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The all-new third-generation Mercedes-Benz B-Clbad has lost some of the distortion of the previous generation and has gained in technology, refinement and flexibility.
the Mercedes-Benz Clbad B is a car that defies the clbadification. It is not a travel engine, although its square and high dimensions give it a unique air. It's not a sedan, certainly not in the traditional sense of the word, nor is it a family car, even though its side profile evokes a car-like shape. And it's definitely not an SUV.
So, what is it then? Mercedes-Benz, for its part, calls it a "sportsman", a name that contradicts its slightly distorted appearance. To me, this looks like a sedan for tall people.
It is not surprising that the new third-generation B-Clbad shares its foundation with the new Mercedes-Benz A-Clbad – up to the same 2729 mm wheelbase, which represents an increase of 30 mm over the outgoing model. The wheelbase of 2786mm from the original. But while Clbad A is 1440 mm high, the roofline of the B-Clbad has an impressive height of 122 mm and a height of 1562 mm.
Mercedes-Benz has announced that more than 1.2 million B-Clbad cars sold worldwide since its launch in 2006, which will not shock anyone, said a Merc representative at the launch of the new car in Mallorca this week . 80% of these sales were for people over 60 years old.
And it's easy to understand why, because the B-Clbad offers a tailgate-like experience (the front seats are 90mm higher than the A-Clbad), so it's easy to get in and out. , with a vast start-up area and a host of Merc's latest multimedia information technologies, which are not only a hub of entertainment and information, but also a wellness center.
The Australian Clbad B market is relatively small, with sales of about 1,000 to 1,200 a year. Mercedes-Benz Australia claims that 80% of them are petrol variants B180 and B200. That's why Australia will not get any diesel variant of this new-generation Clbad B.
We will not know the prices and specifications before the local launch of the car in the middle of 2019, but we can expect that locally delivered B-Clbades will be highly specified, with standard inclusions that other markets will have to to choose.
The standard kit of the new B-Clbad probably includes LED headlights, a keyless starter, an electric tailgate, a satellite navigation system, a reversing camera, Merc's 10.25-inch wide dual-screen, including a touch screen, an MBUX information system, including Mercedes Me Connect, a center console touchpad, nine airbags and a nine-speaker 225-watt high-end audio system.
A series of active safety systems are added to these nine airbags, but we do not know what will be standard or what will be optional until the final specification has been confirmed. In Europe, however, Active Brake Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Blind Spot Monitoring and Lane Keeping Assist are all listed as standard, while Adaptive Cruise Control with Distronic Plus is standard. read road conditions up to 500 meters, such as turns or curves. intersections and adjust the speed of the car accordingly, are optional.
A word about satellite navigation – using what Mercedes-Benz calls augmented reality, the system is, at first sight, pretty much the same as the others. Until you arrive at a turn where the AR went into action. Basically, it separates the satellite navigation screen into two sections and to its right, projects the road in front of you, as if you were looking across from the camera but with arrows and guidance superimposed on the film. It's brilliant, in a word.
Go aboard the B200 – and it's very easy thanks to the high seats, but also to the generous front and rear door openings – and the first thing that strikes you is how much inside it is is rich. Our test car was equipped with the progressive Macchiate beige leather, which was sumptuous and added to the cabin's light and light feel. The greenhouse is generous and high, the visibility is excellent.
The materials, certainly very high, are luxurious with double stitching bands and lots of faux leather and soft-touch plastic. The faux wood finish completes the atmosphere. Even the toughest materials used look fluffy, probably because they have been finished in the same beige macchiate color that lessens the visual impact of their inherent hardness.
Everything is anchored in the screen with the two 10.25-inch twin high-resolution color screens that dominate the dashboard as one of the solitary windmills that generously punctuate the landscape in these regions; the left screen (on our left launcher) serves as the car's instrument cluster and can be configured in different ways to suit your personal taste. The same goes for the head-up display, which is one of the best HUDs we've seen recently, not only for the clarity of its display, but also because it can be highly customized to display only those desired information.
The 10.25-inch straight touch screen is the nerve center of the B200 infotainment. We have already explained how Mercedes' new MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) is intuitive and intuitive, and the ease of use of screen clarity, thanks in part to the myriad means whose functions. In addition to the now ubiquitous touchscreen, the multifunction steering wheel features controls for switching between different screens. The cars at launch were equipped with the optional touchpad in the center console, which offers another way to play with the infotainment, but like many of these systems, we found it a bit clunky and difficult to use.
The easiest and perhaps most entertaining way to play with the system is to use voice commands, just as you would on your smartphone or smart home system.
