MercedesBenz B200 BE: joyful concept HANJO STIER
F
or today’s review I’m delighted to tell you that our test subject was one of my least favourite automobiles ever and it managed to swing that opinion almost 180 degrees within a week. The previous Mercedes-Benz B-Class never made sense to me. It was just a larger version of the current A-Class, but not large enough (seven seats) to differentiate itself. A Mercedes exec at the B-Class launch finally explained their cunning new plan to me and it makes wonderful sense now. Next year will see the launch of an exhilarating, dynamic, youthful A-Class which moves away from the MPV concept and into the midst of edgy hatchbacks like 1-Series and Golf. The new B-Class was designed to retain and capture clients who prefer the previous A-Class or B-Class MPV design. Potential buyers of the up-coming A-Class will (apparently) will be able to choose from a sensible diesel to a crazy AMG – and every-
thing in between. The new B-Class offers a selection to cater for everyone from your parents to your lead-footed brother-in-law. Our press demonstrator was the range-topping B200 BlueEfficiency turbo-petrol with some youthful bits slapped onto it. These are, in no particular order of coolness, the “Night Pack”, “Sports Pack” and “Exclusive Pack”, as well as intelligent light system, COMAND Online and a few other goodies. Despite all these, my first drive left me completely cold. Not just because someone had nicked most of the fuel, but due to the car’s weird looks and even the trendy white paint, brown and black leather, two-tone wheels and snazzy lights couldn’t convince me. As for the gearbox, that just did whatever it wanted, stuttering around at 1,200rpm in its stupid ECO mode. Switching ECO mode off simply stopped the automated start/stop system while Sport mode meant driving everywhere at 4,500rpm. Jumping into the car to get to a looming appointment must have been the turning point.The car looked amazing just before sun-
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KOOP ‘N JMC-BAKKIE EN KRY ‘N GESKENKBEWYS
R6000 VAN MAKRO BOARDING
Dubbelkajuit vanaf
R175 466*
(BTW ingesluit)
Uitstekende onderdele- en diensondersteuning 3-jaar- of 100 000 km-waarborg Finansiering beskikbaar CO2 -uitlaatbelasting ingesluit
BOARDING
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R139 880*
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Uitstekende onderdele- en diensondersteuning 3-jaar- of 100 000 km-waarborg Finansiering beskikbaar
Kom toetsbestuur regte waarde. JMC-bakkies en werkesels het hul ekonomiese brandstofverbruik, duursaamheid en betroubaarheid regoor die wêreld gedemonstreer. JMC is nr. 1 in die dieselsegment van Chinese ligte, kommersiële voertuigvervaardigers. Miljoene bestuurders kan nie verkeerd wees nie!
JMC HELDERBERG
Main Weg 267, Strand Tel: 021 853 2627 • E-pos: braamc@telkomsa.net *Voorgestelde kleinhandelprys, sluit BTW in, sluit aflewering en op-die-pad-kostes uit. Aanbieding geldig: November 2012.
DRIVEN BY EXPERIENCE.
set. Next to impress was the sturdy interior engine’s 115kW (156hp) or 250Nm. Spirited driving will decimate your fuel with its curved dashboard, retro/SLS vents, consumption. The Sport Pack was impressive matt wood finish and crisp displays. Once I’d cleared traffic and in a last attempt as it allowed feisty cornering. Yet again, this to extract obedience from the Merc, I selected car won’t keep up with the latest hot hatches, but it will give their the gearbox’s final drivers a decent fright mode, Manual. Oh and entertain its own piEmm Gee. The lot with responsive hanpreviously annoydling. More optional ing and defiant degoodies which delighted vice suddenly were the Harman/karturned the car into don sound system and a responsive maactive Xenon lights. The chine which was Distronic Plus radarfun to drive. guided cruise control The new doubleworks flawlessly and clutch seveneven brings the car to a speed gearbox complete halt in traffic. isn’t as fast as The new BClass was designed to retain and You may not want those in compet- capture clients who prefer the previous A some of these pricey ing brands, nor Class or BClass MPV design. PIC: GALIMOTO gadgets as ours added will it allow you to hit the rev limiter, but it is unbelievably bet- R96 700 to the base price of R319 600. There ter than its other two modes. In this state, you are four models to choose from – B180 petrol get to experience most of the 1.6L turbo-petrol and diesel, B200 petrol and diesel.