The latest Mercedes-Benz C-Class is now arriving in dealer showrooms fresh from having undergone a comprehensive mid-term makeover that has seen improvements made in all areas, writes Trish Whelan.
Prices start from €37,710.
This upgraded C-Class is available in saloon, estate, coupe and cabriolet form and in two style and equipment lines - Avantgarde and AMG.
The company says in terms of its design, specifications and technological advancement, this latest C-Class range 'goes well beyond what customers might expect for a car in its segment'.
A host of external design changes give it a distinctly more sporty appearance. These include redesigned front and rear bumpers, new front and rear lights, chrome highlighting, new silver and emerald green metallic colour additions, and diamond pattern grille on AMG versions.
Also new is its electronic architecture, a new generation of four-cylinder petrol engines, and an interior style boost reflected in more luxurious upholstery and trim, an extensive multimedia and infotainment layout, and latest online and ‘Mercedes-me’ App services.
Models likely to feature strongly in the Irish market will be the C180 petrol and the C180d and C200d.
Amongst its innovative eco-friendly features is EQ Boost which helps reduce fuel consumption and deliver extra power when accelerating or when operating at low speeds.
New C-Class range keeps pace with other Mercedes-Benz newcomers with safety-focused driver assistance and infotainment systems managed by touch-sensitive steering wheel controls. Other tech goodies include a control that contributes to driver relaxation and wellbeing by linking all of the comfort systems, an anti-theft alarm system that can record instances when parking damage is caused by another vehicle, and a futuristic 'near field communications' feature that allows owners to convert their mobiles into a vehicle key to control functions remotely.
The C-Class has been one of Mercedes-Benz's great success stories recording global sales of around 9.5 million units since it was originally launched, with close on half a million sold last year alone.
A plug-in diesel hybrid that combines a new generation diesel and a latest-generation 9-speed hybrid transmission, and with a range of around 50kms on electric power alone, will arrive next year.
