Mercedes launches into battle with BMW, pitting the B-Class Electric Drive against the upcoming BMW i3.
Mercedes Benz is touting the B-Class as being superior over the BMW i3 in all key performance indicators. “We have Tesla inside” referring to the Tesla battery components the Mercedes got from Tesla.
Board member of Daimler Research, Thomas Weber, said in an interview “”This vehicle will be in all essential criteria at least as competitive as the models of our competitors and that’s putting a note of caution..”
The B-Class electric will launch first in the USA in Spring 2014, right on target with the i3’s US launch.
With 5 seats, and a range of 200 kilometers, according to Mercedes, the B-Class Electric Drive can accelerate to 100km/h in 7.9 seconds and will offer customers a sport-wagon feeling in a compact crossover.
BMW will introduce the i3 at the Frankfurt Motor Show this week.
Looking forward to more EV choices.