Mercedes-Benz will launch the new B-Class in India very soon. The four-door compact sports tourer is expected to be unveiled in India on 19 July; while the sales should commence by the end of August. The B-Class will be the new entry-level Mercedes model in India, with the prices starting a notch below Rs 25 lakh.
Unlike the BMW X1 and the Audi Q3, the new Mercedes model is not a compact crossover; the body styling is more like an extra large hatchback with aggressive styling in lines with Merc’s new design language. The B-Class was first unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show and it was evident that the car will be brought to India as early as possible. This is a global model and will be made available in India with both petrol and diesel engine options – most likely 1.6-litre petrol and 1.8-litre diesel. The car is also equipped with features like Pre-Safe, Blind Spot and Lane Keeping Assist.
The B-Class will be initially imported to India via CBU route (Completely Built Unit); the local assembling of model should begin by the end of this year along with CKD operations of ML350. Mercedes does not have a entry-level compact crossover like BMW and Audi, hence the B-Class will compete with the two Germans in the segment. The B-Class actually is a very sensible car; it just needs to be seen whether it can compete with the X1 and the Q3 sans the body size, as the Indian buyer is obsessed with ‘baadi gaadi’… SUVs.
