We always had a weak spot for Opels for
their willingness to perform, handle and drive with zest and ease. It leads
many Opel owners to become enthused drivers, and appreciate their cars the
longer they own and drive them.
Combine all these good dynamic qualities
with their robustness, the quality of workmanship and materials used and you
have a cocktail which is very much appreciated throughout Europe.
Of course, Opel also has embarked fully
into the SUV trend, and has put some very interesting contenders on the road.
We are driving for you here the Grandland X Flagship version, and were glad to
rediscover again all the good Opel qualities…masterfully retained despite the
fact that Opel and Peugeot have co-developed this mid-sized SUV-Crossover, and
this even long before GM even considered getting rid of their German
subsidiary.
BMW enters a new era with its new 1 Series:
front wheel drive makes its entry in this third generation. This results in
more room, but driving pleasure and dynamic qualities have been retained, BMW
assures us.
The third generation of the BMW 1 Series will be unveiled to the public for the first time on 25 – 27 June 2019 on the new BMW Group #NEXTGen presentation platform at BMW Welt in Munich. Hosting the show premiere of the new BMW 1 Series, meanwhile, will be the IAA event in Frankfurt am Main in September 2019. The worldwide launch will get underway on 28 September 2019.
We show you here the first photos, and we
must admit, we already were offered a first (pre)view of this car at the
presentation of the #18 BMW Art Car at the Brussels Brand Store… Corporate PR
Officer Saschia de Rudder then asked us to cover our smart phone cameras,
offering us this very smart pouch… which we then did, noblesse oblige!
But just read and look further…
Hans Knol ten Bensel
A new, bolder stance.
What first impresses is the signature BMW kidney grille, which is now larger, with far greater presence. For the first time in this model range, the two kidneys now merge in the middle. The sporting flagship of the line-up, the BMW M135i xDrive, replaces the grille’s classical bars with a prominent threedimensional mesh design inspired by racing cars. The headlights are now angled in design. This Series 1 has now truly grown up… to underline all this, know that 19-inch rims are available as an option for the first time.
More luxury too: The electric panoramic roof available for the first time on the BMW 1 Series, as well as backlit trim strips. They come in three different designs with six switchable colours. Optional infotainment features of the new BMW Operating System 7.0 – using gestures, if the relevant option is specified – are via a grouping of two displays, each of which have a screen diagonal measuring up to 10.25 inches in the case of the BMW Live Cockpit Professional. Also a full-colour, 9.2-inch BMW Head-Up Display is available as an option for the first time on the BMW 1 Series.
More room…
Getting in is easier and knee room for the rear passengers has increased by 33 millimetres. The rear offers a full 19 millimetres of extra headroom if the outward-opening sliding panoramic sunroof is specified. Rear passengers also enjoy 13 millimetres more elbowroom, while the driver and front passenger can look forward to an extra 42 millimetres in this respect.
The load compartment capacity of 380 litres is 20 litres up on the outgoing car and folding down the rear seat bench increases this to 1,200 litres.
Four equipment lines and one flagship model.
The base Advantage model is joined in the new BMW 1 Series line-up by three other equipment lines, which differ from one another in both exterior and interior details. The Luxury Line model accentuates the classy and comfortable side to the car’s character with the help of body applications in Aluminium satinated and seat upholstery in Dakota leather.
The Sport Line model with Black accents, window graphic in BMW Individual high gloss Shadow Line and sports seats, and the M Sport model with accents in Aluminium satinated, front apron with specially shaped air intakes and BMW M rear apron in High-gloss Black lead the 1 Series up the dynamic BMW Media Information 05/2019 Page 4 ladder culminating in the BMW M135i xDrive. The flagship model stands out with features including a mesh-design BMW kidney grille, angle-cut tailpipe tips in Cerium Grey and a BMW M rear spoiler in body colour.
Cutting-edge new front-wheel-drive architecture…
A five year process of development has brought
all the experience acquired over recent years with front-wheel-drive BMW Group
models together in the new Series 1. Also
the transfer of technology from BMW i to the BMW core brand contributed to
create a proper BMW with a character all its own. Whether front-wheel-drive or
equipped with BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive, “the new 1 Series has
taken its agility to a level above its predecessor”, BMW claims.
