Spy Shot: New Mercedes B-Class

On a recent trip to Europe our road tester Colin Hefferon spotted a new B-class Mercedes on the Autobahn. He and a German colleague were in a rush hour tangle north of Stuttgart when they saw the heavily disguised prototype. Colin reached for his trusty Fuji and snapped a couple of quick photos through the rain-spattered windshield. (And yes, that's a 2005 SLK350 just in front.) The B-class is both longer and wider than the ovaloid A-class – Europe's ubiquitous entry-level Mercedes, but they use the same platform. As the A-class is known for its superb people packaging, the B-class promises to be something special. DaimlerChrysler is considering marketing it in America; if this turns out to be the case, we can only hope the diesel engine option will be offered.