Minivans, in general, are far from popular these days, but Mercedes-Benz isn’t willing to let the B-Class go yet, as they’re working on a new generation of their practical and tall compact car.
Spied in motion in Germany, this heavily camo’d prototype doesn’t reveal much of its secrets on the outside, but from earlier sources, we know that it will look similar to the next-gen A-Class hatch.
The small minivan is being developed alongside the rest of the brand’s compact models, with which it shares the same MFA architecture, developed by Daimler. By adopting this platform, the new B-Class is expected to lose weight, and benefit from the same upgraded engines as the upcoming A-Class that will sport a mix of Daimler and Renault-developed petrol and diesel units.
Don’t expect any radical AMG versions powered by the 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine that’s expected to make more than 400hp in the next A45, as the B-Class range will be kept simple, although some sort of electrification should be in the cards.
While the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class hatch is expected to make its appearance next spring at the Geneva Motor Show, we’ll have to wait until 2019 for the next B-Class.