The new C will be 3.7 inches longer and more than an inch wider. Most of the extra space goes into the rear seat and trunk. Why? All the luxury makers have been adding more rear-seat room lately mainly to cater to the Chinese luxury market, where more luxury car owners have their own drivers.
Yet despite its larger size, the C-Class will be 220 pounds lighter than the outgoing one, with better aerodynamics and new, more fuel-efficient engines in a bid to save more fuel. It is expected to be 20% more fuel efficient.
The once smallest Mercedes in the lineup -- remember the "Baby Benz" tag? -- the C-Class now is sandwiched between the smallest CLA at the low end and popular E-Class above it. Now Mercedes is referring to it as a "midrange."
"Mercedes at its best - that's the new C-Class, which sets new standards for the midrange segment on many fronts," says Thomas Weber, Mercedes' research chief in Germany, in a statement. "It is characterised by an emotional yet clear designm which is continued in the high-quality and modern interior."
In the U.S., the C will come in two versions. One is the the C300 4MATIC, which will have a 2-liter turbocharged direct-injection in-line four -cylinder engine. It is expected to be rated at 235 horsepower. The other is the C400 4MATIC with a 3-liter, turbocharged, direct-injection V-6. It's good for 329 horsepower.
Inside, C-Class has a new head-up display to try to reduce driver distraction.
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