Mercedes has just released an official photo gallery of their new generation B-Class with initial units finding their way to showrooms in Europe next month. The German family car boasts direct fuel injection albeit a limited engine range: the B180 and B200 will both have a 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engine producing 122hp & 148lb-ft of torque and 156hp & 185lb-ft respectively; whilst the turbocharged 1.8-liter diesel engine will equip the B180 CDI (109hp & 185lb-ft) and the B200 CDI (136hp and 221lb-ft).

Although Mercedes-Benz has high expectations for the B-Class in Europe, they feel that U.S. buyers won't be turned on by it. As with the R-Class wagon/crossover, Americans prefer a Mercedes to either be a full-blown SUV, sedan, coupe, or convertible. However, there's a good chance executives from the German automaker will be closely monitoring the progress of the upcoming Ford C-Max hybrid. If that MPV proves successful in the U.S., then anything is possible in regards to Mercedes execs changing their minds.