An important factor here is the ARB (actuator contiguous wheel slip limitation) technology familiar from the BMW i3s. This is now making its debut in a combustion-engined vehicle and allows wheel slip to be controlled much more sensitively and swiftly than before. A standard feature of the BMW 1 Series, ARB uses a slip controller that is positioned directly in the engine control unit rather than in the control unit for the DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) system. Eliminating the long signal paths, means that information is relayed three times quicker, while the driver perceives wheel slip being brought under control up to ten times faster. Actuator contiguous wheel slip limitation works in close tandem with the DSC system to bring about a clear reduction in the power understeer normally experienced in front-wheel-drive cars.
The ARB technology is assisted in its task
by BMW Performance Control (yaw moment distribution). This feature, also
included as standard on the 1 Series, gives it more agile handling by applying
the brakes as required at the wheels on the inside of the bend before the slip
threshold has been reached. The result is neutral steering behaviour. Besides
the standard suspension – which already has a dynamic set-up and is specially
tuned to the different engine variants – and the M Sport suspension with a 10
mm reduction in ride height, the all-new BMW 1 Series can also be specified
with the Adaptive suspension with VDC (Variable Damper Control) as an option.
Two models with BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive.
ARB technology and BMW Performance Control are likewise included in the BMW 120d xDrive and BMW M135i xDrive, which feature intelligent all-wheel drive as standard. Standard specification for the M135i xDrive also includes a newly developed mechanical Torsen limited-slip differential, which gives the car an even sportier edge by creating a locking effect between the front wheels.
Three diesel engines and two petrol
variants from launch. Customers can order their new BMW 1 Series with a choice
of three- and four-cylinder engines from the latest-generation BMW
EfficientDynamics family. A host of detail improvements give them better fuel
economy, lower emissions and, in some cases, more power than before. Three
diesel engines and two petrol units are available, developing from 85 kW (116
hp) in the BMW 116d (fuel consumption combined: 4.2 – 3.8 l/100 km [67.3 – 74.3
mpg imp]; CO2 emissions combined: 110 – 100 g/km*) to 225 kW (306 hp) in the
BMW M135i xDrive. The new engine powering the latter model is the most powerful
four-cylinder unit in the BMW Group line-up. The BMW M135i xDrive dispatches 0
to 100 km/h (62 mph) in a mere 4.8 seconds (4.7 seconds with M Performance
package, available from 11/2019) on the way to a governed top speed of 250 km/h
(155 mph). Despite these impressive performance figures, combined fuel
consumption is just 7.1 – 6.8 litres per 100 km [39.8 – 41.5 mpg imp] and CO2 emissions
come in at only 162 – 155 grams per kilometre, says BMW. All the engines
available for the BMW 1 Series meet the Euro 6d-TEMP emissions standard, while
the BMW 116d is already Euro 6d-compliant. The petrol engines are equipped with
a gasoline particulate filter and the diesels with a diesel particulate filter,
NOx adsorption catalyst and SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) technology.
Three different transmission technologies now available.
The BMW 116d, BMW 118d and BMW 118i come as
standard with the further-developed six-speed manual gearbox, while the seven-speed
dual-clutch Steptronic transmission can be specified as an option for the BMW
116d and BMW 118i. The eight-speed Steptronic transmission – available as an
option for the BMW 118d and standard on the BMW 120d xDrive – and the
eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission of the BMW M135i xDrive boast further
improved smoothness and acoustic properties. Intelligent connectivity allows
both automatic transmissions to adapt their shift strategy to the route and
traffic situation at hand.
Assistance systems from BMW models higher up the range.
A large number of innovative driver
assistance systems fitted in the BMW 1 Series have been taken from models
higher up the BMW range to make their debuts in the premium compact class;
Standard equipment in Europe includes
collision and pedestrian warning with city braking function, which also alerts
the driver to the presence of cyclists. Also fitted as standard is the Lane
Departure Warning system with active lane return, which is operational from 70
to 210 km/h (44 – 130 mph). Options include Active Cruise Control usable up to
160 km/h (99 mph) – on cars with automatic transmission and Stop & Go
function – plus the Driving Assistant, which comprises the Lane Change Warning
system, rear collision warning and crossing traffic warning.
Celebrating its premiere in the premium
compact class is the innovative reversing assistant, which stores the steering
movements for any section the car has just driven forward along at no more than
36 km/h (22 mph). The system is then able to steer the vehicle in reverse – for
distances of up to 50 metres at up to 9 km/h (5.5 mph) – along exactly the same
line it took when moving forward.
The smartphone as car key.
