Comprehensive, innovative and secure, compact models of the Mercedes A and class b with its great practical importance and grace found scored with more than 2.5 million customers this way. Now to the Rastatt plant an exceptional example of disposable has built and the class b shows in a new light: an antenna with a V8 engine and rear-wheel drive.
The idea came from the Manager of the plant in Rastatt, Peter WaSP. He gave some of their partners the task of creation a very special vehicle of class B, let their creativity to decide what and how. Andreas Wuerz, a leader in the Department of technical vocational training, immediately took the challenge. It has a very close look with this large model of the compact, was help a tape measure and had an idea that not only surprised and happy, your boss and colleagues, but also the students: “it really could be equipped with a V8 engine in the engine compartment.”
Together with his colleagues foreman, Matthias Rieger, the production of electricity or electronics section assembled a team of 12 students in the second year and third year, specializing in the production of mechanical and mechatronic automotive.
HR Manager Martin Spicale promised financial assistance, creating a viable proposal in the first place. And soon found himself a “victim” (Wuerzburg) for conversion: a Committee of 200 B who had transferred to the workshop for learning purposes. While the car had completely dismantled the interns, Wuerzburg went in search for a suitable engine and found what he wanted. And do not you us us: 5.5 litre development 285 kW (388 hp) V8 and 530 m have been transplanted from Newton of the couple in the class b with a seven speed automatic transmission and engine control unit. The final proved to be headache, had I only for the processing of the signals of the rear axle was be reprogrammed.
Würz: “V8 unit surprisingly well equipped and able to use even the original engine mounts”. There were serious problems with the direction, but also harmony with a number of changes has been restored. The exhaust system was an intelligent combination of different elements of the replacement of parts and the form took a double pipe in the middle of the back. This is, where the exceptional, baptized received air are typical, Borboteante sound, as soon as the button, the heads of the environment are guaranteed to make (b) at the same time in the direction of the class.
Intensive reading of the parts catalogues the second problem of the transplantation of organs, namely the axis of the unit on the back. Learned was it, that would be the rear axle from a range of 210 W more class and a very good geometric option. WaSP was plant manager to get green light, and Wuerzburg and his colleagues designed a supporting framework, creation of comprehensive and welding in armor class (b) to receive new rear axle can be integrated. Provide the word sandwich class elegantly hidden within cardan shaft and class (b) without further changes.
The REM team gold in the catalogue of spare parts, this time in the list of AMG C32. Drilled and ventilated internally in size 345 x 34 mm disc brakes were drilled in the forehead with brakes and vented 300 x 30 mm internally rear implanted in size.
Inside, friends of workshops in Sindelfingen help, so that the same Alcantara lining for the A, B and C Pilares, as well as a lining of the roof in the luxurious material. A combination of leather/Alcantara seats offers the specialists at Johnson controls, which can be found on the website in Rastatt. Curfew were added to the B55 in the workshop of painting of the Rastatt plant. White mode with timesheet dark painted radiator and smoked lenses away, class b cuts an imposing figure, but only a discreet reference of the power pack is hidden under the hood.
The project led by foreman Wuerzburg team are very proud of the fact that about 180 kg is only higher than the original car in 1620 kg, the weight of the air.