"Hey Mercedes" is followed by "What can I help you with?" And if, for example, you tell Mercedes you're cold, it will automatically adjust the B200's climate control to reflect that. Of course, you can simply use the rockers and knobs that control the HVAC functions on the console, but where is the fun? After all, who does not like the idea of barking an instruction and having a faceless algorithm posing as a person who responds to all our whims? It appeals to the primitive in us all.
For some of us, this overriding need extends to driving. We need this visceral connection with the road, a mix of commitment and performance that not only transports us from A to B, but also makes us feel something. This "something" can be as simple as the bark of an exhaust, or the roar of a total ban on an engine on Redline. This could also be due to the relaxation of the driving experience, where the car behaves predictably and can transport us and our loved ones with a minimum of hbadle.
Clbad B buyers looking for the first – although we suspect there are not many – will be disappointed, while those looking for it should see their needs largely met.
Under the hood of the B200, is Merc's ## 1.33 liter turbo petrol engine with four cylinders (internal code M282 for nerds among us) with 120 kW and 250 Nm. These modest outlets are transmitted to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch auto.
And it is a refined transmission train, perfectly arranged and effortless in the city, where you do not ask too much power and torque. On the highway also, reaching the cruising speed (in this case, the legal limit displayed of 120 km / h), the B200 fortunately reaches the – ultimately.
With a claim Sprint time of 8.2 seconds between 0 and 100 km / h, the B200 is not a missile launcher. But again, it is unlikely that the target market is too concerned. Which is probably a good thing, because once you start asking questions about the transmission, you understand what Clbad B is and what it is not.
First of all, let's talk about what Clbad B is not, and it's all type of performance-oriented "sports traveler", certainly not in this B200 specification. The powertrain does not have much depth, which starts to struggle and make a lot of noise for a small gain when you accelerate sharply.
Similarly, the seven-speed DCT is perfectly perfected on the highway or in the city, but once on winding mountain roads, the transmission was constantly changing and unnecessarily speeding up, in what appeared to be a stealthy hunt for the good work. This led to unpleasant and sometimes annoying driving through pretty little roads. And to be clear, no one was trying to treat the B200 as a hot hatch, but rather just enjoying an afternoon stroll through beautiful scenery.
Where the tested B200 shone, was in its run. It should be noted, however, that all test cars were equipped with an independent rear suspension (IRS) and adaptive dampers. It is likely, although not confirmed, that Australia's B-Clbad will be equipped with a torsion beam at the rear, although the most advanced configuration is available as an option.
That said, the B200 offers a beautiful ride, even sumptuous, as it absorbs bumps and bumps with barely a ripple in the cabin. Sitting on 19-inch wheels has improved the roar of tires on some rougher surfaces, but the overall experience is positive.
Mercedes-Benz says the B200 will shiver all day in various traffic conditions and drink only 5.6 L / 100 km. This is an ambitious figure, but no doubt helped by Merc's cylinder deactivation technology which stops the second and third cylinders depending on conditions between 1250 and 3800 rpm. Perceptible? Nope. Have we seen a fuel reading at launch? In addition, we must wait for the B-Clbad to land locally before testing any fuel consumption against MB requests.
The practicality of Clbad B is not disputed. This high front sitting position is only the beginning. Hunker in the last row and you will encounter a similar atmosphere, both light, airy and spacious. Thanks to the elevated roofline of the B-Clbad, there is nothing surprising about the head, knees and legs.
The boot space is also generous, with 455 liters with the back row in play, increasing to 1100 liters with the second row folded. Mercedes-Benz further baderts that a capacity of 1540 liters of complete cargo space up to the roofline is used.
It's not cavernous, but it should still expand, with MB confirming that the back row will slide up and down from the middle of next year to free up boot space. This seems like a strange strategy, to publish a brand new model without this ability but to promise it then in the near future. A suspect, although it is pure speculation, some focus groups may have had a voice and Merc reacted accordingly.
Practicality, it seems, is an important consideration in this richest niche segment (by the way, there is no word like "nichest" but it works in this context). And in terms of convenience, the B-Clbad offers considerable benefits. It's spacious, lightweight, comfortable and Mercedes-Benz has done everything in its power to ensure its luxury. And while some of the powertrain weaknesses were highlighted at the launch, it should be noted that the launch program posed questions unlikely to be in the real world by true owners.
Mercedes-Benz knows who its customer is for the B-Clbad and, as a result, the third generation of its popular "sports traveler", strange as it may be, has popularized this population. Would I buy one? Ask me in nine years.
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