Since playing parent to the ridiculously small smart ForTwo, Mercedes-Benz has become quite the connoisseur of fruity little cars, which makes their future line of B-Class vehicles not entirely surprising. Based on the Mercedes-Benz BlueCell Concept that debuted at the 2009 NAIAS back in January, Mercedes’ new B-Class will compete in the same market segment as the Audi A3 Plus and BMW 1-Series. Although the new B-Class vehicles are expected to encroach significantly on C-Class territory, the only replacement that has been confirmed as of today is the BLS 4-door coupe. As the name suggests, the BLS will replace the CLS Sports Coupe in Merc’s lineup as a more economical, enviro-friendly model. Using newly-developed F-Cell technology, the direct-inject, turbocharged BLS is expected to achieve a CO2 emissions rating somewhere within the 95-135 g/km range.

Expected to begin production 2011, the Mercedes-Benz BLS will eventually be joined by (as well as share a platform with) the Mercedes BLK compact SUV and the 2-door A Class AMG coupe. Like the BLS, all of Mercedes-Benz’s new green utes will share the same direct-inject, turbocharged technology, with a possible 2.2 CDI clean-diesel variant rumored to also be in development.

Source: L’Automobile via 4WheelsNews