C-Class Redesign?
 

Does anyone have a definitive answer on when the C-Class will be redesigned? 2014? 2015?

Thanks!

Available late 2014 as a MY2015

I hope they have what in looking for in w205 or I might go to BMW or Audi

Do you know when the ETA of the new C Coupe variants will be ??

Curious to know as the current vehicle was released only last year :)

Usually coupe is one year later

That's normally the way it works but wasn't the case for the current W204 - coupe was released at least 4 years after the W204 range first appeared, will be interesting to see if the coupe variant follows quickly or is kept back to allow the current W204 coupe to clock up some time rather than just a short run :nix:

I hope I don't have to wait! I really want to see what w205 c63 coupe offers!!

It been discussed and rumored that the next C will be built in USA... Anybody have a definitive on that?

Yes.

I have no news on that.

Really ??? is that for all or just local market supply ??

MB Aust. has a policy that all their model range supply comes strictly or only from German factories, except for models which are only manufactured outside of Germany that being the ML series AFAIK.

Thanks Glyn, unlike snowmuch I hope the current W204 coupe has a long run before being replaced with the W205.

As for the question of the W205 C63 it most probably will run the new 5.5ltr twin turbo V8 and probably won't be called a C63 anymore, even though some of the new release AMG's running the new twin turbo 5.5ltr V8 still wear the '63' badge.

Tuscaloosa, Alabama where MLs and GLs are built and whose quality is impeccable so don't start complaining about that.

I will say that taking a factory delivery in Alabama doesn't have quite the attraction of Germany.

I thought, all W204 with RHD were made in South Africa. Don't know though, if that's true for the Coupé as well.

Yes. South Africa has the sedan contract with top up from Germany until Tuscaloosa takes over W205 & we move to support China.

Most Coupe's s/b from Germany.

Several of the automotive magazines have stated that W205's will definitely be built in Alabama. There isn't a lot of detail on the changes but they do expect the overall length to increases aka BMW 3 Series which makes room for the CLA as a compact. The estimated increase is 1.5" - 2".

From Car and Driver:

"
2015 C-class
The next-gen C-class should be hitting markets in early 2014 as a 2015 model year. It will remain a classic rear-driver, with optional all-wheel drive, and it will be packed with the latest electronic gadgets and assistance systems. Of course, the coupe will continue on, as will a wagon variant in Europe. The high-performance C63 AMG will lose its awesome 6.2-liter V-8—its glory will henceforth be confined to the SLS AMG supercar. In the 6.2’s place will be Affalterbach’s ubiquitous twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V-8 capable of 550 hp. With the change in powerplant is likely to come a change in that car’s name; expect the next AMG-ified C-class to go by C55."

Yep, definitely German origin (I've checked all the detailed specifications from my VIN number) for the C Coupes and AFAIK all the sedans as well supplied to Australia are from German origin, the VIN is the key it reveals everything :)

That's exactly as I suspected and have mentioned elsewhere :)

SA supplied most W203 to Aus. When SA was given the contract to supply LHD W204 Sedan to the US, Aus was moved to German supply. All a matter of plant supply balance.

Transmission Question
 

Do I correctly understand from the Car & Driver article that the redesigned C-class 2015 available sometime in 2014 in the U.S. will be available w/manual transmission? I love my 2010 C300 sport (sedan), with my only regret being unable to find a dealer 3 years ago with a 6MT on the lot.

I had thought that a Benz with a 6MT would never again be offered in the U.S.

JD Power and historical precedent disprove that. The ML until the most recent iteration was hardly a hallmark of quality, the GL is nothing to write home about, and neither was the R. The first gen MLs were known for being particularly awful...

+1 ~ SA for a long while took ML's from Austria due to quality issues from Tuscaloosa. They seem to have improved though. The only thing I notice endlessly on new ML's from Tuscaloosa is that the leather stitching never lines up on the lower seat squab from the centre panel to the side bolsters. Highly variable. Things like that irritate me.

I'm talking about the new ones which I have examined.

That's good that they are looking better. Still, historically I wouldn't touch one with a ten foot pole.

I come from a huge GM family and have nothing but respect for Domestic cars, but I have to say, if my W204 were built in the Alabama plant, it would have been a very hard sell for me.

Interesting info and good to know Glyn I'll keep that in mind the next time it comes up in conversation at an MB dealership here :)

That was a bit different though, because the C-Class never had a "Coupe" variant, and they waited until the facelift to introduce it.

My guess is that they will most likely be changed together in the same model year.