Mercedes Benz B-Class Hatchback Facelift revealed ahead of Paris debut

Mercedes Benz has just revealed the 2015 B-Class Facelift to the world and the hatchback will make its debut at the upcoming 2014 Paris Motor Show next month. The 2015 B-Class gets a mild nip and tuck job on the outside with new headlamps, larger air dams, reprofiled front and rear bumpers, revised tail lamps, chrome detailing on the hatchlid and optional LED treatment for the headlamps. On the inside, changes are limited to a new steering wheel, an 8 inch infotainment display and 12 colour strong ambient lighting. The 2015 B-Class hatchback will go on sale in Europe from November. An India launch will happen next year.

In terms of engines, there are mechanical changes in the B-Class, which will continue with turbo petrol and turbo diesel offerings. While the 6 speed manual and 7 speed dual clutch automatic gearboxes have been carried over to the 2015 B-Class, the hatchback also gains the 4MATIC all wheel drive system on its turbo diesel engined variants for colder climes. In other words, the all wheel drive system is meant mainly for the European car market and the India-spec 2015 B-Class will continue to chug along with a front wheel drive layout. The 1.6 liter turbo petrol and 2.2 liter turbo diesel motors will be retained on the India-spec B-Class Facelift.

Currently, Mercedes Benz imports the B-Class hatchback into India as a completely built unit (CBU). In future though, CKD assembly of the hatchback is a distinct possibility given the fact that upcoming MFA platform equipped cars such as the GLA crossover and the CLA sedan – with whom the B-Class shares its platform – will take the CKD assembly route into India. A B-Class assembled in India will mean a more competitive price tag for this versatile hatchback, whose dimensions and interior room can shame many small MPVs. In terms of pricing, the new B-Class will go on sale in Europe with the B 180 variant pegged at 27,102 Euros, and undercutting the outgoing model, which was launched in Winter 2011, at 27,578 Euros.