Mercedes-Benz Updates B-Class for '09

Mercedes-Benz has just given its B-Class compact car, exclusive to European and Canadian markets, an update, infusing it

with new styling and an impressive array of technology.

The new B is only mildly different than the current car, mind you, as its most prominent changes are an updated grille and new front and rear bumpers. New side-view mirrors, skirts and door handles have also been fitted, and tasteful chrome accents on the bumpers are optional.

Besides the new generation of Mercedes-Benz audio headunits, with their integrated hard drives and updated navigation systems, the big new technology feature for the B-Class is a new park assist system which, similar to Lexus' LS, is capable of parallel parking by itself. Using a sonar sensor mounted on the side of the front bumper, the car scans for parking spaces thirteen feet long. When it finds a suitable spot, all the driver needs to do is guide the vehicle in

with the throttle and brake pedals. The steering is completely automatic and the car uses its front and rear parking sensors to ensure that it won't scuff the bumpers on cars (or object) in front or behind.

Another area of focus by B-Class engineers was to reduce emissions, and one way that Mercedes-Benz is doing this is by offering the car as a flex-fuel vehicle that can run on either regular gasoline or CNG natural gas. What's particularly interesting about this system is that due to the sandwich floor design of the B-Class, Mercedes-Benz was able to stow tanks directly under the driver's seat. In addition, other members of the B-Class family will gain an idle-stop system.