The plans of Olla Kaellenius, head of Mercedes-AMG, are now confirmed: the Affalterbach-based tuner will soon launch a sports variant for the newly-unveiled B-Class - the B 25 AMG, recently scooped for the first time.


The car is expected to arrive next year as a 2013 model and will share its underpinnings with the forthcoming A 25 AMG, which has already been spotted on streets in the form of camouflaged test prototypes. This means the new B 25 AMG will accomodate a specially-developed 4x4 chassis mated to a 4-cylinder supercharged gasoline engine capable of delivering a maximum output of up to 350 hp. To counteract the vehicle's generous dimensions that might affect dynamics, AMG will apply the car a height reduction treatment, in addition to a new set of modified suspensions and dampers and the latest AMG ride management solutions to enrich the sports behaviour of the B 25 AMG. Design-wise, the MPV tamed in Affalterbach will feature a distinctive look, materialized through the LED headlights, the rehauled radiator grille (with one louvre, we guess), the bespoke front bumper with revised air intakes, the 19" alloy wheels and double exhausts at the rear - all in true AMG style.

The mighty G-Class offroader has been around since 1979 and is scheduled for a definitive farewell in a few years, more exactly up to 2015, the year when the duration of the contract with Magna-Steyr for producing the car at Graz, Austria, expires. Recently, Mercedes-Benz announced two new special edition models to sweeten the situation: the BA3 Final Edition and the Edition Select. Moreover, the SWB version is due to be phased out beginning with 2012, but that's not all: three months ago, we found out Mercedes-Benz was planning a hardcore, limited-run G-Class AMG model to celebrate the end of the career for this automotive masterpiece. If true, the special variant could make use of the 630 hp, 6.0-litre V12 AMG engine together with further chassis tweaks for an unbelievable dynamic experience. If not, the potent G-Class should pack at least 571 ponnies delivered by the naturally-aspirated 6.3-litre V8 unit. Either way, till things get clear, you decide how to baptise the unknown Gelandewagen test car spotted days ago on U.S. soil: G 63 AMG or G 65 AMG.

Check out more interesting spy shots after the break!

It was only a week or so ago that we saw the first spy photos showcasing a heavily-camouflaged 2012 A-Class prototype. Recently, spy photographers met the car in Stuttgart, near the Mercedes-Benz R&D Centre. The test car reveals mere clues on the looks of the hatchback, but that's hardly a surprise now after everybody saw a set of leaked patent sketches in May. Designers were in charge to create a crisp and youthful theme for the new model, as this is company's first 5-door vehicle attempt. The boring MPV shape is gone forever now that it was solely reserved for the new B-Class, which, as earlier stated, is indeed more elegant and stylish than in the past.


The new A-Class will closely follow the aesthetic footsteps of the concept car presented in April at Shanghai. That means we'll see the intricately-pampered LED headlights and the arched side windows panel make it onto the serial production model. The dashboard, although different from that of the B-Class, won't feature many of the futuristic materials found on the Concept A-Class, but will preserve some the airplane wing visual effect - mind those aircon vents that look like jet engines, because there's a chance they will be kept for the series car.

Other than that, the underpinnings and the entire technologycal package will be shared with the new B-Class, scheduled for the official reveal at the IAA Frankfurt. So, expect the same level of efficiency and almost the same equipments (depending on the variants). Rumors claim a hardcore, 350-hp version AMG version for the A-Class is also said to be under secret development by the Affalterbach-based tuner and it should hit streets in 2013 if the project gets fully greenlighted.

I expect the new A-Class to be slightly more expensive than its fellow brother - the base price should start at around 23,000-24,000 euros for the most countries in Europe. Mercedes-Benz announced that it will also start selling the car state-side, where it is prone to arrive by early 2013.