The BMW 1 Series is available with the
option of two new smart features that have previously only been seen in BMW
models higher up the ladder: the BMW Digital Key and the BMW Intelligent
Personal Assistant. Available as an option, the BMW Digital Key enables users
to lock and unlock the vehicle from a smartphone using Near Field Communication
(NFC) technology, rendering the conventional car key surplus to requirements.
Holding the smartphone up to the door handle opens the car – even if the phone
battery is dead. The engine can be started as soon as the phone has been placed
in the smartphone tray or wireless charging tray.
Operation by iDrive Controller, touch, voice or gestures.
The new BMW 1 Series lets drivers use a variety of operating methods, depending on the situation and personal preferences. In addition to the usual buttons on the centre console and steering wheel, other frontline control elements include the iDrive Controller – with touchpad from BMW Live Cockpit Plus upwards – and the standard 8.8-inch Control Display with touch screen functionality. BMW Live Cockpit Plus also adds a navigation system and intelligent voice control with online speech processing. BMW Live Cockpit Professional, based on the new BMW Operating System 7.0, brings together the fully digital display and operating system (including two 10.25- inch displays) with maximum connectivity and customisability….
The Series 1 has definitely grown up… we
are of course very anxious to gather first driving impressions!
A formidable driving experience on Italian roads: 710 horsepower under your right foot!
Your servant had the exquisite pleasure to drive the whole Jeep range on the roads and heavy terrain around the scenic Lago di Garda, and get acquainted with their unique panache and qualities, ranging from the rugged Rubicon to the superfast Grand Cherokee Trackhawk.
Thr Wrangler proved its legendary Jeep stamina on the muddy mountain roads around the Lago…
Soon you will read the full report about our unique driving experiences in these columns, stay tuned!
The elegant, refined but totally rugged Grand Cherokee in front of the parish church of Rivoltella, built in the 15th century…
Race bred by Toyota Gazoo Racing: the latest Supra.
There are car builders which nurture classic and iconic sports cars and bring them to perfection. A classic two seater coupé with a well sounding straight six under its long hood and with all the power fed to the rear wheels.
This car builder is Toyota, and the car is the Supra. This sports/GT has been honed and carefully improved over five model generations now and is better than ever.
The Supra is not only race proven over the years, speeding from success to success under the flag of Toyota Gazoo Racing, Toyota’s President Aiko Toyoda actually hurtles this Supra himself around the Nürburgring Nordschleife for hours on end. The result is a breathtaking machine. We present you here its highlights…
Hans Knol ten Bensel
First worldwide GR model of Gazoo Racing
Actually this fifth generation marks a remarkable début for Toyota Gazoo Racing, in establishing its GR model range. They couldn’t have chosen a better car.
Toyota Gazoo Racing is the global
organisation of Toyota’s worldwide racing and sporting activities. They chalked
up last year a win in Le Mans and also won the Dakar rally.
Tetsuya Tada’s masterpiece
Chief engineer kept the layout and character of the original GT 2000 and the previous Supra generations firmly in mind when designing this latest Supra.
Aiko Toyoda sat himself behind the wheel to give the Supra its final touch…
Short wheelbase, wide track, low gravity
point, low weight and a very stiff chassis are the ingredients for pur sang
handling. The 3 litre straight six has a twin scroll turbo and develops 340 DIN
horsepower and 500 Nm torque. It is coupled to an eight-speed automatic
transmission, and guarantees powerful accelerations and indeed tons of pulling
power at all engine speeds.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing was instrumental in honing the new sports car’s performance, working extensively on the famous Nürburgring Nordschleife and surrounding roads in Germany to achieve the most agile, stable and rewarding handling possible. Further extensive testing was carried out on roads around the world.
An 8 speed automatic lets you control the power like a master…
To be certain that the car delivered on its promise, Toyota President Akio Toyoda himself put it to the test at the Nürburgring in his role as a Master Driver before giving it the final green light.
New Toyota GR Supra customer deliveries
will start from summer 2019. By the way, did you know that all cars will be
manufactured in Graz, Austria?
Just look at the photos here, and indeed we
are looking forward to driving this absolute gem!
BMW driving art is again to be seen in the capital of Europe: In its flagship Brand Store, BMW organizes until June 1 an Art & Design Expo. The 18th BMW Art Car, a BMW M6 GT3 with multimedia design, has been created by the Chinese female artist Cao Fei, is the focus point of this show. It is even to be enjoyed and admired with the use of an app bringing the car to you on your smartphone with enhanced reality. A stunning experience, of which we show here some photos, but which has to be seen to be believed.
