C-Class: Luxury evolution at its peak for 2015
Within the automotive circles, anytime Mercedes-Benz brand is mentioned, it conveys a lot of meaning to many industry watchers, and introducing the new C-Class represents another of such exciting feeling for majority of car freaks across major markets. The latest all-new Mercedes C-class is designed and pushed into the market to take the fight to the Audi A4 and BMW 3-Series in the competitive executive luxury car segment.
The new C-Class, which has an even sleeker look than the previous model, features pulled back LED headlights, prominent styling lines along the body and a sloping roofline. Aerodynamics has played a major part in shaping the sleek exterior design, too. Oversized full LED headlights dominate the aggressive new front end.
It also sports 17-inch alloy wheels, a touchpad-controlled centrally mounted seven-inch colour display, two-zone air conditioning and a media interface.
There’s plenty of standard equipment which include rain-sensing wipers, Attention Assist, Speedtronic cruise control, heated windscreen wiper washers, and a tyre pressure monitoring system. A whole host of technologies derived from the S-Class is also being offered on the C-Class. These include a level of autonomous driving at low speeds and in traffic jams, along with drowsiness detection, steering assistance, and numerous parking assistance systems.
The Agility Select system is also included, allowing the driver to choose from five driving modes – Comfort, Eco, Sport, Sport+ and Individual.
The interior represents a huge step forward for the Mercedes C-Class, making it by far the most luxurious yet. The brand has taken its opportunity to introduce the kind of state-of-the-art technology and luxurious finish that established the S-Class as such a dominant class leader.
The crystal-clear digital TFT screens (one between the dials and a tablet-style display on the centre console) feature pin-sharp colour graphics, and the clickable touchpad control is the kind of new technology that’ll soon be the industry standard.
All models come with a seven-inch colour screen that’s controlled using a rotary dial and touchpad positioned between the front seats. You can scroll through the on-screen menus using just the touchpad, swiping left and right to cycle through functions, and pinching to zoom in on maps
In the back the slightly longer wheelbase of the new C-Class means legroom is generous. Also the swept back windows and light fabric increase the sense of space, while the smart switches and vents are carried over to the rear seats. The boot is also bigger than before, matching the BMW 3 Series with a capacity of 480 litres.
The key to the new chassis is its light weight, and this theme continues throughout the car – 50 per cent of the body is now made from aluminium, so even though the new C-Class is 95mm longer and 40mm wider than before, it’s up to 100kg lighter.
The new C-Class has an impressive arsenal of technology, one of which is a new touchpad- which is available in all models of the new C-Class. It’s also the first compact executive car available with a sophisticated air suspension that was borrowed from the S-Class, and will offer three types of springs. All cars have steel Comfort springs as standard.
It sits on the new modular rear-drive chassis architecture (MRA) that will underpin every large Mercedes for the next five years. This has the capacity for hybrid and electric power, four-wheel drive and a wide range of different vehicle shapes and sizes all built into its structural DNA. The chassis has also been tuned to offer a sportier and more agile drive without compromising ride comfort.
The C200, which is currently available at Weststar and any of its dealerships, has a 181bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. However, more engine types will be available in Nigeria by the middle of next year. The gearboxes available with this engine are a six-speed manual or the optional seven-speed automatic transmission. The auto gearbox increases CO2 emissions from 103g/km to 109g/km.
Although the new C-200 comes with a high level of equipment as standard, there are a host of optional packs available. One of such is the optional AIRMATIC air springs. These give a choice of five driving modes, plus a self-levelling feature- which is another first from this Class
To help things feel instantly sportier from behind the wheel, the seats can be lowered 20mm further than before, and they’ve been reshaped for better lateral support. Plus, a new electronic power-steering system that aims to improve high-speed stability and increase driver feedback. Due to a stiffer body-shell, there will be no complaints about noise or vibration in this new version of the C-Class.All engines in the C-class range are Euro 3 emissions compliant and come standard with the ECO Stop-start function.
MIKE OCHONMA