The new Mercedes-Benz B-Class Compact Sports Tourer is entering production and premiering at the Geneva International Motor Show next month. Shown in Paris in September 2004 and again in Detroit earlier this year, the B-Class CST will be in European dealers this summer.

Earlier in February, Mercedes Benz announced that it would delay the US launch of the B-Class for another year.

The Compact Sports Tourer uses the “sandwich” concept used in the A-class to package the engine and transmission partly in front of and partly beneath the passenger cell. The result is more internal room despite compact external dimensions.

The Compact Sport Tourer offers a choices of six four-cylinder engines, gasoline and diesel. The top diesel is a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that delivers 103 kW (140 hp) of power and 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) of torque. With a top speed of 200 km/h (124 mpg), the Compact Sport Tourer accelerates from 0–100 km in 9.6 seconds.

Fuel consumption is a lean 5.6 liters/100km (42 mpg) and the engine achieves Euro-4 emissions standards without the use of a particulate filter. (A maintenance-free particulate filter system is available on request.)

More details as they come.