Germancar1

That would be a sweet scenario and that could very well happen if price resistance has been a problem for the C400 at 50K to start for the 4Matic model.

M

c4004matic

An out the door C 63 is almost 90K. That is the old one. Given the new C class more expensive pricing don't be surprised if the new one will be in the mid 90s. If there is a more non AMG "AMG'd" C series (the oxymorons keep multiplying) with 30-40 plus ponies, an additional 10K seems entirely plausible. Again we are in the realm of fantasy since We don't even know if the car exists.
My guess is simple, there will be a coupe version of the Class (non AMG) it may have some more ponies than the sedan but using the same 6 cylinder twin turbo, it may be called the C450. We will know for certain in a month or so.

Germancar1

Out the door varies from state to state and person to person depending on what they paid. You're just reaching. No one is paying 90K for a C63 unless it was a Black Series. They aren't going to add 10K on top of the C400, that would be too close to the base price of the next C63. The M3/M4, RC F, RS5, and upcoming ATS V are all 60-70K cars, not 90K. That is where the C63 will land. Every option in the book would be needed to push it to 90K.

M

dreamerak

I agree, the C450 will compete with the Audi S4, base price of 51,500 is my guess.

c4004matic

The c400 already competes succesfully at least powerwise with the s4. Kind of silly for a non AMG car just for that.The c400 has 4hp less but a lot more torque. Both do 4.7 sec to 60.

dreamerak

Power wise isn't enough, It has to be the total package, the BMW 340/440 M-Sport will be announced this coming summer and the New Audi S4 soon after that. The C450 AMG-Sport is the preemptive strike, Mercedes wants to take the lead, they are not waiting around for the other guys. All IMHO.

Germancar1

That is exactly it. AMG doing the suspension work + more power will make for a great driving non AMG C-Class IMO. I just hope they make it with RWD and AWD, not mandatory AWD. It would be nice to see the 9G trans too, but that might be asking for too much.

M

bwoodbmw

I'd love a tranny upgrade too.... but I agree its probably wishful thinking.
That said, I think the c450 is real... there have been enough sources talking about it now that it is much more than just a rumor

DameMD

I hope this "is" the scenario. Just like how the w204 c300 had the 4matic for 2012+ models and c350 had the rwd. If this holds true then we could have the c300 & c400 as 4matics and the people who want the rwd could get entry level c300 or more powerful c450 rwd. Man that would be sweet and which is one of the reasons I am waiting to get a w205.

That's why I never jump on the first model year of a new redesign. It would **** me off to have bought a c400 and then a c450 rwd comes out with close pricing to a c400 4matic. I don't care for 4matic.

bwoodbmw

If I lived almost anywhere else other than southern california I'd probably want 4matic. Because I"m here I'd swap 4matic for a bit more power and maybe slightly improved handling any day.

mbrocker

I put money down to order a C400, but as soon as I found out that Carplay will not be included in the current version I canceled my order and told the dealer to revisit the situation in a few months. MB was tight lip about the release date of Carplay. Just recently I received a surprising email from the dealer that said my car was in and that the C400 has been discontinued.

"The car we ordered for you is in and I just found out the MBZ is no longer going to make the C400. They may be coming out with a C450 at some point.
Have a happy holiday."

So, the rumor is true that the C400 is discontinued, but it appears from the email that the dealership doesn't really know when the C450 is coming or ever.

HelenR

I'm shopping for a car and dealers as of this week said the C400 wasn't ever expected to be a hit after German test drives, and hasn't even met it's low expectations. It's small amount money more if you were getting the premium and sport package, just not nearly as well received by test drivers or buyers, and some of their allocations for them got changed by Mercedes to the better driving C300.

Side note, they showed me on his computer peoples custom orders, and most are LOADING these cars up. No allocation for C450, but it promises to be improved and a better AMG step in for people who can't pony up to C63. My hunch is it will be better driving, zippier, but still not super popular. The MB, though more polished in most ways, doesn't lure the HP number crunchers like BMW or Audi.

