NEW YORK -- Mercedes-Benz, marking its first U.S. foray into electrified vehicles, today introduced the five-seat, five-door B-class Electric Drive at the New York auto show.
The 2014 battery electric vehicle will go on sale in early 2014. The plug-in EV has a lithium ion battery stored under the floor to save space and a 134-hp electric motor that gives it a range of 115 miles.
The vehicle is based on Mercedes-Benz's new front-wheel-drive platform for compact cars. The B class is a five-door hatchback that is available with conventional power. The United States will get only the pure electric version. Pricing will be released later.
Mercedes-Benz also considered bringing the SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive -- priced at more than $500,000 -- to the United States, but there are no plans to do so now, a company official said today.
Mercedes-Benz said the B-class electric has a torque output of 228 pounds-feet -- nearly the same as a gasoline engine with a displacement of 3.0 liters. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than 10 seconds. Speed is electronically limited to 100 mph.
The plug-in electric vehicle has a lithium ion battery stored under the floor to save space and a 134-hp electric motor that gives it a range of 115 miles.
Mercedes-Benz said the B-class electric can be recharged "at any standard domestic power outlet."
Kinetic energy during braking is converted into electricity and stored in the battery.
The B-class electric will be available with the optional Mercedes-Benz Comand multimedia system with Internet access, navigation and voice control. The driver will be able to digitally access information about the vehicle, such as the battery's charge status, via the Internet on a smartphone or computer. The navigation system will provide information on charging station locations along a route. The driver also will be able to remotely preheat or cool the car.
The United States will be the first market to get the B-class electric.
Source : http://www.autonews.com
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