The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class is the first car in its market segment to be awarded an environmental certificate for its  environmentally focused development.

Mercedes-Benz offers three individual model lines with the emphasis on a balance of comfort and an exhilarating driving experience: SE, ELEGANCE or SPORT. All models share the latest, state-of-the-art technology. This includes the newly developed Agility Control suspension package with selective damping, the PRE-SAFE® preventive occupant protection system and the optional Intelligent Light System with five different lighting functions. There is a choice of four and six-cylinder engines with improvements of up to 13 per cent more power output than the outgoing model, accompanied by up to six percent lower fuel consumption.

Indeed, the fuel consumption of the four-cylinder CDI engines is reduced by 0.3 litres per 100 kilometres: in the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), the C 200 CDI and C 220 CDI are able to travel 100 kilometres on just 6.1 litres of fuel. Further development of the four-cylinder units was also the main focus for the diesel engines.

The engineers in Stuttgart have made further improvements to the engine, turbocharger and common-rail direct injection, modifying more than 90 components. As a result the new C 200 CDI has 11 per cent more output than the preceding model, with 136 hp (100 kW) versus the previous 122 hp (90 kW). The C 220 CDI develops a peak output of 170 hp (125 kW) versus the previous 150 hp (110 kW) and generates a torque of 400 Nm from 2000 rpm -- around 18 per cent more than before.

The modern V6-engines in the C-Class range remain unchanged, with a choice of three petrol units developing 204 hp (150 kW), 231 hp (170 kW) and 272 hp (200 kW). The six-cylinder C 320 CDI has a power output of 224 hp (165 kW). All four-cylinder engines and the six-cylinder C 230 are equipped with the sixspeed manual gearbox. The C 280, C 350 and C 320 CDI have 7G-TRONIC, the world’s only seven-speed automatic transmission, as standard equipment. This is also available for the six-cylinder C 230 model as an option.

The latest improvements ensure maximum safety

During the course of its development, the new C-Class Saloon successfully passed more than 100 crash tests, including the particularly demanding, in-house impact tests. Occupant protection is based on an intelligently designed bodyshell, 70 per cent of which consists of high-strength and ultra high-strength steel. Mercedes-Benz has enlarged the deformation zones even further and improved energy flows. The front-end structure of the new C-Class has four independently acting impact levels, which enable forces to be distributed over a wide area while bypassing the passenger cell.

The safety technology in the interior has been complemented with the very latest protection systems. Seven airbags are included as standard equipment: two adaptive airbags for the driver and front passenger, a kneebag for the driver, two sidebags in the front seat backrests and two large windowbags which extend from the A to the C-pillar during a side impact. The driver, front passenger and the passengers on the outer rear seats also benefit from belt tensioners and belt force limiters as standard. The standard head restraints operate on the NECK PRO principle: during a rear-end collision the padded surfaces are pushed forward and upward within milliseconds to support the heads of the driver and front passenger at an early stage. This significantly reduces the risk of a whiplash injury.

Further safety developments include flashing adaptive brake lights a major help in reducing rear-end collisions, and these are also standard equipment in the new C-Class. If the driver needs to brake hard at speeds in excess of 30 mph the brake lights flash rapidly to warn drivers following behind. At higher speeds of around 70 mph, flashing lights make drivers react 0.2 seconds quicker than they do to conventional brake lights.

PRE-SAFE® is another innovative standard feature of the new Mercedes Saloon. This preventive occupant protection system is linked to active safety systems such as ESP® and Brake Assist, and is able to recognise critical driving manoeuvres at a very early stage. If the C-Class is in danger of crashing as a result of heavy under or oversteering, or if the driver needs to brake very heavily in a dangerous situation, PRE-SAFE® activates certain systems as a precaution to prepare the vehicle and its occupants for an impending accident. Accordingly the passive safety phase does not begin when the impact has already occurred, but before an impending collision. If the impact is avoided PRE-SAFE® re-sets itself.

The Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Light System is also available in this vehicle class for the first time. Powerful bi-xenon headlamps are automatically adapted to the driving situation, illuminating a wider area when driving on  country roads and improving long-range visibility on motorways. The system also includes enhanced front fog lamps, as well as the cornering light function and Active Light System, which enables the headlamps to follow steering  input for better visibility. This is another important contribution by Mercedes-Benz to safer driving in poor visibility.

New control concept for clarity and comfort

The central colour display is part of the new control and display concept which the C-Class has adopted from the luxury-class Mercedes models. Its major advantage is rapid access to frequently used functions, which means that the driver does not need to relearn, is able to maintain familiar habits and feels at home immediately. All the control and display elements necessary and important during a journey are located in the cockpit, i.e. in immediate proximity to the driver.

In the same way, linking the standard, leather-trimmed multifunction steering wheel with the instrument cluster means rapid access to a wide range of information and functions in the driver’s direct line of vision. Other functions are shown on the display at the centre of the dashboard. The driver and front passenger are able to control the radio, navigation system or telephone by using the controller on the centre console, or access the main menus using direct selection keys.

Bestseller

The new C-Class Saloon replaces a model series of which more than 1.4 million units have been sold worldwide since spring 2000. All in all, Mercedes-Benz has delivered more than two million of the Saloon, Estate and Sports Coupé models in the previous C-Class to customers all over the world. This makes the C-Class the bestseller in the Mercedes-Benz range.

Since 2000, more than 114,000 C-Class Saloons have been registered in the UK, along with more than 23,000 C-Class Estate cars and more than 40,000 Sports Coupé models. And with the launch of the new model, these figures should keep on improving.