ManuelCarrillo3

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class has moved up in the world. Until the advent of the CLA-Class, the C-Class was the entry-level Mercedes. Now it’s one of the middle children in the Benz family, but instead of getting neglected, it has ended up getting more toys than ever. New optional features for the W205 C-Class include air […]

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MBNUT1

Was there today and sat in the car. Interior is a HUGE upgrade from the W204. The seats alone blow the current car away. Next steps are how does it drive and what is the price?

Pete7874

MBNUT1, was it very crowded there at NAIAS? I'm planning to go this Sat, hoping to take a few photos, but afraid the crowds will prevent that from happening.

Glyn M Ruck

Can't wait to take a drive. We should have a show car shortly.

MBNUT1

It was pretty crowded but I would guess the crowds will die down by Saturday and even with the crowds yesterday you would be able to get pictures of the C400 that was open. That would not have been true for the Tesla S it was mobbed.

MBNUT1

Can't wait to hear how it drives.

Pete7874

Looks somewhat better in person, I must admit. Not sure what kind of package this white one had, but the rear end looked sexy...

ddarko

It's the AMG exterior package/line. Telltale signs are the dual exhaust tips, the rear bumper with diffuser and vertical slits, aluminum trim around the window frame and the side skirts.

Glyn M Ruck

While I have a soft spot for the facelifted E Class Coupe this new C might see me back in a 4 door car. It offers everything I want. It launches in SA with the new 6 speed MT, & 7 speed DCT, to be followed shortly thereafter by the 9 speed auto.

I love the styling & simply don't understand criticism of the tail lights. But then I never liked the W204 tailights so maybe I'm out of step.

Seems the US is pushing the Avantgarde/Sport/AMG styling. I like the traditional grill.

MBNUT1

+1 to everything above....6 spd MT Lucky dog! The US is painful if you prefer the traditional Mercedes look.

Pete7874

I took this one just for you, Glyn.

Glyn M Ruck

Thanks Pete

grapefruit

What does the exhaust of the non-AMG package look like?

Seems like there are only photos of the AMG.

Glyn M Ruck

Pete7874

Wow... that new rear end is growing on me fast.

Germancar1

If Mercedes gets the pricing and equipment right this thing is going to fly off the lots faster than the current one does.

Someone posted that this will have a DCT. None of the C-Classes have a dual clutch gearbox, it will have the 7G Plus or the 9G at some point.

M

Pete7874

let's hope they figure out how to make the transfer case reliably on this new C 4matic.

ddarko

That's the rear of either the Avantgarde or Exclusive line. The base model doesn't have the horizontal aluminum strip behind the rear wheel or around the exhaust tips in the bumper. This is a snapshot of the standard line that I took from the Mercedes Germany configuration tool:



Folks interested in what the car looks like with options, both interior and exterior, can use the tool. It's pretty handy.

Glyn M Ruck

What I've shown is actually the Diesel Faux exhaust panel. The Luxury gasoline models in your speak have the same thing but the exhausts are real & the same shape.

What you have shown is what we call the base model "Classic" In the ROW.

They will never sell the base model in America. It's more for farmers & Taxi use etc.

ddarko

The combination of model lines and packages with Mercedes in America confuses me. USA currently has two lines, Sports and Luxury, which seems to be correlated to the Avantgarde or Exclusive lines that are in Europe and UK. But USA doesn't have the AMG package per se - instead, as best as I can make out, you pick the Sports model line and then add the optional Sports package to the Sports line - huh? - which gets you the AMG package/line that's offered elsewhere. Very convoluted. I hope Mercedes makes things a bit easier and just offers the "AMG Package" or the AMG line with the W205, same as BMW has the M Sport line that gives you the M cosmetics. Not that BMW is a model of clarity; BMW forums are full of confused posters wondering what kind of suspension comes with which model lines. Why the German car makers can be so opaque sometimes mystifies me.

AV1

I agree and it's about time MB have fixed up the lower rear end on all their new models and made it as neat as the rest of the car, with these new models gone are the days of having a cheap nasty plain finish diffusor and a single pipe just hanging now where.

Can't wait to see the new Coupe line up

MBNUT1

In the words of Janis Joplin. "Oh Lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz"

Glyn M Ruck

In an advertorial in our latest Car Magazine Benz states that a 7 speed DCT will be fitted, confined to models C220 Bluetec, C180 & C200. So either someone has made a major blunder or maybe we are being used as a guinea pig market.

AV1

That sounds about right because what it looks like they're doing is using or sharing the same parts bin running gear combination (ie. engine and trans) as the new A & B Class models.

Looks like they're retaining the 7gtronic and then using the new 9gtronic on all other engine spec variants.

Glyn M Ruck

Yes ~ It appears that the 722.9 Plus to the new 9 speed will be a running change in production when the 9 speed becomes available with larger capacity engines.