MERCEDES-BENZ has announced prices and more specification details of two new models including a plug-in hybrid version of the B-Class compact people mover.

The B 250 e will be priced from £35,280 and has a theoretical fuel economy of 235.4mpg with emissions of 27g/km.

It is powered by a 1.3-litre petrol engine mated to an electric motor which gives it a zero emission range of up to 42 miles.

Charging the battery to full takes one hour 45 minutes and with its low emission rating the B-Class PHEV has a company car tax rating of six per cent which means 20 per cent tax payers will pay £12 per month.

The other new model joining the Mercedes line up is the GLA 4MATIC small SUV which will cost from £43,565.

Two versions will be available, the GLA 35 which has 306hp on tap from a 2.0-litre petrol engine and a more powerful GLA 45 which develops 421hp - the most powerful derivative of Mercedes' 2.0-litre engine to date.

As such it is priced from £58,755 and is rated officially at 29.7mpg at best with a CO2 figure of 215g/km.

Both models have an eight-speed automatic gearbox and the GLA 35 has a best fuel return of 34.5mpg with emissions of 186g/km.

Both the new B-Class and the GLA models are due to be on the road in late summer.