Probably a dumb question!
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Probably a dumb question!
Mercedes has always designated their cars with letters and numbers. The numbers always meant the engine displacement, i.e., 250 meant 2.5 liters, 350 meant 3.5 liters and so on.
The question is: Why is the C240 with a 2.6 liter engine called a C240?
Just wondering?
The question is: Why is the C240 with a 2.6 liter engine called a C240?
Just wondering?
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'01 C240/6
Like BMW, those numbers generally indicate displacement, but are these days only somewhat accurate, and done for marketing reasons, too.
I remember reading in the mags when the C240 was coming out, there was some marketing reason why they chose C240 instead of C260. I don't recall what it was exactly, but it may have been as simple as giving more differentiation between the C240 and the C320. There may also already be a C260 in Europe, so the name was already "taken."
BMW did something similar with the 3 series in the late 90s, when they sold the 323i and the 328i. The 323 was actually a 2.5 liter, so should have been a 325, but 325 is too close a number to 328, so they knocked it down to 323i! All for marketing.
I remember reading in the mags when the C240 was coming out, there was some marketing reason why they chose C240 instead of C260. I don't recall what it was exactly, but it may have been as simple as giving more differentiation between the C240 and the C320. There may also already be a C260 in Europe, so the name was already "taken."
BMW did something similar with the 3 series in the late 90s, when they sold the 323i and the 328i. The 323 was actually a 2.5 liter, so should have been a 325, but 325 is too close a number to 328, so they knocked it down to 323i! All for marketing.
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Originally posted by SoCal240/6
There may also already be a C260 in Europe, so the name was already "taken."
There may also already be a C260 in Europe, so the name was already "taken."
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From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Originally posted by MB-BOB
Our European friends can confirm this, but I also read that there was a designation conflict in Europe with an MB "C260", so the name was already taken.
Our European friends can confirm this, but I also read that there was a designation conflict in Europe with an MB "C260", so the name was already taken.
On the other side of the coin, some people think the C240 is a 4cyl, since the W202 had a C230
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This is probably the most comprehensive reply so far:Subject: RE: Why is a C240 called a C240?
Name: Jason Priest
From: jasonpriest@home.com
Date: 02-Jan-2002
The head of MB sales for Canada told us at an event in April it is called the 240 because the 2004 models will all have direct injection (more power and efficiency from smaller engines) and at that time the C-Class will be using a 2.4l engine. Since it will be in the same body they didn't think anyone would buy a 2004 C240 if they could buy a 2003 C260. So it is just a marketing thing. In a few years the C240 will have a 2.4l engine that should be just as powerful if not more than todays 2.6l.
JP Toronto
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From: Gaithersburg, MD
2002 C240 6-spd (ret)
Originally posted by Jostra
The head of MB sales for Canada told us at an event in April it is called the 240 because the 2004 models will all have direct injection (more power and efficiency from smaller engines) and at that time the C-Class will be using a 2.4l engine.
The head of MB sales for Canada told us at an event in April it is called the 240 because the 2004 models will all have direct injection (more power and efficiency from smaller engines) and at that time the C-Class will be using a 2.4l engine.
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From: Vienna, Austria
Audi S4
I also heard that there was a Euro C260 and therefore ours would be a C240, although that made no sense. MBSPY is reporting that by 2004 GDI will replace the current 3V/twin spark engines. I think they reported the engines coming in 1.8,2.2L 4, 2.7L,3.0L 6 and also in Kompressor form. Sounds very interesting, especially considering the 2.7K is going to make 258 hp!
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