Hans Knol ten Bensel
In the Brussels BMW Brand Store you can join the stunning journey to discover this Art Car in augmented reality…
This virtual animation is also created by the artist, and forms an integral part of the car. “We are now entering a new era where the mind can steer objects directly and thoughts can be transferred, like unmanned controls and artificial intelligence.” comments Cao Fei.
Follow this path in the showroom and zero in with your Ios device on this graph to experience the augmented reality… Download the app BMW ART CAR #18 on your mobile (IOS) device, follow the screen instructions and enjoy!
The work of Cao Fei illustrates the fast and stunning changes in China and its society. With her BMW Art Car she spans a road which stretches over thousands of years, honouring the spiritual wisdom of Asia, which now enters the third millennium with breathtaking speed. The film can of course also be viewed on YouTube, using the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_GNSyeIpOY&feature=youtu.be.
A video which focuses on the millennial time which a spiritual person travels through… Finishes with presenting the augmented reality…
The multimedia artist approaches the
concept of a BMW Art Car in her own unique way, with which she builds a
parallel universe.
Her work consists of three components: a video that focuses on the millennial time which a spiritual person travels through, augmented reality with colourful light particles (via a special app called BMW Art Car # 18) and the BMW M6 GT3 racer in the original colour carbon black.
As a tribute to the carbon fibre structure of the BMW M6 GT3 applies Cao Fei a lot of non-reflective black paint, which means the possibilities in the digital world are endlessly applicable.
The application of video and augmented reality creates an environment in which the BMW M6 GT3 plays an essential role. Cao Fei uses in her video spiritual movements that express themselves in colourful flashes of light.
Point your device on the graph and a whole enhanced world opens to you…
When the app is used in the vicinity of the car, these light accents are transformed into an augmented reality installation that floats above and around the BMW M6 GT3. In this way, the viewer becomes interactively involved in the artwork.
Just download the app BMW ART CAR #18 on your mobile (IOS) device and follow the instructions on your screen.
The BMW Art Car Tradition runs back already decades… more about this in a special report!
Practical info:
The
exhibition runs until May 31, at BMW Brand Store Brussels, Waterloolaan 23,24, 1000
Brussel
We photographed the first e-tron we drove at the entrance of the beautiful Middelheim park in Antwerp…
When visiting Audi’s “The Place To-e” in Antwerp, we took the opportunity to slide behind the wheel of Audi’s all-electric SUV flagship. It is already quite familiar to us seeing it produced, as your servant has made already several guide tours around the Brussels factory where it is built.
I will also continue to do so and in the
near future be able to welcome you there to show you around the production
lines, but until now we never had the opportunity to sit behind the wheel of
one.
Of course, Audi Import in the person of PR
Manager Audi Belgium, D’Ieteren – Audi Import Sofie Luyckx will rather sooner
than later offer me a longer test drive in one, but we tell you here already
our “first drive” experiences.
Hans Knol ten Bensel
Impressive in ingenuity, style and build quality
The e-tron makes a statement of quality and style when you approach it. This is even reinforced when you see the dashboard and cabin and slide behind the wheel. Clean, well balanced, superbly finished, this is what your eyes and hands see and feel.
All commands are digital/virtual, or via stylish knobs like the drive selector…
The instruments, dials and function knobs are all digital, embedded in shiny black surfaces, which are ergonomically ideally angled towards you. You would like to touch them with gloves, as your fingers leave marks on their semi-matte surfaces. Maybe we should go back – with pleasure – to this gentlemen drivers’ tradition of wearing fine leather gloves when driving a car, certainly with a noble example like this one.
It is all breathing this angular futuristic
Audi styling language, which has a timeless balance to it.
Comfort in silence and refinement
We took this e-tron fro a very gentle urban ride, testing out the energy recuperation modes when decelerating and/or braking, which is very cleverly controlled in intensity by the paddles on the steering wheel. A very refined touch.
Progress is of course, as an e-car befits, silky smooth, with ample acceleration power delivered by both engines fore and aft. With this luxury SUV it is combined with excellent suspension comfort, and here the Audi really stands out. This is further enhanced by the superb seats, which make the picture of a fine quality car offering top level refinement complete.
In the neighbourhood of the “The Place To-e” in Antwerp is the magnificent Middelheim park, and this is where we photographed the e-tron for you.
