The regular Mercedes-Benz B-Class wasn’t exactly created with the motoring enthusiast’s needs in mind, but this one-off B55 special is another story. Trainees of Mercedes-Benzs Rastatt plant in Germany turned a B200 CDI diesel model into a full-blown sports car by planting in a 388 hp 5.5-liter V8 and transferring the drive from the front axle to the rear.
The idea of the project came from plant manager, Peter Wesp, while the execution fell on the shoulders of foremen Andreas Würz and Matt Rieger and a team of twelve second and third-year trainees specializing in production mechanics and automotive mechatronics.
via:Press Release
B-Class with a V8 engine crafted by trainees in Rastatt
The idea of the project came from plant manager, Peter Wesp, while the execution fell on the shoulders of foremen Andreas Würz and Matt Rieger and a team of twelve second and third-year trainees specializing in production mechanics and automotive mechatronics.
via:Press Release
B-Class with a V8 engine crafted by trainees in Rastatt
- Fulminating one-off: B 55 with a V8 engine and 388 hp
- Complete conversion in the training workshop
- The spatial concept of the B-Class was to remain unchanged.
- On the outside too, there were only to be minor indications of the conversion work.
- The interior was to be upgraded in line with the new vehicle class being aspired to.
- And the result of the conversion was to be in large measure suitable for day-to-day driving.