The lengths car manufacturers go to to protect their soon-to-be-launched models from prying eyes. Security guards, body kits to disguise the lines of re-shaped vehicles, crack-of-dawn rendezvous in out-of-the- way locations for ad shoots, all are employed to prevent details of the cars' appearance leaking out before the manufacturer wants the public to know.
Such was the secretiveness surrounding Mercedes' preparations for a filming session for their new B-Class, which took place recently in Tenerife.
Despite the blanket security in place, the motor manufacturers' intelligence gatherers had failed in one vital area - they neglected to cast an eye over the guest register of the hotel at which they were filming. One of the guests happened to be Melanie Wassink, a Hamburg motoring journalist.
As the new Mercedes pulled into the hotel's driveway out came Wassink's camera and Mercedes' elaborate cover was broken in the blink of a shutter.
The B-class is intended to take on some of Europe's biggest-selling MPVs such as the Renault Scenic, the Opel Zafira, Volkswagen Touran and the Ford Focus C-Max when sales begin in mid-summer.
The B is based on the second generation A-class, but at 4270mm the new car is some 432mm longer than the A-class, though much of the extra length comes in the shape of a more elongated front section.
But key MPV characteristics are there, nonetheless. Almost 70 per cent of the car's total length is taken up by the interior which features a high seating position giving the commanding view demanded by MPV drivers.
One possible drawback for potential purchasers, however, is in its seating configuration. The B-Class is a only a five-seater.
That, though, means there's a load of luggage space, with the minimum being put at 525 litres, 90 litres more than the A-Class and that expands to around 1500 litres with the seats folded down.
Engine sizes are expected to match the A-Class and it is planned to offer a 2.0 litre common rail turbo-diesel version from the start. Prices in Ireland are likely to come in around the €35-45,000 mark, depending on model. - Automedia