Mercedes B-Class facelift at the Paris Motor Show

This is the new Mercedes B-Class, which has made its public debut at event ahead of the Paris Motor Show. Changes to the facelifted car include tweaked looks, more in-car tech and a revised engine range.It’s on sale now, ahead of hitting showrooms in November, and prices now start at £22,575.

Alongside efficiency improvements, there’s now a wider choice of engines, with the B200 petrol variant joining the range. Unlike the equivalent CDI diesel, this is front wheel drive online, and its 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine produces 154bhp and 250Nm of torque – good for an 8.4 seconds 0-62mph time and 136mph top speed.

The manufacturer has also revealed further details about the fully electric version of the B-Class (badged B-Class Electric Drive) that will also join the range. On a full charge, the company claims that the car will have a range of just over 140 miles. A power output of 177bhp means it will cover 0-62mph in just 7.9 seconds. However, there were still no definite details on when the electric version will be available to UK buyers. 

This is paired to the six-speed manual gearbox as standard, in which guise 50.4mpg and 130g/km CO2 is apparently possible, while the optional seven-speed automatic will hit 52.3mpg and 125g/km.

At a glance the facelift doesn’t look to have changed much on the surface, but there’s a new front bumper, complete with larger intakes, plus integrated LED daytime running lights. Round the back Mercedes has modified the rear bumper slightly as well, fitting a contoured cover and chrome trim strip.

Inside, the B-Class benefits from a larger, 8-inch central display – paired to improved graphics – and modernised dials, as well as a choice of 12 ambient lighting colour schemes. Customers can also opt for Keyless Go for easier access and ignition, and COMAND Online now provides real-time traffic updates.

The latest ‘Mercedes connect me’ system is available, too, and can provide accident recovery, service maintenance and incident management. Special Remote Online equipment, meanwhile, enables owners to connect with their B-Class anywhere via smartphone, making it easy to check info like fuel levels, or else schedule preheating or precooling. When the Electric drive B-Class arrives in 2015, this tech will provide current charging level and vehicle range details.

On the safety front, the improved B-Class gets new and enhanced passive and active assistance, such as Collision Prevention Assist Plus, which adds autonomous partial braking to reduce the risk of rear-end impacts. The standard-fit Attention Assist feature gets an extended operating range – from 37mph to 124mph – and uses a five-stage meter to represent the driver’s current attention level.

What do you think of the latest B-Class? Let us know in the comments section below. If you own one, please take our Driver Power survey and spill the beans.