Benz Faqs

Mercedes has been working on a new small crossover that they are calling the BLK. According to sources the new car will be part of both the A and B Class range and will be ready to launch by 2011. They are hoping that the new BLK will be equal competition to the Land Rover LRX and the BMW X1.

Sources report that the BLK will receive four-wheel drive and possibly even a FWD eco version. The eco version might just be a micro-hybrid, if they opt out for a direct hybrid. The micro-hybrid has start/stop technology to improve fuel consumption when the car is not moving.

It looks like Mercedes will be giving their A- and B-Class models a whole new look for the 2011 model year. After months of low sales they have deduced that consumers are unhappy with the low power, bland design, and expensive price tag that they have come to expect from these models.

Mercedes is throwing the ‘basic’ design out the door and has promised that the new line up for the 2011 model year will be different. They are going to be completely re-designing the cars and giving them a front wheel drive system – which will save on the cost of production and will save consumers money. There are even rumors that they will be given a 230 horsepower engine. For now the most powerful engine is the 193 horsepower 2 liter turbo.

Get ready North America because the Mercedes B-Class is coming to a city near you! That’s right. Mercedes is tired of being restricted to Europe and has decided to branch off and join us here in the U.S.A.

The B-class, which has been available in Europe since 2005, is ready for redesign in 2011 or 2012. The prototypes include a model that would meet North American regulatory requirements, Ernst Lieb, chief executive officer of Mercedes-Benz USA, told Bloomberg.