Glyn M Ruck

Number crunching takes an extremely shallow approach to evaluation & ownership. The V6 models will be very popular in most markets. If the US is not one of those well so be it.

I would personally not even look at an I4. In SA BMW can't hold a candle to Benz. BMW products in our market have questionable durability. Benz products sell at a premium over BMW. Audi simply lacks the brand strength even though they today build fine cars.

c4004matic

This is a circular and inane discussion. If they do replace the C400 with a slightly more powerful v6 its great. If you need a car now, the class leading present engine with its super car worthy acceleration will do just fine. If you dont need a car now you will also be happy the next version of it will have even have more ponies! Woohoo!

coladin

I have driven both C300 and C400 and not quite sure how the 300 is "better driving". It is average power which to me is not "better". Also not sure how your "dealer" speaks for all the markets in North America or anywhere else...

c4004matic

My point exactly. The 300 is fast but to get that performance takes driving in sport plus and wringing the motor out. The v6 offers the same performance without braking a sweat in comfort mode with a lot more power left over. That doesn't make the 4 any less desirable, but saying that the performance difference is negligible is patently false. Handling-wise, at least with the aromatic suspension, they are almost identical as far as I have experienced as of yet.

Mark's M

January 12th, industry and media days begin at Detroit. Getting excited but a little nervous, hoping the 450 lives up to the hype.

HelenR

It's because it's not just about more power. An 18 wheeler truck has even more power, right? It's about the harmony that makes it a Mercedes for myself. C400 drove front end heavy and drove more like a larger car than it is. Like it didn't want to move from a straight line as much as the C300 that feels smaller than it actually is. From reading a lot of reviews, my test drive sensations weren't out of nowhere. I'm thinking C450 will have to fix some of this.

My "Dealer" logged on the same computer system as any in America and gets allocations from Alabama's plant. She can pull up any allocations going to anywhere in the USA. I was told by her that dealers trade them and up to some date out they can be modified. Some options are not available for some allocations. Any dealers on the forum who know differently than I was told?

PS. Don't take my drive sensations like it is the end all be all. Pick your own car for your own money

PeteInGilroy

My dealer told me the same thing. I don't recall the exact time frame, but I was barely able to change my order to add Parktronic (I wanted the back-up beeping if I was about to hit something). In fact the factory had to call Germany to get my order modified.


Why orders can't be modified past a certain date is puzzling. But I kind of picture thousands of pallets, with each pallet shrink wrapped with all the parts to make a specific car. I've heard they build the car in 4 hours.

coladin

Of course, to each their own. For me, the C300 is just not adequate as far as power and it kinda ends there. I don't find harmony in a 4 cylinder Benz but can appreciate why others do. People are looking for different things in vehicles. Everyone will pick what is right for them just as my C400 may not be right for many people...and I am okay with that.


I don't think 30 bhp in the C450 will change the sensations much, I think it will boil down to more aggressive tuning, damping, steering that may make the car more lively. I debated waiting for a C450 but at the end of the day, I was not really interested in a sportier driving Benz, I have had my fill over the last 5 years and I needed a break!

Mark's M

Actually Helen your driving experience was echoed by almost ALL of the car mags globally. Lighter front end in the 300 = more responsive turn in. Personally though I liked my test experience in the C400 more. Much more. Most of that to do with the power/feel as Coladin alludes to (I think) below. And I honestly believe that if the C450 wasn't coming anytime soon, the C400 that I drove back in November would have been in my driveway today.

And I'll gladly take that sportier experience thank you very much! Know exactly what you mean - when I gave up the M3 a couple of years back - but I went to the other extreme when I bought the C350. Rock solid but handles somewhat like a rock when it's pushed so I'm looking to change that with the next car.

Dabo

The Detroit Auto Show is only a few days away. Does anyone know when the formal announcements typically happen? The show and all the related festivities are something like 14 days long. I doubt they'll do the C450 announcement on the first day, but I'd hate to wait too long, I'm getting impatient.

dreamerak

Typically, the automotive press already has the info weeks before the debut, but are under an embargo till an official announcement is made, then they will all rush to be first to the electronic media. I think first day is very possible.