MERCEDES-Benz unveils its new all-purpose people carrier tonight ... in fact, during the advertising break midway through ITV's Coronation Street.

But potential customers, Coro fans or not, must wait until September before being able to buy one.

Meanwhile, though, the company has unveiled the UK prices and specification details, and interestingly, the starting price of £16,995 on the road, significantly undercuts the proposed £18,000-plus pricing announced earlier in the year.

The earlier price forecast was made without the full UK specifications being made known, but now they are available and hence the price adjustment. Mind you, says Mercedes-Benz, the specification is still very high, better than the A-Class.

There are six models in the line-up: five-speed manual transmission is standard on B150, B170 and B200 models, with six-speeds featuring on the B180 CDI, B200 CDI and B200 turbo. Autotronic continuously variable automatic transmission is available for £1,390 on every model.

There is a lot of emphasis on comfort and luxury with the new car. Air conditioning keeps the temperature constant throughout the roomy cabin, and its chilling capacity even extends to the glove box - great for keeping drinks and snacks cool in hot summer weather. Luxury climate control, which gives separate temperature settings for the front seat occupants, is a £410 upgrade.

With up to 2,205 litres of interior space, the B-Class can pack a lot of practicality into its dimensions. For example there are numerous storage areas, and rear seats that are split one-third, two-thirds with removable cushions. The luggage compartment floor is on two levels, under which the rear seat base can be stowed.

Cubby holes, cup holders, the essential "takeaway hook", sunglasses storage, load-securing rings in the boot and even a business card holder all mean it should be difficult to actually lose anything in the B-Class.

On all but those equipped with sports seats, the front passenger seat can fold forwards to allow loads of up to 2.54m to be stowed - ideal for ladders, Christmas trees, surf boards, flat pack furniture or other long items.

The driver's seat is height-adjustable, the steering wheel's rake and reach can be changed, and the front seats feature active anti-whiplash head restraints, which move forwards and upwards in the event of a rear impact.

Those in the back get plenty of leg, hip and shoulder room, says Mercedes, and there are retractable head restraints, three-point belts all round, and Isofix mounting and top tethers for child seats.

Safety is as expected with every Merc. Good and efficient. There is the standard electronic stability program - proven by DaimlerChrysler research to reduce all accidents by 15 per cent, and those involving Mercedes cars by 30 per cent; traction control, and anti-lock brakes with brake assist all designed to keep things on the straight and narrow.

Six airbags - driver and passenger front and side bags, and front-rear curtain bags - are standard, as is steer control, a system that clicks into action should the car start to skid or slide in extreme bad weather conditions. Steer control induces a resistance in the steering, encouraging the driver to steer away from the resistance and so, out of the skid or slide.

B-Class has remote central locking as standard, with a factory-fit alarm and immobiliser, a visible VIN, automatic door locking when driving off - and, thanks to the storage areas - plenty of space to hide valuables.

The on-the-road price list is: B150 £16,995; B170 £18,245; B180 CDI £18,995; B200 SE £20,445; B200 CDI SE £21,575; B200 turbo £22,795.

Dealer: Mercedes-Benz York, Centurion Park, Clifton Park, York (01904 694000).

Updated: 10:54 Friday, July 22, 2005