Mercedes-Benz has made major revisions to its mid-size C-Class range. We were invited to the international global review of the model in Tenerife in the Canary Islands to get advanced information on a model that’s very important to the German marque. Over 8.5 million mid-size Mercedes have been sold to date so its continued success is extremely important.
The new Benz C-Class will go on sale in Australia in June, only a matter of weeks after the model’s European introduction, that short time period reflecting the ever increasing importance of our market to the German marque.
Changes to the front and rear styling are extensive and give the latest Mercedes-Benz C-Class a significantly different appearance to the about to be superseded model. The front has a more upright appearance and follows the latest Mercedes-Benz design theme that carries cues to the stunning SLS Gullwing supercar.
This SLS theme is most obvious in the Avantgarde version of the C-Class, although the Elegance shares similar lines in everything other than the radiator grille, which has a more subdued, upmarket look.
Inside, the latest Mercedes C-Class has received a total redesign, with a new dash area that looks upmarket and elegant. We particularly like the style of the new three-dial instrument layout.
Just as importantly in these enlightened times, where care is being shown to the environment, the new design bonnet is now manufactured in aluminium. Thus all the visible panels of the C-Class in front of the windscreen are made from this lightweight material. At the same time the reshaping of the front end has resulted in aerodynamic improvements, with the C-Class now being measured as having a drag coefficient of just 0.26, an excellent figure for a car of this relatively small size.
As a bonus, keen drivers will find that the removal of mass from the front of the new C-Class makes for nimbler handling.
The big news is under that new bonnet. As in the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class we reviewed a couple of weeks back the C-Class engines contain major design features that not only significantly reduce fuel consumption, but also give more power and torque.
We have road tested the 225 kilowatt V6 petrol engine in the C350 which is a smooth unit with plenty of acceleration, yet uses just 6.8 litres per hundred kilometres when measured to the European fuel standards. This is an amazing 31 per cent down on the superseded C350 powerplant.
Part of the fuel saving is due to the use of the latest development of the Mercedes seven-speed automatic transmission. This auto is being installed in all models being imported to Australia.
We also reviewed the C-Class C250 turbo-diesel. With 150 kW of power and 500 Nm of torque it pulls exceptionally well and is a delight to sit behind. Its official fuel consumption rating is as low as 4.8 litres per hundred kilometres.
The aforementioned seven-speed auto is an excellent unit with smooth but fast changes and is quick to understand the needs of the driver and the road conditions by changing to the correct ratio almost as though it has read the driver’s mind.
Further advances in the control of noise, vibration and harshness, make the new C-Class smoother and quieter in its ride than the already good model it supersedes.
As well as the sedan and estate wagon variants we have tested to date, we got an advanced look at the all-new C-Class coupe, although we haven’t had a test drive of it as yet.
AMG COUPE
AMG gave selected journalists a sneak preview of the hot C63 variant of the new C-Class Mercedes coupe. The ‘secret’ reveal was held in a former factory in a rough looking neighbourhood near Geneva on the eve of the motor show. In true spy movie form, the apparently harsh location was done up to the nines inside and we were treated to cocktails and finger food before a silver shroud was pulled off the coupe by a couple of glamorous ladies.
Cameras and camera phones were forbidden so we can’t give you any shots of it, but we can report the new Mercedes AMG C63 has bold front grilles in matte black and striking chrome; the rear diffuser also stands out in black. The black on the car we saw contrasted extremely well with the white Benz body.
The bonnet of this upcoming Mercedes AMG C63, it won’t go on sale until the third quarter of 2011, carries interesting ribs that make out the shape of a spread letter Y, when viewed from the front of the car. The door mirrors are in carbon fibre and the roof is in black glass. |
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