NEW MERCEDES C-CLASS

C - CLASS: BABY BENZ GETS A MAKEOVER

The all new Mercedes C class is growing up, in most ways...

Sales Leader

According to Mercedes the C Class is their highest volume model. Since 2014 this last generation model has sold over 2.5 million Sedan and Wagon models globally and since 1982, they have sold over 10.5 million cars in this category. Clearly this is an important model for Mercedes-Benz.

This looks like an S class, no?

Yes, From the outside and inside this is essentially supposed to be as close as you can get to a small S class and Mercedes is not trying to hide that fact. They say they listened to customer feedback. They are now offering super high tech features and comfort straight from the S class.

What sort of changes are there?

This is an entirely new C-class, not just a refresh, so changes are abundant and everywhere. Attempting to list them all would be daunting, but here are the main points:

• Larger exterior dimensions which translate to increased interior space in the form of headroom, legroom and knee room.

• Increased tech and digitization from the extra large displays grafted from the S class and tilted towards the driver

• Newest MBUX software system offers brilliant images and three display styles: Sporty, Classic and Understated and three modes: Navigation, Assistance and Service

• OTA - Over The Air Updates and Online Music Service

• All new exterior design - "Sensual purity with a sporty and elegant touch" and a "cab-backward design" -from Mercedes

• New Color Options: Starling Blue, Cirrus Silver, Moonlight White, Graphite Grey and Selenite Grey Magno

• 12.3 inch high resolution driver display as standard - no more classic round dials

• Central display in portrait mode with 11.9 inch diagonal dimension

• Newly designed seats and wood veneers

• Four Cylinder Engines only (we hear that includes the C63 AMG)

• Four Cylinder gasoline engine with 48-Volt ISG (integrated starter-generator) produces an additional output of up to 20hp and 148 lb-ft torque.

• NANOSLIDE cylinder coating and CONICSHAPE cylinder honing

• 9G-Tronic transmission and 4MATIC both updated and optimized

• 255hp, 295lb-ft and a 5.9 second sprint to 60

• New AGILITY CONTROL suspension and optional sport suspension in AMG line

• Advanced Driver Assistance Systems: Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC and Active Steering Assist have been updated

• Crash Safety has always been outstanding - we expect new crash tests to continue to improve upon that fact

What about the New C63 AMG model?

According to Road & Track the new C63 will be dropping its V8 for a hybrid four cylinder. I guess Mercedes really meant what they said about only offering a 4-pot in every C class model! How do you feel about it? I'm nervous, but I'm still looking forward to driving it and seeing what its capable of. Hopefully they can make it as devilish as the V8 in some ways. I'm going to stay cautiously positive. And if they ditch the V8 in this car, what will happen to the other AMG models?

To see what the V8 was like, Check out AUTOTOPNL's Review below: