It's been a while since IndianAutosBlog.com brought its readers a nice, juicy scoop. Today we're putting an end to that dry run by presenting photographs and a video of the B-Class testing in India. This is the first instance of a website publishing evidence of these test mules in India but it will come as no surprise to IAB readers that the B-Class has begun testing.
Indian Autos Blog was the first to report that Mercedes Benz India is introducing the B-Class as a "Sports Tourer" earlier this year and days later got it confirmed by the top management.
Mercedes is trying to garner 15-20% of the 20-25 lakh rupee segment with the B-Class. It does not have an SUV in its lineup in this particular price range, but a crossover, dubbed GLA, is being developed in Stuttgart using the A-Class's chassis.
Until that model is ready to be used, Mercedes will have to hire the services of the B-Class and the sedan based on the Concept Style Coupe, shown at last month's Beijing Auto Show, to keep the competition from seizing full control of this high-volume segment. Audi's mounting a challenge with the Q3 this year and is optimistic about the A3's chances for 2013. The B-Class is going to find the going very tough with these competitors, that are coming in various shapes and sizes.
[can't see the video above? Head over to the Youtube page for direct viewing]
The video and photographs sent in by our Facebook follower and email subscriber Snatak Mundade show the generous proportions of the car. The B-Class is a giant hatchback that is longer and wider than the Ertiga! (4.35m long, 1.78m wide). It is powered by a 1.8-liter diesel engine that can output upto 136hp. Mercedes has not divulged information on the car's powertrains for India. There's a partnership between Daimler and Renault for sharing engines and the 1.5-liter K9K engine could be used on one of the compact future Mercedes models.
The Mercedes Benz management told IAB during a plant visit in late February that is it ready to launch the B-Class before Diwali 2012.
