AS befits one of Germany's leading luxury car makers, Mercedes-Benz took over the biggest hall at the Frankfurt Motor Show to display a wide range of its latest, and future models.

The centrepiece was the world's first glimpse of the all-new B-Class sports tourer which will go on sale in the UK in March.

It features a new four-cylinder petrol engine with direct injection and turbocharger, a new diesel engine, a new dual clutch transmission and a new manual transmission along with new assistance systems.

Styling is much more sporty than before with the new B-Class given a lower stance, but the interior retains the same roominess for driver and passengers.

Also on show, Mercedes presented its first long range electric vehicle, a Range Extender in the guise of the Concept B‑Class E-CELL PLUS.

With the combination of electric drive and petrol engine the E-CELL PLUS makes it suitable for both everyday use and long journeys.

The energy accumulator takes the form of a lithium-ion battery which enables local emission-free driving up to a range of 60 miles and thanks the additional three-cylinder petrol engine, the Concept B-Class has a total range of almost 400 miles.

As a highlight marking 125 years of the automobile, Mercedes-Benz looked even further into the motoring future, presenting the F 125 research vehicle.

This S-Class-size luxury Mercedes of the future is a hydrogen powered plug-in hybrid with a range of 600 miles, a lithium-sulphur high-voltage battery, e4MATICall-wheel drive with four wheel electric motors, a bodyshell of lightweight construction with gull-wing doors for optimal access, more safety and reduced weight.

Back down to earth, on the Mercedes stands is the new SLS AMG Roadster, which also is making its first public appearance at the show.

Two additional roadsters also have their world premieres, the SLK 250 CDI and SLK 55 AMG.

The SLS AMG Roadster includes an aluminium spaceframe body, an AMG 6.3-litre V8 front-mid engine with a peak output of 571 bhp and a seven-speed dual clutch transmission.

For those after a big 4x4 the new M-Class was worth a look. The entire model range uses 25 perc ent less fuel on average compared with the previous models. Outstanding among them is the ML 250 BlueTEC 4MATIC which Mercedes claim can travel more than 1,000 miles kilometres on a single tank.