Mercedes-Benz will introduce a new B-Class platform in Europe in 2011, with many different variants – several of which are destined for the U.S. According to a recent report by Automotive News, Mercedes will bring up to three B-Class models to the U.S., including a hatchback, sedan and a small crossover. The move comes as little surprise if Mercedes it to compete with premium level hatchbacks like the Audi A3 and Lexus CT200h, as well as crossovers like the upcoming BMW X1. (Mercedes BLK anyone?)

There’s no word on engines yet, but the report suggests an alternative energy (electric, hybrid or fuel cell) model is in the plans. In addition, AMG is reportedly planning to deliver a rear-drive high-performance model based on the new B-Class.

As excited as we are about these new Benzes, don’t expect to see any of them in the U.S. until at least 2012 – although we’ll be sure to keep a close eye on the European models coming next year.

[Source: Automotive News via Autoblog]

AMG has made its mark in the auto industry by building immensely powerful engines to propel large and luxurious Mercedes-Benz models to unimaginable speeds. But with Merc now looking at the lower end of the market, AMG is being forced to do so as well. AMG, however, has its own plans.

A report by Motor Trend suggests that AMG will completely re-engineer the new Mercedes small car platform, transforming it into a rear-drive platform in order to build a proper performance machine. That sounds expensive to us, but with the premium those AMG folks are likely to ask and the huge increase in sales this is likely to bring, it may just be a viable business plan.

Mercedes is currently working on its new front-drive small car platform that will underpin a total of five new vehicles. The first models we are expected to see are all-new versions of the A-Class and B-Class. It is expected that the new B-Class will be sold in the U.S. and according to MT’s inside source, the AMG version is likely to be powered by a turbocharged 4-cylinder.

[Source: MotorTrend via Autoblog]

While 2009 was a tumultuous year for automakers, the worldwide economic crisis pushed the auto industry into the mainstream automotive media’s spotlight, making big automotive news stories even bigger. And while new products continued to be introduced, they garnered possibly even more attention that ever before. With that in mind, we thought we’d take a look back at some of the Top 10 biggest stories of 2009 for an automaker that didn’t recoil, but continued on, unveiling an all-new version of one of its most important models, delivering a new exotic car to market, promising an electric car in the future… and making some big changes in its motorsports program. That automaker is Mercedes-Benz.

#10 Mercedes Goes Green With New Hybrids

Slow to adapt hybrid technology, German automakers began to take on the Japanese luxury hybrids in 2009. Mercedes launched two important hybrid models, the S400 Hybrid and the ML450 Hybrid. The S400 Hybrid was the first Mercedes hybrid to go on sale and is also the first mass production automobile to use a lithium-ion battery. Priced at $87,950 it uses an electric motor and 3.5-liter gasoline V6 to produce 295-hp, while getting mileage of 19/26 mpg – an improvement of 26 percent over the S550 in the city. Despite its high-tech battery pack, the S400 Hybrid is a mild-hybrid, which limits its fuel economy.

The second hybrid model from Mercedes is the ML450 Hybrid 4MATIC. A lease-only model, for either 36 or 60 months, at either $659 or $549 per month, the ML450 is the first two-mode hybrid (like the Toyota Prius) from Mercedes. The ML450 uses a 3.5-liter V6 engine and two electric motors to make 335-hp and 381 ft-lbs of torque. Unlike the S400 Hybrid, it will be able to operate exclusively on electric power for short periods of time. Its fuel economy is rated at 21/24 mpg (city/highway), which is roughly the same as the ML350 Bluetec diesel at 18/25 mpg. This is also a 46 percent improvement over the fuel economy rating of the similarly-powerful ML550.

The next step for Mercedes in the field of hybrids comes with the Vision S500 Plug-In Hybrid, which debuted at the Frankfurt Auto Show and foreshadows a plug-in hybrid version of the next generation S-Class. Thanks to a direct-injection 3.5-liter V6 engine mated to a 60-hp/184 ft-lb electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack, the car is capable of getting an amazing 73.5 mpg! Possibly more shocking is that the car doesn’t sacrifice performance, with a 0-60 mph time of 5.4 seconds. Additionally, the electric motor will be able to power the car emissions-free for 18 miles.

