The first order of business this Monday morning for Mercedes it to unveil the new generation of their hugely popular mid-size sports saloon, the C-Class. To be launched next year as a 2015 model, the W205 Mercedes C-Class is a brand-new product in almost every aspect. It’s got new design, new interior, and new equipment. The engine lineup remains unchanged, but all engines are updated for greater power and efficiently.
Design-wise, the 2015 Mercedes C-Class W205 is very, almost too, similar to the latest S-Class. It’s not a necessarily bad thing, but those who care about a car’s character may not like this. Still, it is an elegant design with a dignified touch of sport. The new C-Class benefits from a completely new structural design and the use of an unusually high proportion of aluminium. So it is light. And lightness gives it agility, efficiency, and a sense of driving fun found usually in this car’s archrival, the BMW 3-Series.
The new C-Class is also quite slippery, aerodynamics-wise, with a Cd value as low as 0.24. Add the standard on all models ECO start/stop systems, and you end up with amazing fuel consumption and CO2 figures that are 20 percent lower than the previous model.
The 2015 Mercedes C-Class launches with three engines, including the C220 Blutec with 170 hp and 70 mpg; the C180 with 156 hp and 56 mpg; and the C200 with 284 hp and 53 mpg. The Blutec diesel unit offers a CO2 rating of 103 g/km which is one of the lowest in this class. Later on, there will bigger, more powerful engine available in form of the C300, 350 and 63 AMG. There will even be a C300 BlueTEC HYBRID with four-cylinder diesel engine and a compact electric motor that generates an output of 204 + 27 hp and does 72.4 mpg.
The new C-Class comes with standard steel suspension and available selective damping system with three setting of comfort, lowered comfort, and sport. Alternatively, the new C-Class is the first vehicle in its segment that can be fitted with an air suspension (AIRMATIC) on the front and rear axles. It’ll be a lot more comfortable, but don’t forget the C-Class is a sports saloon. And air suspension is not that sporty.
The new C-Class offers numerous innovative safety and assistance systems. It is fitted as standard with ATTENTION ASSIST, COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS, DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist and integrated Stop Go Pilot, BAS PLUS Brake Assist System, and Enhanced Active Lane Keeping Assist. These are in addition to the standard safety kit including a whole host of airbags.
Just like the S-Class, the new C-Class too can be ordered with the AIR-BALANCE package with active fragrancing, air ionisation and more efficient filtration. The car also gets a new infotainment system featuring elaborate animations and visual effects, and FrontBass system, first seen in the Mercedes SL.
Pricing and market-specific specs of the new 2015 Mercedes C-Class will be revealed closer to launch.
