The Mercedes B-Class is back in the rumor mill today after an eagle-eyed reader from our friends at Automobile spotted the Benz hatchback cruising on a California highway. Thanks to these shots, it’s safe to say that Mercedes will likely offer the B-Class to us Americans, though it’s still speculation at this point.
In one photo, there appears to be two test vehicles along with a white E-Class. The camouflage may be heavy but the overall shape is identical to the covered-up B-Class we caught in Europe just a few months ago. The current generation B-Class has been available in other markets in 2005. Mercedes wasn’t confident the front-wheel drive hatch would sell well in the U.S., but the next-gen B-Class may buck that trend due to growing demand for smaller and more efficient vehicles.
And as we reported a few days ago, Mercedes hopes to make the B-Class more enticing to younger customers by stuffing it with S-Class goodies. That means it will come with turbocharged and direct injected engines, a seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission, and high-tech safety features like Collision Prevention Assist.
The B-Class is based on the same front-wheel drive platform as the A-Class subcompact, which has been confirmed and slated to arrive in our showrooms sometime after 2012. Combining that news with these recent photos is proof that Mercedes intends to be a premium hatchback contender here in the States.
