Safety, comfort, agility: these are the outstanding attributes of the new C-Class, launched in Malta last week. The saloon excels with a many-faceted product concept, which meets the expectations of various customer target groups.
With the Avantgarde, Elegance and Classic lines, Mercedes-Benz offers three individual models whose emphasis is on either comfort or agility. All model variants share the latest state-of-the-art technology.
This includes the newly developed Agility Control package with situation-responsive shock absorber control, the Intelligent Light System with five different lighting functions and the Pre-Safe preventive occupant protection system.
There is a choice of four- and six-cylinder engines with up to 13 per cent more output than the preceding model, accompanied by up to six per cent lower fuel consumption.
With a length of 4,581 mm, the saloon is 55 mm longer than its predecessor. The body width has increased by 42 mm to 1,770 mm, and the wheelbase by 45 mm to 2,760 mm. These dimensions create the conditions for a generously sized interior, and therefore more comfort. The front shoulder room has increased by 40 mm, for example.
The design of the new C-Class is based on the modern Mercedes idiom, which reflects the technical superiority of automobiles bearing the star with taut lines and large, tranquil surfaces.
The pronounced wedge shape of the front end serves to emphasise attributes, such as agility and performance. For the first time in a Mercedes saloon, the radiator grille is used as a distinguishing feature to position the model variants more clearly.
Three extended, horizontal louvers and a big centrally positioned Mercedes star characterise the Avantgarde model as a traditional design feature of sporty Mercedes models. Together with the sporty, high-quality appointments, this feature emphasises the youthful, agile appearance of this C-Class.
This sporty presence can be enhanced even further with the AMG sports package, which includes striking front and rear aprons plus side skirts.
In the Elegance model Mercedes-Benz employs a three-dimensional, louvered radiator grille with a high-gloss paint finish to accentuate other brand-typical attributes, such as comfort and luxury.
The Classic model in the new C-Class is intentionally more restrained and traditional, but offers the same technical innovations as the other two model variants.
This 'product-in-product' concept enables Mercedes customers to accentuate individual choices, and configure the C-Class to suit their personal taste and lifestyle even more emphatically than before. All the models offer the same, extraordinary driving experience that the saloon provides by virtue of further technical improvements. Both by its outstanding long-distance comfort and its dynamic handling, the C-Class sets new standards in this market segment.
Mercedes-Benz has paid particular attention to further development of the four-cylinder engines. In the petrol range, the output of the entry-level C 180 Kompressor has increased from the previous 143 hp to 156 hp, with maximum torque improved by 4.5 per cent from 220 to 230 Nm, while the C 200 Kompressor develops 20 hp more than before. It has an output of 184 hp and generates its maximum torque of 250 Nm from 2,800 rpm.
These modified engines considerably improve the performance and fuel consumption of the four-cylinder models. When accelerating from standstill to 100 km/h, the C 200 Kompressor is 0.5 seconds faster than its predecessor.
Improvements in fuel consumption are equally impressive: the C 180 Kompressor consumes 0.3 litres per 100 km less than before, while the combined fuel consumption of the C 200 Kompressor has been reduced by 0.5 litres per 100 km.
Further development of the four-cylinder units was also the main focus for the diesel engines. The engineers in Stuttgart have made further improvements to the engine, turbocharger and common-rail direct injection, modifying more than 90 components.
The C 220 CDI develops a peak output of 170 hp (previously 150 hp), and generates a torque of 400 Nm from 2,000 rpm - around 18 per cent more than before.
Fuel consumption has been reduced by up to 0.3 litres per 100 km: in the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), the C 220 CDI is able to travel 100 km on just 6.1 litres of fuel.
The modern V6-engines in the C-Class range remain unchanged, with a choice of three petrol units developing 204 hp, 231 hp and 272 hp. The six-cylinder of the new C 320 CDI has an output of 224 hp. With the exception of the C 350, all models in the new C-Class are equipped with a six-speed transmission featuring Agility Control gearshift as standard.
The C 320 CDI and the top-of-the-range C 350 has 7G-Tronic, the world's only seven-speed automatic transmission, as standard equipment. This is also available for the other six cylinder C-Class models on request.
During the course of its development, the new C-Class successfully passed more than 100 crash tests, including the particularly demanding, in-house impact tests of which some go well beyond the legal requirements. Passing these is a precondition for the highest accolade in automobile safety: the Mercedes star.
The new C-Class saloon replaces a model series of which more than 1.4 million units have been sold since spring 2000. All in all, Mercedes-Benz has delivered more than two million of the saloon, estate and sports coupé models in the previous C-Class to customers all over the world.
This makes the C-Class the bestseller in the Mercedes-Benz passenger car range. Germany is the largest market for the C-Class, accounting for around 30 per cent of worldwide sales.