Soon more about this superb car, when we
have it for a longer drive…
We had long and in depth conversations with FCA Group Chief Designer Klaus Busse and his team…
What we saw and heard on our visit to the Torino based Centro Stile was nothing short of absolutely stunning. We had long and in depth conversations with FCA Group head of design Klaus Busse and his team, both from Alfa Romeo and Fiat styling.
The beautiful instrumentation and interior of the Tonale, with Klaus Busse watching in the background…
Needless to say that we are the coming days eager to report on all this extensively, and indeed you can expect to read our findings in several reports…
Alfa DNA styling revived on the drawing boards provides the mould for the new Tonale design…
The next few photos just lift a tip of the veil of the vast material we collected and photographed…
Rewriting democratic mobility and opening many new doors in design: the Centoventi Fiat
We just want to thank here the magnificent efforts of the dynamic PR team of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Belgium, notably Dominique Fontignies, PR & Communication Director and Wim Willems, Press Officer, for sharing the knowledge of these experts and their creations with us.
Full of revolutionary, practical solutions: the interior of the Centoventi…
When we first stood eye to eye with this
Kia, we were convinced. This shooting brake has what it takes. Just look at the
fluent lines of this Shooting Brake, which seems to move even when standing
still. And then we say nothing about the dynamic 204 HP heart of this car, and
the way it handles and rides.
Just some extra info here to complete the
picture: the popular and very European Kia Ceed range has been designed in Kia’s
European Design Centre in Frankfurt under the guidance of European Head of
Design Gregory Guillaume and President of Design and Chief Design Officer Peter
Schreyer, and is manufactured at the Zilina plant in Slovakia. It has sold 1,3 million
cars in Europe since its début in 2006, and is indeed going from strength to
strength. Just read further…
Hans Knol ten Bensel
Well proportioned and pleasing…
Indeed, the design team in Frankfurt know what they are doing. We rarely saw in this class – taking into account its wheelbase of 2.650 mm – a car which looks so sleek and elegant. Indeed, the ProCeed is only 5 mm longer than the Ceed, and shares its “K2” platform. No surprise that the ProCeed actually won the Australian Red Dot Design Award, and we must admit that in the black colour scheme which we found on our test car, this Kia has style and panache. The GT version we drove also runs on 18 inch alloys, which don’t hurt either.
The cabin follows through on the elegance shown outside. Matte chromed inserts, nice round dials, a well positioned “floating” 8 inch touchsreen above the heating / ventilation commands, all very inviting and intuitive. This is one of the cars where one is not overwhelmed by too much futurism and where one finds its way in seconds. The design and execution of the door panels is also showing excellent taste and has a distinct premium touch. The central fascia panel is now finished in a high quality, anti-scratch gloss black…
Driving is believing
A gentle push on the matte chromed starting button and “Drive” is soon selected on the excellent 7 speed dual clutch transmission. A docile 1,6 litre petrol engine hums to life.
But this is no sleeper, even when it sounds very refined and subtle when idling. This machine is the Hyundai Gamma GDI series unit, with four valves per cylinder and D-CVVT or dual continuous variable valve timing. Wow! Turbocharged, it delivers a solid 204 HP at 6000 rpm, and offers a healthy 265 Nm of torque over a wide rev range between 1500 and 4500 rpm. Yes, you understood. This means zest, and indeed it will shoot away from 0 to 100 km/h in merely 7,7 seconds, hurtling further to a top speed of 230 km/h. If this is not super car performance, it comes really close.
The GT pilot is treated to an even more sporting experience, not only with extra engine sound coming from the speakers, but also with the possibility to select different driving modes. In the “Sport” mode, steering response is different, and the gearbox will let rev the engine markedly higher. The ProCeed has in standard version already all what it takes to cling to the road. Electronic Stability Control, ESC is standard, as well as Kia’s Vehicle Stability Management (VSM). This means Torque Vectoring by Braking-technology can be included.
The ProCeed GT was developed under the guidance of Albert Biermann, President Vehicle Test & High-Performance Development for Hyundai-Kia. Six months of additional tests have improved the handling even further, and this really shows. Agile and precise, this ProCeed feels utterly at home on mountain passes, winding roads, city boulevards and Autobahnen. A true, well handling GT, with thoroughbred character and panache.
