For the past couple years, Mercedes-Benz has been itching to break into the US small-car market. With the unnecessary SUV craze gasping its last few breaths and a renewed emphasis on automotive efficiency, now is the perfect time.

Most speculate that Mercedes is prepping their European B-Class platform for the US in SUV, hatchback and small car forms. The next generation B-Class is scheduled to go on sale in Europe next year and was displayed at the Geneva Show this past week.

Given the surge of economy cars and the noticeable lack of any upmarket small-car offerings in the States, the market for a pint-size Mercedes surely exists. After all, the elite can't be expected to maintain an eco-minded facade and roll around in guzzling luxo-barges, nor plebeian econo-boxes and homely hybrids.

An important draw to an American B-Class would be some sort of alternative drive-train. These days, if it doesn't have some original, cutting-edge energy saving feature, it probably isn't worth discussing. Marketability could benefit greatly from some hybrid variation or one of Mercedes' legendary diesels. Adding BlueTec technology to one of the diesels offered in the European B-Class could fair very well here.

Mercedes has also been toying with fuel cell technology for years and the B-Class is one of its prototype platforms dubbed the F-Cell. I got a chance to drive the Mercedes F-Cell at the Detroit Auto Show this year. The silent electric retained surprising amounts of interior space given its smaller exterior dimensions. The full-featured car was able to seat a rather lanky Mercedes representative in the back seat comfortably. Fuel Cells are a very promising technology, but held back by inadequate infrastructure and various other industry setbacks.

When [if] released, the new Baby-Benz will already have a few established competitors. The Audi A1 may hit US dealers sooner and the BMW 1-series variants already have. One wonders if Fiat will join the ring with some alternative models of its 500.

Unfortunately, Mercedes doesn't rush to market very often. When the company unveils a new idea, it takes its time finely tuning its masterpiece until deemed ready. That's mostly a good thing [cough -Toyota- cough...], Mercedes are some of the most exceptional cars in the world, but it also means that by the time new developments hit the market, they tend to have lost their it-factor. An American B-Class sounds quite exciting, but in actuality it may still be a few years off.

As of now, Mercedes is still cautiously monitoring the US market to decide when is best to launch the B-Class, if at all. Stabilization of gas prices, the current popularity of the light-truck segment and a questionable exchange rate are delaying the decision. According to M-B marketing chief Joachim Schmidt, "The behavior of Americans depends on fuel prices. Nevertheless we see a trend also toward fuel-efficient cars." I agree with ya Smitty, but we'll be ready when you are. Bring on the B.

Source: Automotive News