedes-Benz Canada will put the recently revealed B-class model on sale here this fall.
Starting in the low $30,000s and going up from there, the mini-minivan/wagon vehicle that Mercedes calls a ''Sports Tourer'' is the firm's latest move to offer the best model in every segment it competes in.
Marcus Breitschwerdt, the president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Canada, is so enthusiastic about the B-class that he believes it will match the brand's current entry-level vehicle, the C-class, in sales most years. That means that more than 3,000 units could be sold next year.
This decision is particularly interesting because the Mercedes operation in the U.S. recently decided to put off importing the B-class until 2007 because the current currency situation between the U.S. dollar and the euro makes it hard for them to make money.
On a similar note, BMW Canada will not import its 1-series, which would be in some ways competitive with the B-class, until 2007.
A lot of Breitschwerdt's enthusiasm comes from the fact that, in his previous job, he played a key role in creating it. He's convinced that the car will be a hit with Canadians, who will appreciate its style, performance, packaging and value.
He further believes that the German firm's newest product will appeal to lots of people who previously wouldn't have shopped at a Mercedes store.
''A lot of people will be very impressed,'' Breitschwerdt said in an interview, ''and we will have a lot of people coming from classic but maybe boring sedans. I'm sure it will be a cool car for younger people, attracting young families as well as people who have another Mercedes-Benz car already. It will be one of our emotional products, going through the ages and through the social positions.''
As a ''Sports Tourer,'' the B-class is supposed to ''meet the wishes of today's motorists for a car with generous space, exemplary comfort, excellent practicality, an exciting design and a high level of driving pleasure.'' The other Sports Tourer set for Canadian distribution is the R-lass, which is larger and more expensive but due here around the same time as the B-class.
By combining the ''advantages of different vehicle concepts,'' the B-class is said to become a ''touring, family and recreational vehicle with incomparable added experience value in terms of design and dynamism.''
One of the primary enablers of this idea is the ''sandwich concept'' created by Mercedes for the original A-class years ago, which puts part of the engine and transmission partly in front of and partly beneath the passenger cell.
This helps give the B-class interior space beyond what its compact body (it's 4,270-mm long) would seem to allow. The company claims that this new model ''offers more than other cars of comparable size in this segment in all comfort-related respects, such as shoulder-room, legroom and headroom.''
Thanks to a height-adjustable load compartment floor, an asymmetrically-divided rear seat that folds or can be taken out, along with a removable front passenger seat, the B-class is ''quickly and easily converted from a comfortable touring car to a practical van.''
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| Mercedes-Benz B-Class (photo: DaimlerChrysler AG) |
Marcus Breitschwerdt, the president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Canada, is so enthusiastic about the B-class that he believes it will match the brand's current entry-level vehicle, the C-class, in sales most years. That means that more than 3,000 units could be sold next year.
This decision is particularly interesting because the Mercedes operation in the U.S. recently decided to put off importing the B-class until 2007 because the current currency situation between the U.S. dollar and the euro makes it hard for them to make money.
On a similar note, BMW Canada will not import its 1-series, which would be in some ways competitive with the B-class, until 2007.
 |
| Mercedes-Benz B-Class (photo: DaimlerChrysler AG) |
He further believes that the German firm's newest product will appeal to lots of people who previously wouldn't have shopped at a Mercedes store.
''A lot of people will be very impressed,'' Breitschwerdt said in an interview, ''and we will have a lot of people coming from classic but maybe boring sedans. I'm sure it will be a cool car for younger people, attracting young families as well as people who have another Mercedes-Benz car already. It will be one of our emotional products, going through the ages and through the social positions.''
As a ''Sports Tourer,'' the B-class is supposed to ''meet the wishes of today's motorists for a car with generous space, exemplary comfort, excellent practicality, an exciting design and a high level of driving pleasure.'' The other Sports Tourer set for Canadian distribution is the R-lass, which is larger and more expensive but due here around the same time as the B-class.
By combining the ''advantages of different vehicle concepts,'' the B-class is said to become a ''touring, family and recreational vehicle with incomparable added experience value in terms of design and dynamism.''
One of the primary enablers of this idea is the ''sandwich concept'' created by Mercedes for the original A-class years ago, which puts part of the engine and transmission partly in front of and partly beneath the passenger cell.
 |
| Mercedes-Benz B-Class (photo: DaimlerChrysler AG) |
Thanks to a height-adjustable load compartment floor, an asymmetrically-divided rear seat that folds or can be taken out, along with a removable front passenger seat, the B-class is ''quickly and easily converted from a comfortable touring car to a practical van.''