The handling does not come at the expense of comfort, and indeed this ProCeed handles even quite uneven roads without trouble. For spirited as well as long distance driving, the recaro-type front seats provide excellent support. Consumption is reasonable, and we stayed in the 7 to 8 liter/100 km range without effort.
Practical
The name shooting brake says it already. You can expect passenger and luggage space, and indeed, this ProCeed delivers. Luggage space is plenty, with 594 liter, and of course, the rear backrests can be folded in 40:20:40 fashion. Our test car came with the Smart Power Tailgate, and the loading floor is completely flat.
There is also a net for small luggage and a rail system. A last word about the infotainment system: combined with the 8 inch screen the navigation and Kia Connected Services are steered by TomTom®. The system has full smartphone-integration with Apple CarPlay™ (for the iPhone 5 and newer) and Android Auto™ (for Android-phones which run on version 5.0 (Lollipop) or higher).
Our test
car was also equipped with a marvelous ‘Premium Sound System’ from JBL with the
restoration technology Clari-Fi.
Conclusion
A very endearing, stylish shooting brake with a marvelously willing and pleasant drivetrain, which invites you for a very engaging drive as well as a smooth stroll on urban roads. The available space is quite sufficient, the styling, choice and quality of materials and sheer workmanship and finish are quite worthy of a premium segment car. When considering a roomy hatchback with a beautiful rear end, certainly do have a long look (and drive) of this one…
The B Class is everything a Mercedes stands for, and embodies it admirably: space, superb finish and workmanship, a high quality drivetrain, high level comfort and refinement for its class, longevity and economy.
It is quite versatile with its wide choice
of drivetrains and engines, and has in its recent facelift received a sportier
stance externally, combined with a futuristic dashboard makeover, sporting the
latest trends in driving info, connectivity and (info)entertainment.
The B Class stays also young at heart with new
state of the art diesel and petrol engines, and this time we opted for diesel
propulsion, and discover with you what it has to offer presently in terms of
economy and environmental qualities. Just read on…
Hans Knol ten Bensel
On the Widescreen you can even choose your experience worlds…
A new user experience in front of your eyes…
Besides the altered exterior, which is clearly more dynamic, and sporting, certainly in the AMG version, it is the new avant-garde interior makes for a unique feeling of space, with the distinctive design of the instrument panel. The intuitive user interface of the adaptive MBUX multimedia system is quite impressive, and its strong points include brilliant graphics, “Hey Mercedes” voice control, a standard touch screen and functions such as MBUX Augmented Reality.
The standard display…
The almost endless features and possibilities fitted in the premium, “chique” designed clusters and screens impressed us. Many features are taken from the S Class, and the user experience is quite stunning.
The sporting one…
The cutout in front of the driver houses the fully free-standing display unit, which comes in three different versions: with two 7-inch displays (17.78 cm), with one 7- and one 10.25-inch display (26 cm) and, in the Widescreen version, with two 10.25-inch displays. A head-up display is optionally available.
And the one who tells you how you have been driving…
We chose for our test driving the map display on the screen in front of us, with map/music info on the central screen. But a wide array of functions are available, last but not least the voice command. The system is called MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) multimedia system, its ability to learn thanks to Artificial Intelligence makes the system unique.
It can tell you every second the power developed by the engine…
It has touch screen control as standard as well as, depending on equipment, a high-resolution Widescreen cockpit, navigation display with Augmented Reality technology plus intelligent voice control with natural speech recognition, which is activated by saying “Hey Mercedes”. The touch screen is part of the integrated MBUX touch control concept – a trio consisting of touch screen, touchpad on the centre console (optional) and touch controls on the steering wheel.
A Blackberry feel…
The latter feel like your faithful old Blackberry or early Samsung smartphones, soon you get again used to this somewhat “vintage” touch.
You can play endlessly on the screens, and as the photos show, choose for example in which emotive environment or “theme world” you want to be in: to travel, to experience, drive economically and efficient, etc. You can check every instant of your drive how much power and torque your engine delivers, you can see in front of you your (city) driving score, choose your driving modes, Individual, sport, comfort or eco…
State of the art diesel power…
The transverse-mounted version of the two-litre OM 654q diesel engine with 110 kW and 140 kW celebrates a clean début: It is the first engine to fulfil the Euro 6d norm, which is only mandatory for new models as of 2020. It has an aluminium crankcase and stepped-bowl combustion process. It meets this Euro 6d standard thanks to extended exhaust after treatment with an additional underfloor SCR catalyst. With a cylinder spacing of just 90 mm instead of 94 mm, the new engine is more compact than its predecessor thus allowing the exhaust after treatment components to be installed directly on the engine, where the exhaust temperature is higher, making for more efficient after treatment.
