jctevere

A W205 was finally caught in the wild, production version. Interestingly enough, this is the first W205 that I have seen without the lighting package. I don't really like the look of the non LED car, the headlight shape and design looks shockingly similar to a Jetta.





Also, here is a shot of the C-Class Wagon:

Invain15

Looks nice but it looks like lighting package is a must now.

MBNA109

gimme a wagon any day!!

jctevere

I have to say that I think this is the first car I wouldn't mind a wagon version. In a way I almost like it better...

Either way, my w204 C300 and C250 coupe will be the last of the C-Class I'm driivng for now. I've gotten myself into a ML350 and love every second of it.

Vlad-II

Lets hope that the US versions of these cars have the lightning package by default because my god that looks disgusting without it. A Premium Car like this should never have lights that look like a Jetta, lol. No offense to Jetta owners, but I mean this car is more than likely going to be over 45 grand. I hope they at least have projector headlamps as an alternative if they don't have the LED lights...

DubVBenz

Considering you don't even get the upgraded lights on current generation E-Classes, I doubt that it'll be standard. It's ridiculous that Xenon HIDs have been available in Mercedes since 1996, but still aren't standard on the C & E (and I know they're being phased out for LEDs at this point).

You can have an MSRP 66K E-Class with halogen yellow projectors... ridiculous. And the current C just has regular incandescent bulbs unless you special order a new one or get a C63.

djejglk

Per the preliminary order guide all "upgraded" headlight options are either included with or require the P1 package.

P1 gives you static LED headlights, and one of the standalone options is the dynamic LED headlights, but still requires a P1 option.

jjj benz

They still aren't standard on the c63. You have to order the lighting package.

alsyli

... as I was driving home. Had manufacturer plates. Very handsome and, as in the pics, looks a lot like a shrunken, more upright S-class. Still not a fan of all the character lines, although I have to say that this is far better resolved than, say, the SL. The front end is particularly striking (I think this one had the mid-level headlights and the sports grille.... Not too garish at all, surprisingly).

Looks significantly bigger and taller than the W204 (looks to be about the same size at an Audi A4).

The only thing that bothers me is what appears to be a high beltline. I really like how airy the C-class is (for a relatively small car) and how good the sightlines are. Hope that doesn't change too much in the W205....

Quadcammer

a c-class is not a premium car

acr2001

It certainly is in the US. It's an entry level premium car just like a 3 series or an A4. Although with this new model and the introduction of the CLA, it is seemingly being raised up a bar. You can relax, your S class is still much more 'premium'.

K-A

I saw a row of these driving, very dirty, not sure if they were test cars or what not, but they were definitely the W205 and they didn't have any chamo on them.

Honestly, wasn't all that impressed, personally. Not bad, but kind of passive with a quirky front (which I find most M-B fronts these days trying too hard, thus coming out quirky).

Also, it looks WAY too close to the S Class, which will really hurt the S Classes presence in due time, on the roads.

MBNUT1

Thanks for sharing your fresh insights

alsyli

Wait until you see the W205 in-person. IMHO, it's got a very upscale look for the class (easily at least a half step above its current class, although not quite up to an E-class).

K-A

One issue that I found that's facing it, is that it looks a little less sporty than the W204, for the sake of trying to adopt that attempted fusion of old-world-luxury of the W222 aesthetic mixed with the modern "tech look" or what have you. The W204 has sportier lines, which is fine for the W205 if it weren't for the fact that the W205's still compact-proportions render it a kind of awkward mix for the W222's copy/paste exterior treatment. As with most new M-B's, it tries to go all out with the "aggression" of the front, while the sides and rear looks very calm and relatively mature in conjunction.

Glyn M Ruck

Funny how different countries respond. SA always considered the W204 to be a characterless box while they love the move back to softer organic lines on the W205.

K-A

The W204 is angular and could be considered somewhat soulless, per-se, but IMO after the facelift really embodies the Mercedes brand well. The W205's surfaces are smoother, but the wayward character line and its lack of cohesion or connection relative to the rest of the car is actually less harmonious than the W204 to me.

If you like the W222 on the roads, basically, you'll like the W205, they're so close to each other it's almost hard to tell, even with the massive size difference (there's a thread on this forum of someone thinking they caught the C in chamo but it turned out to be an S testing plug-in system). When I saw it coming in my direction I was having a hard time realizing whether it was a CLA, E facelift or new C, the headlight LED's being more "squinted" was a giveaway as a C. Then when I saw it from the side/rear, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me and it was a S, though the front was then the giveaway (corporate Star grille).

Glyn M Ruck

Yes ~ Like the 203 the 205 is purposely a baby S Class & Benz is going back to what they do well. Luxury & not Sport.

I think the W205 is a far better looking & balanced car than the 204.

alsyli

I was not a fan at all of the W203 (mainly for the detailing, such as the "melted" headlights, rather than the silhouette). I actually strongly disliked most/all of MBs designs from 1997-2000, although I think that part of the reason for that was b/c MB's quality/reliability clearly took a nose-dive during that period.


I rather like the looks of the W204, but I think MB's vaguely retro design language reached ridiculous proportions w/ the W212 (which attempts to revive design cues from earlier MBs mainly for the purpose of recalling a time when MBs were better made, IMHO.... Not a very good design mission).


The W205, to me, nicely balances modern, flowing lines w/o appearing overly ovoid (as the W203 did, IMO) or overly "butch."

Glyn M Ruck

Yeah ~ different markets like different things. W204 sold well in SA but the styling was never loved. W204 was built to appeal to US market & alienated traditional base in ROW.

W212 was a mess all round. Better after facelift. Next E Class will probably be a winner.

W203 was much loved in SA but only fully loaded with leather, Bix etc as most cars were.

Carsy

IMHO the new 205' grill is far too large & deep giving the car a heavy fat lipped out of proportioned appearance. The sport looks better from the front.

The rear is classier than the 204.

JC

Glyn M Ruck

As with the new S Class I think you need to see it in the flesh. There is some lens distortion in these pics. In real life the grill is not overpowering.

Carsy

Arhhh Glyn, Our little W204 will have to do for another 10 years !!

I think the w205 arrives here in Aust. in July . No doubt I will pop in to take a look !!