SPY: Mercedes-Benz B-Class (W 246) gets revised for the 2015 model year

Mercedes-Benz launched the second generation of the B-Class in 2011 at Frankfurt. Sales have commenced soon after the world premiere and installed the compact sports tourer in a comfortable place in its class with remarkable sales numbers. Next year, the company will introduce a refreshed generation of the W 246 model series in order to keep the car competitive on the market.

While the first generation B-Class was developed in a hurry and shared its philosophy with the W 169 A-Class, the second generation that came two years ago is the pioneer of the New Compact Car Generation (NCCG) at Mercedes-Benz. Having got rid of the complicated sandwich structure for the front-driven platform and opted for the simple, yet modular MFA chassis, the new B-Class not only became bigger, but even more versatile, dynamic and premium.

The B-Class has sold like hot cakes since 2011 and for 2015 Mercedes-Benz are preparing a refreshment for the W 246. The test vehicles are already out in the wild since mid-September. As suggested by the camouflaged prototype, the car gets a new face, in line with the new visual philosophy of the brand, which is evolved from the current proposition and is improved with more stylish graphics and the latest LED lighting technology (see HERE). The grille will become more sharply defined and upright compared to the 2011-2014 model and we are also expecting a more dramatic interpretation of the front bumper.

The LED tail lamps should barely be resketched, but you can look for more sporty exhausts to boost the appearance of the rear end. The 2015 B-Class Facelift will receive more efficient powerplants ranging from the B 180 CDI entry-level to the B 250 high-end model. 4MATIC will be available optionally, while the 7G-DCT gearbox is standard equipment on the range-topping variants. Most certainly, the compact sports tourer shall also receive a thorough update in the technology department - expect the newest generation of COMAND Online telematics and the state-of-the-art safety technologies grouped under the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive slogan that have debuted on the new S-Class and E-Class Facelift.

The new Mercedes-Benz B-Class 2015 generation should debut some time during summer 2014, with sales programmed to start towards the end of next year.