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Safety, comfort, agility – these are the outstanding attributes of the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The saloon excels with a many-faceted product concept, which meets the expectations of various customer target groups. With the AVANTGARDE and ELEGANCE lines, Mercedes-Benz offers two individual models which emphasised on either comfort or agility. All model variants share the latest, state-of-the-art technology, which includes the newly developed AGILITY CONTROL package with situation-responsive shock absorber control. The newly-enhanced 4-cylinder engine produces 13 percent more output than the preceding model, accompanied by up to six percent lower fuel consumption.
With a length of 4581 millimetres, the saloon is 55 millimetres longer than its predecessor. The body width has increased by 42 millimetres to 1770 millimetres, and the wheelbase by 45 millimetres to 2760 millimetres. These dimensions create the conditions for a generously sized interior and therefore more comfort such as the front shoulder room which has increased by 40 millimetres.
The design of the new Mercedes-Benz 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 line variants more clearly. Three extended, horizontal louvres 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 the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
In the ELEGANCE model, Mercedes-Benz employs a three-dimensional, louvred radiator grille with a high-gloss finish to accentuate other brand-typical attributes such as comfort and luxury.
This ‘product-in-product’ concept enables Mercedes customers to accentuate individual choices, and configure the Mercedes-Benz 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 recognised for its outstanding long-distance comfort and dynamic handling, the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class sets new standards in this market segment. |
| Shock absorbers automatically adapt to the driving situation |
AGILITY CONTROL – this is the term used by Mercedes-Benz for all new and further developments that improve both comfort and agility in equal measure. This standard package includes the AGILITY CONTROL suspension, which controls the shock absorber forces according to the driving situation. When driving normally with low shock absorber impulses, the damping forces are automatically reduced for a noticeable improvement in ride comfort but without any compromise in handling safety. When driving more dynamically, the maximum damping forces are set and the car is effectively stabilised. The AGILITY CONTROL steering of the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class has a 14.5 ratio and is six percent more direct than the steering of the preceding model. A newly developed speed-sensitive steering with a more direct ratio and variable centring is also available in the AVANTGARDE line. Both the ELEGANCE and AVANTGARDE lines offer enhanced handling characteristics with 17” alloy wheels as standard.
ADAPTIVE BRAKE is another new development in the area of running gear technology. This is based on the technology adopted from the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and provides additional support functions for even more safety and comfort. ADAPTIVE BRAKE features include Start-Off Assist for uphill gradients, priming the braking system in critical situations and light contact to dry the brake discs in wet conditions. |
| Output increased by up to 13 percent |
With a remarkable boost in output by up to 13 percent and an increase of around 18 percent in torque, the engines also do more than their bit to create the lively nature of the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The four-cylinder unit not only excel with powerful responsiveness, but also contribute to the excellent ride comfort of the saloon with its improved smoothness.
Mercedes-Benz has paid particular attention to further development of the four-cylinder engines. The Mercedes-Benz C 200 KOMPRESSOR develops 15 kW/21 hp more than before, has an output of 135 kW/184 hp and generates a maximum torque of 250 Newton metres from 2800 rpm. These enhanced engines offer considerably improved performance and fuel consumption of the four-cylinder models. When accelerating from standstill to 100 km/h, the Mercedes-Benz C 200 KOMPRESSOR is 0.6 seconds faster than its predecessor. Improvements in fuel consumption are equally impressive in the Mercedes-Benz C 200 KOMPRESSOR – a reduction of 0.5 litres per 100 kilometres. |
| The latest Mercedes inventions ensure maximum safety |
During the course of its development, the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class successfully passed more than 100 crash tests, including particularly demanding in-house impact tests of which some go well beyond legal requirements. Passing these is a precondition for the highest accolade in automobile safety – the Mercedes star. Occupant protection is based on an intelligently designed bodyshell, 70 percent of which consists of high-strength and ultra high-strength steel. Compared to the previous series, Mercedes-Benz has enlarged the deformation zones even further and improved energy flows. The front-end structure of the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class has four independently acting impact levels, which enable forces to be distributed over a wide area while bypassing the passenger cell.
