A new C-Class will be launched in spring 2011 with a lightly reworked exterior, new dashboard and an overhauled engine line-up.
Efficiency is the watchword as ever these days, and M-B says consumption has been improved by up to 31 percent. All the engine variants are now classed as BlueEFFICIENCY units, which is their way of bragging about 'environmental compatibility'. Fortunately power is up across the board too, but we're keeping that to ourselves in case anybody finds out.
Between you and us then, we're particularly liking the new V6 petrol engine in the C 350. It delivers 306hp and 273lb ft (previously 292hp and 269lb ft), and tucked under the bonnet of a C-class wagon would make us quite happy bunnies if we had to hammer up and down the motorway selling Xerox machines in style - especially with the revised 7G-Tronic gearbox now standard for all auto models. M-B says the V6 will crack 62mph in 6secs and return 41.5mpg on the combined cycle, which to someone who's just handed the keys back to a BMW M6 sounds a bit like getting a Christmas bonus every day...
Inside the new C you get a new high-resolution colour display screen in the instrument cluster, and a new dashboard with up to 10 driving assistance systems ranging from the standard ATTENTION ASSIST drowsiness detection system to the optional DISTRONIC PLUS proximity control.
All in all, a total of more than 2,000 new components are included, but the most obvious changes are outside where a restyled bonnet is now in aluminium and the front bumper and headlamps have been fiddled with.
In M-B's words the C class is now 'dynamic, resolute and self-assured', which would be pretty impressive character traits in a person, let alone a car.
There are also some pretty good diesels by the sound of it, but we'll stick with the V6 petrol, thanks.
All C-Class petrol models at a glance
Model* |
Cyl. |
cc |
hp
at rpm
|
Nm from
rpm
|
0-62 mph (s) |
Top speed
mph
|
MPG
NEDC comb.
|
CO2
g/km
|
C 180 BE |
4/in-line |
1796 |
156
5000
|
250
1600
|
8.9
(9.0)
|
138
(140)
|
44.1
(42.2)
|
148-160
(157-169)
|
C 250 BE |
4/in-line |
1796 |
204
5500
|
310
2000
|
7.2 |
149 |
44.1 |
150-161 |
C 350 BE |
V6 |
3498 |
306
6500
|
370
3500
|
6.0 |
155 |
41.5 |
159-164 |
All C-Class diesel models at a glance
Model* |
Cyl. |
cc |
hp
at rpm
|
Nm from
rpm
|
0-62 mph (s) |
Top speed mph |
MPG
NEDC comb.
|
CO2
g/km
|
C 200 CDI BE |
4/in-line |
2143 |
136
2800
|
360
1600
|
9,1
(9.2)
|
134
(135)
|
56.5
(58.9)
|
129-140
(125-139)
|
C 220 CDI BE |
4/in-line |
2143 |
170
3000
|
400
1400
|
8.1
(8.4)
|
143
(144)
|
58.9
(64.2)
|
125-136
(117-133)
|
C 250 CDI BE |
4/in-line |
2143 |
204
4200
|
500
1600
|
7.1 |
149 |
58.9
(55.4)
|
125-136
(125-140)
|
BE = BlueEFFICIENCY, * figures for automatic transmission, manual transmission in brackets