Mercedes-Benz Drops Details on 2019 C-Class Sedan
Refreshed C-Class offers increased power and extended driver assistance systems.
The W205 Mercedes-Benz C-Class has been on sale since 2014. It was, initially, a revelation for the brand, offering upscale looks and a distinct connection to it’s bigger brothers, the E, and S-Class. But time is ever turning, and Mercedes-Benz has to keep things fresh to continue its strong sales. Though, said strong sales (415,000 worldwide in 2017, according to Benz), are impressive for a four-year old car. However, for 2019, the C-Class will receive a hoist of small changes and upgrades to entice more buyers into dealership showrooms.
Look
Visually, AMG-look bumpers front and rear are the most striking difference. Accentuating those bumpers are standard LED headlights and taillights. Also available is Mercedes’ LED Intelligent Light System with high-performance headlamps and optional ultra wide high beam lighting.
Then there are the colors: Mojave Silver Metallic and Emerald Green Metallic are new exterior paint options available for 2019. Similarly, the interior gets a boost in choices and quality, as well. Interiors trim will now be available in Natural Grain Walnut Wood or Natural Grain Grey Oak Wood. Mercedes-Benz states that the 3D real wood veneer in the center console combines a hand-crafted character with a modern feel. Additionally, Magma Grey/Black upholstery is newly available for the interior, as is Saddle Brown and Silk Beige/Black for the AMG-Line Interior. Neat.
Touch
The C-Class adopts the display concept of the current S-Class, with an optional fully digital instrument display offering the three different display styles. The base “Classic” display is a 5.5″ color display with the oddly specific resolution of 383 by 600 pixels. The aforementioned optional digital display has a 12.3- inch diagonal screen, offering a high resolution of 1920 x 720 pixels. The cutting-edge screen design offers the three very different display styles: “Classic,” “Sport” and “Progressive,” which change the aesthetic of the digital display.
Similarly, the central display has two available screens. C300 and C400 models come standard-equipped with a 7- inch display screen. Newly available is the optional 10.25-inch COMAND display screen.
The infotainment system can additionally be operated via the touchpad with controller (new: haptic feedback) in the center console or by means of voice control. Said touchpad now features haptic feedback, like your smartphone. Vehicle functions such as the seating heating can now also be operated by voice control. The optional head-up display is now adjustable throughout an even larger range.
Feel
The 2019 C-Class will also benefit from a new 2.0-liter inline-4 turbo engine that produces 255 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. For those counting, that’s a bump of 14 ponies and 14 lb-ft over the old car. The new C-Class was also comes equipped with a 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic transmission. A transmission that Mercedes promises, “affords a dynamic driving experience.” The package ought to knock a few tenths off the current car’s 0-60 figures.
Continue reading about the revised 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class on the next page.
State-of-the-art active safety
The updated C-Class features the latest driver assistance systems available in the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The family resemblance grows. The C-Class is able to drive semi-autonomously in certain situations. To do this, it keeps a close eye on the traffic situation; improved camera and radar systems allow it to see up to 1,640 feet ahead. The vehicle’s surroundings are scanned by radar across a distance of up to 820 feet to the front, 130 feet to the sides, and 260 feet to the rear, while with the camera a range of up to 1,640 feet is possible to the front, including 295 feet in 3D.
The C-Class also uses map and navigation data for assistance functions. For example, Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC (as part of the Driver Assistance package) is able to support the driver in numerous situations on the basis of map information and predictively adjust the speed, for example when approaching bends, junctions or roundabouts. Other new developments include the intuitive Active Lane Change Assist and Active Emergency Stop Assist as functions of Active Steering Assist.
The redesigned C-Class comes with extended Active Brake Assist as standard. Depending on the situation, this can help to mitigate the consequences of rear-end collisions with slow-moving, stopping or stationary vehicles ahead. This function operates even with crossing pedestrians and cyclists or prevents collisions altogether.
Like seemingly every other Mercedes-Benz in the pipeline, expect the new C-Class to debut at the Geneva Motor Show next week, along with pricing information. U.S. sales will begin late 2018.
