The success of the W177 A-Class demonstrates that there is a lot of life and a lot of profit in cars. Daimler is wise to continue investing globally in such vehicles, with certain models doing especially well in Europe and China. Soon we’ll see a new S-Class, to be followed by BR206, the next C-Class.

Production having commenced in April 2018, we are therefore still around 15-18 months away from a mid-cycle facelift for the W177 A-Class hatchback, V177 Saloon and Z177 L (China’s extended wheelbase saloon). These cars have been exceptional sellers, even outpacing the VW Golf in some countries and pushing the Mercedes brand into the mainstream, to the alarm of brands which do not have its cachet and therefore resale values.

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W177 was the first Mercedes-Benz model to feature MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience). A special feature of this multimedia system is its ability to learn thanks to artificial intelligence. MBUX can be individualised and adapts to suit the user.

There are two engine families. M 282 is a range of 1.2- and 1.4-litre petrol units, while M 260 is the other family, in 1.6- and 2.0-litre capacities. M 260 is based on the existing M 274 series but with a substantial overhaul. The 1.5-litre Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance is codenamed OM 608.

Whilst the A-Class hatchback isn’t exported to the USA (only the sedan is available there), it is sold in Mexico and Canada. A facelift should arrive for these countries’ 2022 model year with the fifth generation due in CY2025.

The X 247 series B-Class was seen for the first time at the Paris motor show in October 2018. The car uses the same MFA 2 architecture as the A-Class and while they share much, the front seat occupants sit 90 mm higher in the B.

There were two additional world premieres with this car: Daimler’s own eight-speed dual clutch transmission and the first transversally mounted application of OM 654, the engine code for a 2.0-litre diesel (OM 654q is the code for transverse mounted applications).

The B-Class went on sale in Germany in the following five forms:

  • B 180, 100 kW/136 hp and 200 Nm M 282 1.3-litre petrol with 7G-DCT dual-clutch transmission
  • B 200, 120 kW/163 hp and 250 Nm M 282 1.3-litre petrol with 7G-DCT dual-clutch transmission
  • B 180 d, 85 kW/116 hp and 260 Nm OM 608 1.5-litre diesel with 7G-DCT dual-clutch transmission
  • B 200 d, 110 kW/150 hp and 320 Nm OM 654q 2.0-litre diesel with 8G-DCT dual-clutch transmission
  • B 220 d, 140 kW/190 hp and 400 Nm OM 654q 2.0-litre diesel with 8G-DCT dual-clutch transmission

The B 250 e, a plug-in hybrid, was added in August 2019. Details can be seen in PLDB.

Even though Rastatt began building the B-Class in November 2018, the first deliveries didn’t take place until February 2019. Production is expected to average around 50,000 cars annually over a seven-year life cycle. The mid-cycle facelift is due in mid-2022.

Should this event go ahead, the BR206 series C-Class sedan should have its sales launch at the next Geneva motor show, with the estate to follow at Germany’s national motor show in the second half of the year. This will not be Frankfurt as that is no longer the host city for the country’s biennial cars show. Instead it will be Munich. AutoShanghai, in the second quarter of 2021, is where the extended wheelbase C-Class L should have its official public premiere.

At 4,688 mm long, the second generation CLA-Class has changed size categories, moving up into the D segment. Despite the extra length, the boot is smaller, losing 10 litres, the capacity being 460 l. The sedan’s world debut took place in Las Vegas at CES 2019 with the estate having its global debut two months later at the Geneva motor show. Production of what Mercedes-Benz calls the CLA Coupé commenced in February 2019 but it was a slow ramp-up as the first cars did not reach buyers for a further three months. The CLA Shooting Brake became available from September 2019.

Plug-in hybrids have become available this month. The CLA 250 e Coupé and CLA 250 e Shooting Brake have the same powertrain as the A 250 e,  A 250 e Saloon, B 250 e and GLA 250 e. The 1,332 cc petrol engine produces 118 kW (160 PS) and 250 Nm while the motor’s output is 75 kW and 300 Nm. System outputs are 160 kW and 450 Nm. An eight-speed dual-clutch transmission is standard, the battery’s capacity is 15.6 kWh, and the maximum range in EV-mode is 70-77 km (NEDC).

All CLA-Class sedan and estate variants are due to be facelifted in 2023 with their successors due out in 2026.

Facelifted versions of the majority of the now four-year old E-Class range (Saloon, Estate, E 53 4MATIC+ and All-Terrain) were announced in March, followed by the Coupe and Cabriolet in May and then the E 63 4MATIC+ and E 63 S 4MATIC+ a few days ago. An equivalent update for the long-wheelbase Saloon will take place later in the year. Among the mechanical changes, the M 256 in-line six-cylinder petrol engine is new. There won’t be any more styling modifications until the next generation is revealed in 2023. The project code for that model is BR214.

The next S-Class will be one of the vehicles to be made at ‘Factory 56′, a new production hall within the Sindelfingen manufacturing complex. This big saloon will likely be the first vehicle for MSA, a new platform. Production is expected to commence in October. The front end of Mercedes’ traditional top model was revealed last month, with Daimler chairman Ola Källenius stating that the car would be properly unveiled by year-end.

Reports for many other manufacturers’ future models are grouped in the OEM product strategy summaries section of just-auto.com.

Future platform intelligence

More detail on past, current and forthcoming models can be found in PLDB, the future vehicles database which is part of GlobalData’s Automotive Intelligence Center. That includes those Mercedes cars not discussed in this report.

This is the first of five features exploring the passenger car brands of Daimler AG. Next will be Mercedes-Benz SUVs; then Maybach, smart and China’s Denza; Mercedes-AMG, and finally, Mercedes EQ.