It is a very smooth unit, unobtrusive also when cold, and offers not only utter docility, which is ideal in urban traffic, but also plenty of zest and power. It develops 110 kW/150 hp between 3400 and 4400 rpm, and has a healthy torque of 320 Nm between 1400 and 3200 rpm. Put it in the dynamic mode, and you will know what we mean. This B 200d is certainly no sluggard: 0 to 100 km/h is absolved in 8,3 seconds, and top speed is a very impressive 219 km/h.
The new B-Class is initially available exclusively with dual-clutch transmissions. New here is the eight-speed 8G-DCT, which is used in combination with the diesel engine. It is, in good Mercedes tradition, smooth, alert and efficient.
This translates also in very good (urban)
consumption figures: the manufacturer quotes between 4,2 and 4,5 l/100 km
combined, and we had no trouble to stay within the 5-6 l/100 km range. CO2
emissions are also quite reasonable with values between 112 and 119 g/km.
The pleasant high seating position make the B Class a very nice car to drive in town, and certainly female and older drivers appreciate it. It is of course also very well at home on the Autobahnen, an excellent Gran Turismo car it certainly is, with seating comfort also beyond reproach. If you are in a hurry on winding roads, the B-Class is also an excellent companion. Its chassis copes well with the kinetic forces of spirited driving, and handling is utterly stable and totally predictable.
In all versions of the new B-Class, the front wheels feature McPherson struts and forged-aluminium wishbones, to which are attached cast-aluminium steering knuckles. In combination with the more powerful engine variants or if the customer opts for one of the optional suspension systems, use is made of a sophisticated four-link rear axle.
The new B-Class comes as standard with
extended Active Brake Assist, which can help mitigate the severity of rear-end
collisions with slower-moving, stopping or stationary vehicles ahead – and now
even with crossing pedestrians or cyclists – or prevent them altogether. Of
course, a host of driving assistance modes and functions are available, last
but not least our test car was equipped with park assist, for instance.
Practical
The rear seat backrest comes as standard with a 40:20:40 split. Depending on version, from mid-2019 it will be possible to slide the rear seats forward by 14 centimetres and to move the backrest into a more upright position to vary the capacity of the luggage compartment behind the rear seats between 455 and 705 litres. With the rear seat folded down and luggage loaded to the roof, the luggage compartment, which is flat thanks to the adjustable load compartment floor, can accommodate up to 1,540 litres behind the front seats.
It can also just show you the road…
Stylish sportiness
The B-Class is now also more dynamic on the outside. The slightly lowered roof line and larger, 16- to 19-inch wheels making for dynamic proportions. The relatively squat, progressive front end marks the second generation B-Class visually. Low-profile headlamps, the inside of which is already high-grade, detailed and precisely designed on the basic model with H7 headlamps and LED daytime running lights. When ordered with LED headlamps or higher, the B-Class comes with its own daytime running light signature in the form of a double torch.
At the back, the width of the vehicle is accentuated by two-part lamps, reflectors integrated in the bumper and a distinctive black bumper bottom section. The large roof spoiler, along with high-gloss black spoilers at the sides of the rear window, add also an air of sportiness. We liked it!
Conclusion
The B-Class breathes harmony and indeed offers all the intrinsic superb qualities of a Mercedes. It brings you also the future world of infotainment, combined with the electronic cleverness and safety and comfort which we only expected from top range (S-Class) models of the brand.
Combine this with practicality, future proof economy and reliability, and you will agree that this B-Class is indeed the most clever choice you can make when you want to spend your motoring life behind a three pointed star. By the way, I bought the previous generation B-Class for my wife, two years ago. And it continues to put a broad smile on her face…
Mazda styling is reaching top levels
nowadays, and the Mazda 6 clearly shows it. Just have a look at the fluent
contours and the ideal proportions and balanced surfaces of this large sedan,
and be convinced with us. The Mazda 6 body has recently been revised and has
gained further in maturity and elegance, with also the interior having had a
stylish make-over. Under the hood, the G 2,5 and other SKYACTIV powertrains
have been further perfected, and driving dynamics have also been improved. We
took this elegant sedan for a test, and it showed its many qualities. Just read
on…
Autoprova - for the Connaisseur 