6 The Sunday Times MOTORING
FEBRUARY 19, 2012
NEWS THE NEW BCLASS FROM MERCEDES
Heralding a new era in the compact class
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he Mercedes-Benz new B-Class was launched last Friday at the Mercedes-Benz showroom in Lija. Substantially more agile and efficient, the new B-Class is as comfortable and spacious as ever. The vehicle’s lower height and more upright seat position provide for a first impression that hints at the compact sports tourer’s dynamic credentials. With a new four-cylinder petrol engine featuring direct injection and turbocharging, a new diesel engine, a new dual clutch transmission, a new manual transmission and new assistance systems, the front-wheel-drive car also rings in a new technological era for compact cars from Mercedes-Benz. The new B-Class is a typical Mercedes sports tourer, offering plenty of space combined with impressive dynamic performance
as a hatchback saloon. The characteristic lines of the exterior design indicate both of these attributes: front and rear sport a widthemphasising design, with a wide, prominent grille and headlamps extending along the sides at the front while the rear end features a wide rear window, two-piece tail lights with horizontally offset meander and a large tailgate with low loading sill. The new vehicle concept underscores the dynamic aspirations of the new B-Class. The most striking aspect is the reduced height: at 1,557 mm, the new model crouches almost 50 mm lower on the road than its predecessor. The seat height in relation to the road has also been reduced by 86 mm in order to facilitate boarding, while maintaining a clear overview of the vehicle’s contours.
High-quality materials and finely structured surfaces, stylish details, precision workmanship and a new spaciousness – the interior of the B-Class defines a whole new benchmark in the compact segment. The B-Class features new petrol and diesel engines as well as new manual and automatic transmissions. All transmissions and engines have been developed in-house. Common features of the new drive systems are the use of state-of-the-art technologies for maximum efficiency, very smooth running, high tractive power right from low revs, sustainability in terms of impending emissions standards and low weight. The new four-cylinder petrol engines mark the launch of a completely new engine series. The combustion process is based on the thirdgeneration Mercedes-Benz direct injection
system which was introduced last year with the Bluedirect V6 and V8 engines. The new B-Class is initially available with a displacement of 1.6 litres, as the B 180 rated at 122 bhp and the B 200 with an output of 156 bhp. Their maximum torque of 200 and 250 Nm respectively is available from an engine speed of 1,250 rpm. The B 180 CDI generates 109 bhp of power, while the B 200 CDI has an output of 136 bhp. The new six-speed manual transmission designed along similarly compact lines as a three-shaft transmission is a close relative of the DCT. Very easy gear shifting, low shift forces, low internal friction and a low weight are among its most important characteristics. For further information visit www.media .daimler.com; www.mercedes-benz.com or www.mercedes-benz.com.mt.
Cannabis ‘doubles risk of crash’ JANE KIRBY
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moking cannabis within three hours of driving could almost double the risk of a serious crash, research suggests. A review of nine studies found that drivers were more likely to be involved in a collision with another car after smoking the class B drug. Figures show there are around a million users of cannabis in the UK aged 16 to 24 and around two million in the 16 to 59 age group. Research published in the British Medical Journal found cannabis use led to a “near doubling of risk of a driver being involved in a collision resulting in serious injury or death”. The researchers, from Dalhousie University in Canada, said, however, that the impact of cannabis consumption “on the risk of minor crashes remains unclear”. Previous studies suggested cannabis impairs a person’s mental abilities and the ‘motor tasks’ needed for safe driving, increasing the risk of a crash. “The results also accord with recent data for collisions that point to the increasing presence of drugs other than alcohol, especially cannabis and depressants of the central nervous system, in injured and fatally injured drivers.” PA