Directory
Print
Email
ReprintsMercedes concepts will preview A, B class
Diana T. Kurylko
Automotive News
December 15, 2008 - 12:01 am ET
Mercedes-Benz is providing a glimpse of its new generation A- and B-class cars with the Concept BlueZero vehicles that will debut at the Detroit auto show next month. A version of the front-wheel-drive B class is likely to be sold in the United States about a year after the new generation debuts in 2010. A hybrid B class is expected for this market. The show cars include: • The BlueZero E-cell with a lithium ion battery electric drive and a range of up to 125 miles. • The BlueZero F-cell (for fuel cell) with a range of more than 250 miles. • BlueZero E-cell Plus with an electric drive and a 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder internal combustion engine from the Smart ForTwo to generate power and charge the batteries. It has a range of about 370 miles, and up to about 75 miles using only the electric drive. The three concepts use the sandwich-floor architecture that Mercedes-Benz introduced about a decade ago with the first-generation A class to save space and use different drive systems. All three concepts are 13.8 feet long and have five seats. The sandwich construction allows a higher seating position, improving visibility and safety, says Mercedes-Benz. Because of the architecture, all of the electric vehicle equipment is integrated into the floor rather than using passenger or luggage space. This also gives the car a lower center of gravity and improves agility and handling, says Mercedes. Mercedes-Benz says it will be producing fuel cell cars on a small scale next year and electric cars in 2010. |
You can reach Diana T. Kurylko at dkurylko@crain.com.
RSS Feed
|