Mercedes will introduce at least one small car to the U.S. in 2012, doing a 180 on a past decision to stick to larger vehicles in order to enforce the brand’s high-end image. The news comes directly from CEO Dr. Dieter Zetsche, in an interview in the Wall Street Journal. The car would compete with vehicles like the BMW 1 Series, Audi A3, Volvo C30 and MINI Cooper – as well as a possible compact luxury vehicle from Lexus based on the LF-Ch concept.

Analysts have suggested the move is the result of lessons learned from the recent economic downturn, with sales of larger luxury vehicles and SUVs taking a significant hit, while the share of the market made up by compact and subcompact vehicles has grown. The introduction of a smaller and more fuel efficient model in the Mercedes lineup in the U.S. would also help the manufacturer meet increasingly strict CAFE regulations.

In the past Mercedes had decided to introduce the B-Class to the U.S. market but canceled plans when an unfavorable Euro-to-dollar exchange rate made the car’s business plan unsound. (The B-Class was, however, introduced in Canada, where vehicles are sold for significantly more).

The new Mercedes small car will be based on an all new platform that Mercedes says is much cheaper to manufacture, making the Euro-to-dollar exchange rate less of a factor. It is not yet known if the car will follow in the B-Class’s layout of being a premium-people mover or if Mercedes will opt to build a more sporty offering to better compete with cars like the 1 Series or MINI Cooper.

Over the past two years, Mercedes has introduced three concepts based on the B-Class architecture, including a hydrogen fuel-cell concept, a hybrid concept and an electric car concept. It’s likely that the future Mercedes small car platform will bring one of more of these concept car technologies into production.

[Source: The Wall Street Journal]

Unlike traditional compacts these cars can be costly; the Mini goes for as much as $34,000 depending on optionsDaimler’s tentative move comes as buyers in Europe and the U.S. are increasingly redef

Mercedes-Benz introduced its BlueZero E-Cell Plus concept car at the Frankfurt Auto show.

The plug-in electric Hybrid can travel up to 100km (62 miles) on electric power before the gasoline engine kicks in to recharge the lithium-ion batteries, enabling an extended range of 600km (373 miles). The engine is a turbocharged 1.0-liter 3-cylinder powerplant producing 67hp.
The electric motor which actually powers the car makes 134hp and 236 ft-lbs of torque, enabling the plug-in hybrid to hit 62 mph in 11 seconds.

Impressively, the BlueZERO E-Cell Plus can be recharged for 50km trips in just 30 minutes using a special rapid charger. A full charge will take an hour or up to six hours with a conventional wall outlet.

The E-Cell Plus’ door handles are flush with the door, popping open with a touch. I had a hard time figuring it out myself; I tried touching it, tapping it, even swiping a finger across the handle but I couldn’t get it to work. A Mercedes-Benz rep came by to help me out, giving the handle a simple tap on its wider back end. The door handle then slowly slid out, opening the door at the same time.

The E-Cell Plus is one of three models in Mercedes-Benz’s BlueZero family. The E-Cell, introduced in Detroit earlier this year, is completely battery-powered with a range of 200 km (124 miles). The F-Cell is powered by fuel cell with a hydrogen gas tank. It has a range of 400 km (248 miles) and produces water vapor as a by-product.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz BlueZero E-Cell Plus

We’ve already seen a pre-production electric B-Class concept and a hydrogen fuel-cell B-Class concept. Now Mercedes is readying a plug-in electric hybrid based on the B-Class chassis, which will debut in a more complete form at the Frankfurt Auto Show in just a few weeks time.

Called the BlueZERO E-Cell Plus Concept this model can travel up to 100km (62 miles) on electric power before the gasoline engine kicks in to recharge the lithium-ion batteries, enabling an extended range of 500km (300 miles). The engine is a turbocharged 1.0-liter 3-cylinder powerplant producing 67hp.

The electric motor which actually powers the car makes 134hp and 236 ft-lbs of torque, enabling the plug-in hybrid to hit 62 mph in 11 seconds.

Impressively, the BlueZERO E-Cell Plus can be recharged for 50km trips in just 30 minutes using a special rapid charger. A full charge will take an hour or up to six hours with a conventional wall outlet.

First unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit earlier this year, the BlueZERO E-Cell Plus Concept is expected to make its way to production in the near future.

GALLERY: BlueZERO E-Cell Plus Concept

Official release: