 |
And like any good company, Mercedes will train them in different skills. That way, they can advance both their careers, and the company as a whole.
So one day, the plant manager at the MB facility in Rastatt, Peter Wesp, had an idea. He wondered if they could squeeze a V8 under the bonnet of a B-Class, then make it Rear Wheel Drive.
Andreas Würz, a foreman in the technical vocational training department,came up with a plan. He reckoned Wesp's idea would work, but it would take some fabrication. So, he enlisted the help of twelve second-year and third-year trainees specializing in production mechanics and automotive mechatronics.
When the MB brass caught wind of the project, monies were allocated, and the B55 project became official.
Together, the team transformed a humble B200 CDI (used to be a training vehicle), into a 388-hp rocket ship.
They used the marque's famed 5.5 litre V8, with a 7-speed gearbox, the rear axle from a 2010 E-Class, and the brakes from a C32 AMG, wrapped in 18-inch AMG wheels.
Ironically, the B55's suspension system came in the form of an off-the-shelf K&W coil-over setup….which is not what we were expecting. But hey, it works!
The interior was also fitted with generous amounts of Alcantera, and AMG trim, fabricated by employees from Sindelfingen & Rastatt.
The resulting B55 only wound up being 180 kg's heavier than the stock B200. And, it's civilized enough to be used as a daily driver…but would you expect anything less from Mercedes?
They said that the B55 will hit 100 km/h in "less than 6 seconds". But we think that sounds a bit conservative.
No word on what they plan to do with the B55.
