The exponential growth of the crossover / SUV genre has triggered a corresponding decline in the sedan segment, but an all-new Mercedes C-Class is still big news. The Stuttgart carmaker whipped the covers off the revamped W206 generation on Tuesday and says the compact sedan remains as integral to its line-up as it has always been.
Hybrid propulsion
The C-Class has chalked up 10.5 million global sales since 1982, and Dirk Fetzer, director of product management for C-Class, E-Class, S-Class and Maybach, says the latest model will continue to be a volume seller for the brand. Although the W206 carries over the basic platform from its W205 predecessor, C-Class chief engineer Christian Frueh says the entire package has been comprehensively re-engineered to accommodate new plug-in hybrid engines, as well as to substantially boost crash safety levels and cabin space.
Key to note is that the W206 C-Class will be offered solely with four-cylinder engines, as there will be no V6s or V8s, not even in the next-gen C63 AMG. That said, each motor gains supplementary electrified boost from either a mild hybrid or plug-in hybrid system, with the latter said to pump up outputs to V6 or even V8 levels. The downsizing to four-cylinder engines is partly to meet stringent new emissions regulations, as well as to enhance packaging efficiency and driving dynamics by reducing weight over the front axle.
The plug-in hybrid powertrains are said to offer an electric-only range of up to 100 kilometres, and an optional 55kW DC charger enables the 96-cell battery to be fully charged from empty in about 30 minutes. In addition, energy is recuperated whenever you’re decelerating or driving downhill, with the car’s onboard brain optimising the recuperation strategy based on the navigation data and topography for the planned route.
Mercedes-Benz unveils the new C-Class
Sporty feel
Externally, the new C-Class looks much like a shrunken S-Class, although its more compact dimensions and shorter front and rear overhangs mean it looks sporty, rather than stately. Fetzer says this carries through to the driving feel of the car, with the C-Class leaning more towards agility and cornering capability than silken ride quality, which was the primary focus with its big brother.
Mercedes boasts of a “dynamically reconfigured” suspension set-up that’s tuned for driving fun, especially when equipped with the optional continuously adjustable dampers and sport suspension. Air suspension at the rear is standard for the plug-in hybrid model because of the weight of the battery pack over the rear axle.
Also new to the C-Class is rear-axle steering (as per the latest S-Class), and this reduces the turning circle by 43 centimetres to 10.64 metres by steering the rear wheels in the opposite direction to the front at speeds of up to 60 kilometres per hour. At higher speeds, the rear wheels steer in the same direction as the front, which boosts stability, especially during fast lane-changes or evasive manoeuvres.
The new C-Class is slightly longer and wider (by 65 millimetres and 10mm respectively) than its predecessor, and the dimensional stretch has liberated more head and legroom in the rear, and more shoulder room in both front and rear. The added cabin space gives the newbie a slight edge over its Audi A4 archrival, so that’s a brownie point for the Merc.
Power output
Mercedes has for now announced a three-model line-up for the Middle East, comprising the C180, C200 and C300. The entry-level C180 has outputs of 170 horsepower and 250Nm from its 1.5-litre turbo engine, with its mild hybrid system kicking in an additional 20hp and 200Nm for short bursts.
This translates to a 0 to 100kph sprint in 8.6 seconds and top speed of 231kph. The range-topping (for now) C300 ekes out 258hp and 400Nm from its 2.0-litre turbo motor, with the mild hybrid adding the same boost as in the C180. This enables the C300 to sprint from 0 to 100kph in 6.0 seconds and hit 250kph flat out.
Mercedes isn't as yet making any announcements about the coming next-gen C63 AMG, but it's an open secret that it will ditch the existing twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 in favour of a 2.0-litre plug-in hybrid engine. The new C63's power output will reportedly still be well in excess of 500hp, but what's bound to be missing is the thunderous exhaust note that's such an appealing ingredient of the current model.