The safety technology in the interior has been complemented with the very latest protection systems. Six airbags are included as standard equipment; two adaptive airbags for the driver and front passenger, two sidebags in the front seat backrests and two large windowbags, which extend from the A to the C-pillar during a side impact. The driver, front passenger and the passengers on the outer rear seats also benefit from belt tensioners and belt force limiters as standard. In addition, the standard head restraints operate on the NECK PRO principle – during a rear-end collision, the padded surfaces are pushed forward within milliseconds to support the heads of the driver and front passenger at an early stage. This significantly reduces the risk of a whiplash injury. |
Two newly patented Mercedes-Benz innovations that bring significant aerodynamic advantages are being used in the new C-Class for the very first time, i.e. innovative "ventilated tail lights" to replace conventional spoiler lips and twin rubber drainage channel to keep the rear window clean even in heavy rain.
The innovative tail lights ensures that when the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is on the move, air is sucked in from the underbody and is conducted behind the tail lights to flow out of the small ventilating slits in the lenses. As the tail lights are hermetically sealed against the vehicle body, the air is only able to escape to the side via the ventilating slits. In this way, our aerodynamic specialists are able to influence the air flow along the side walls by abruptly redirecting it at the tail lights, thus measurably reduce the air resistance and therefore, fuel consumption.
Owing to the special air pressure distribution in the rear roof area of the new C-Class, the patented Mercedes-Benz twin rubber drainage channel uses a two-piece rubber lip as a transition between the roof and the rear window. This features an open channel and a partly enclosed channel. Owing to the pressure conditions at the rear edge of the vehicle roof, rainwater first runs towards the middle in the open channel, where suction draws it outwards. Via the enclosed channels in the rubber lip, it then flows away downwards along the window edging, keeping the window clean even at high speeds. |
| Interior design ‘cast from a single mould’ |
When developing the cockpit, Mercedes designers took their lead from the sporty sector and included clearly laid-out dial instruments, which may be found in roadsters or coupés. Silver-coloured bezels, black dial faces, white markings and glowing orange needles perfectly combine form with function for a sporty impression and easy legibility.
Equally clearly laid-out and well-arranged, the two-tone dashboard and centre console of the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class form a harmonious unit in line with the ‘design cast from a single mould’ principle. The same applies to the integration of the colour display at the upper centre of the dashboard. This is perfectly positioned within the driver’s line of vision but can also be covered or folded away as required, without switching off the radio, navigation system or other units linked to the display. The infotainment units continue to operate even when the pivoting cover of the display aperture is closed. |
| New control concept for clarity and comfort |
The central colour display is part of the new control and display concept which the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class has adopted from the luxury-class Mercedes models. Its major advantage is rapid access to frequently used functions and is able to maintain familiar habits, which means the driver does not need to relearn. All the control and display elements necessary and important during a journey are located in the cockpit, in immediate proximity to the driver.
In the same way, linking the standard multifunction steering wheel with the instrument cluster is an important precondition for rapid access to a wide range of information and functions in the driver’s direct line of vision. Other functions such as infotainment are shown by the display at the centre of the dashboard. The driver and front passenger are able to control the radio, Bluetooth mobile phone interface by using the CONTROLLER on the centre console or access the main menus using direct selection keys.
“The C-Class saloon represents a very strong model series within the Mercedes-Benz product range, with the previous model selling approximately 8,000 units since its Malaysian debut in 2000. This makes the C-Class one of the bestseller in the Mercedes-Benz passenger car range, dominating 38 percent of the overall luxury segment,” said Florian Mueller, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.
“With the all new C-Class, we are optimistic that the successor model will be even more popular as the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class raises the bar in every aspect of comfort, safety, agility, and the overall driving characteristic. Living up to its slogan Agility at Your Command, we are confident that it will be the next must-have car,” he added.
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