Tuesday 31st July 2012

AMG Sport Plus for revised C-Class range

...but naturally aspirated 3.5 V6 dropped from all except coupe model

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Mercedes has performed the usual model-year tweaks for its C-Class range. But while it's mostly a case of new trim levels, better residual values and tiny tweaks, buried in the middle of all the changes is the news that the 3.5-litre V6 petrol is being axed from saloon and estate models.

The 306hp naturally aspirated V6 will carry on in the C-Class Coupe, however, while the C63 AMG range remains unaffected. At the bottom of the range, meanwhile, the C180 gets a 154hp 1.6-litre direct-injection turbo and electric power steering, allowing it to lower your BIK tax bill by up to four per cent (whoop!).

Other changes include a renamed range (you've now got Executive SE, AMG Sport and AMG Sport Plus) new colour options, repositioned cruise control and indicator stalks and easier-to-read silver graphics for the telematics screen.

Like we said, tiny tweaks, but you can read more about the details of the new trims on the Mercedes customer website...

[Trusty Steed]

Wow!! where do I place my order.......

[Moley RUFC]

Trusty Steed said:

Wow!! where do I place my order.......

....with BMW

[kambites]

Loss of the V6 is hardly a surprise, really. Not much market for large(ish) capacity N/A engines any more.

'tis a nice looking thing, though. Much nicer than the 3-series.

[Johnboy Mac]

3.5 V6 gone. Sad to hear, regardless.

[vinnie83]

kambites said:

Loss of the V6 is hardly a surprise, really. Not much market for large(ish) capacity N/A engines any more.

'tis a nice looking thing, though. Much nicer than the 3-series.

I agree that this car is far better looking than the new 3 series. Maybe the M-sport version will be better and will grow on me, but this looks so much simpler and less fussy.

The coupe is a very nice looking car, certainly a car I will be considering when I come to change the 3 series.

[ghibbett]

Actually the C63 is affected...it gets a revised colour for the COMMAND and TFT screen (yellow to silver) and the indicator/cruise control stalks are swapped around. Not exactly major stuff though...

[va1o]

Really good equipment on these with the recent revisions. An Executive SE with the Becker Navigation has pretty much everything anyone could want and looks like a really good buy in 180 petrol or 220 diesel form. Not sure if I'm a fan of AMG Sport though, just looks like they are chasing Audi's S-Line range and BMW's M-Sport.

EDIT: And only £21k through drivethedeal.com, much better value than a 3-series

Edited by va1o on Tuesday 31st July 12:39

[rtz62]

Guess COMMAND is an upgrade of COMAND as well (Cockpit Management and Data system - COMAND for short - acts as a “command center” for all audio, telematics and telecommunications functions on Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Depending on vehicle specification, functions like the radio, CD player, DVD player, navigation system with dynamic routing, and amplifiers are all integrated in the COMAND system.)
Sorry but this Merc leaves me colder than a witches t*t....

[5hero]

va1o said:

Not sure if I'm a fan of AMG Sport though, just looks like they are chasing Audi's S-Line range and BMW's M-Sport.

AMG - born in 1967
BMW M - born in 1972
Audi S line - born in 1990

[va1o]

5hero said:

va1o said:

Not sure if I'm a fan of AMG Sport though, just looks like they are chasing Audi's S-Line range and BMW's M-Sport.

AMG - born in 1967
BMW M - born in 1972
Audi S line - born in 1990

True, and I love the proper AMGs but this is diluting the brand to just a trim level much the same as BMW and Audi have been doing for a few years.

rtz62 said:

Guess COMMAND is an upgrade of COMAND as well (Cockpit Management and Data system - COMAND for short - acts as a “command center” for all audio, telematics and telecommunications functions on Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Depending on vehicle specification, functions like the radio, CD player, DVD player, navigation system with dynamic routing, and amplifiers are all integrated in the COMAND system.)
Sorry but this Merc leaves me colder than a witches t*t....

Is there really much advantage having COMAND these days over the significantly cheaper Becker solution? Both integrate much the same into the rest of the car and offer similar functionality.

[JREwing]

Boring changes, but in terms of taste and style these are 100x the car the 3-Series is.

[peteA]

isnt there an all new C due next year...? Interesting comments re the 3 series. I'm running a C250 cdi sport auto and have a m sport 3 on order due later this year. Agree that the C is a good looking car though.

[EdLeMas]

My 3 Series Touring is going back next month and I am in a quandry between an A4 Avant S Line or a C250 CDI Sport Plus. Not sure about the wheels on the Merc but would be interested to hear how the C250 engine is. More torque than a 991 Carrera S anyone??!

[nav p]

5hero said:

AMG - born in 1967
BMW M - born in 1972
Audi S line - born in 1990

AMG born in 1967 maybe...but not taken in house until 1993,first Merc AMG car was C36 i believe.

[FQH]

Hardly significant changes to shout about...

I've driven audis for the last few years and never considered the C class previously but the improvements on the current generation car (particularly the interior) and some killer deals out there may well convert me.
Torque figures for the C250cdi are particularly impressive, although not sure how that translates to reality when behind the wheel.

[gumsie]

The 306hp naturally aspirated V6 will carry on in the C-Class Coupe.......... Really? 306, is that right?

[craigb84]

gumsie said:

The 306hp naturally aspirated V6 will carry on in the C-Class Coupe.......... Really? 306, is that right?

Why wouldn't it be?

[PUA]

I hate the name changes for diff trim levels, "AMG sport" etc, AMG is a word which puts terror into people and should remain as such

[HammyHamster]

PUA said:

I hate the name changes for diff trim levels, "AMG sport" etc, AMG is a word which puts terror into people and should remain as such

+1

It's like BMW with their M-sport trim where they plaster normal BMWs in M badges. It dilutes the brand.

[carlingofblack]

Ah but they don't. I agree though BMW MSport branding is fairly subtle from the factory. It's the plonker owners in 318d's that suddenly go mad in the parts bin and stick the hallowed M badges everywhere that doesn't help.