Thursday 23rd December 2010

Revamped C-Class Ready For Spring Launch

Tweaked styling, new engines and more for M-B best-seller

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A new C-Class will be launched in spring 2011 with a lightly reworked exterior, new dashboard and an overhauled engine line-up.

Efficiency is the watchword as ever these days, and M-B says consumption has been improved by up to 31 percent. All the engine variants are now classed as BlueEFFICIENCY units, which is their way of bragging about 'environmental compatibility'. Fortunately power is up across the board too, but we're keeping that to ourselves in case anybody finds out.

Between you and us then, we're particularly liking the new V6 petrol engine in the C 350. It delivers 306hp and 273lb ft (previously 292hp and 269lb ft), and tucked under the bonnet of a C-class wagon would make us quite happy bunnies if we had to hammer up and down the motorway selling Xerox machines in style - especially with the revised 7G-Tronic gearbox now standard for all auto models. M-B says the V6 will crack 62mph in 6secs and return 41.5mpg on the combined cycle, which to someone who's just handed the keys back to a BMW M6 sounds a bit like getting a Christmas bonus every day...

Inside the new C you get a new high-resolution colour display screen in the instrument cluster, and a new dashboard with up to 10 driving assistance systems ranging from the standard ATTENTION ASSIST drowsiness detection system to the optional DISTRONIC PLUS proximity control.

All in all, a total of more than 2,000 new components are included, but the most obvious changes are outside where a restyled bonnet is now in aluminium and the front bumper and headlamps have been fiddled with.

In M-B's words the C class is now 'dynamic, resolute and self-assured', which would be pretty impressive character traits in a person, let alone a car.

There are also some pretty good diesels by the sound of it, but we'll stick with the V6 petrol, thanks.

All C-Class petrol models at a glance

Model*	Cyl.	cc	hp at rpm	Nm from rpm	0-62 mph (s)	Top speed mph	MPG NEDC comb.	CO2 g/km
C 180 BE	4/in-line	1796	156 5000	250 1600	8.9 (9.0)	138 (140)	44.1 (42.2)	148-160 (157-169)
C 250 BE	4/in-line	1796	204 5500	310 2000	7.2	149	44.1	150-161
C 350 BE	V6	3498	306 6500	370 3500	6.0	155	41.5	159-164

All C-Class diesel models at a glance

Model*	Cyl.	cc	hp at rpm	Nm from rpm	0-62 mph (s)	Top speed mph	MPG NEDC comb.	CO2 g/km
C 200 CDI BE	4/in-line	2143	136 2800	360 1600	9,1 (9.2)	134 (135)	56.5 (58.9)	129-140 (125-139)
C 220 CDI BE	4/in-line	2143	170 3000	400 1400	8.1 (8.4)	143 (144)	58.9 (64.2)	125-136 (117-133)
C 250 CDI BE	4/in-line	2143	204 4200	500 1600	7.1	149	58.9 (55.4)	125-136 (125-140)

BE = BlueEFFICIENCY, * figures for automatic transmission, manual transmission in brackets

[Mudgey]

Those are some awesome fuel efficiency figures, especially considering the weight of the vehicle and the power output. Is there any point in buying the lowest powered diesel when its not any better on fuel and is lacking on power?

[kambites]

That V6 does look mightily impressive on paper. Whether it will be possible to get anywhere near the official consumption figures, remains to be seen...

[kambites]

noclue said:

Sorry guys but are you aware of a little thing called "Company Car Tax"??

Surely the tax wouldn't be that bad at 159-164g/km?

[Wills2]

I can't see a 306bhp petrol engine getting anywhere near that MPG figure, Still the Estate looks nice inside and out.

Edited by Wills2 on Thursday 23 December 12:05

[anonymous-user]

I'm glad the new one is 'self assured', the old one was so lacking in confidence they were often found in the corner of car parks weeping from their headlight washer jets.

[r11co]

One question - have they improved the shut-line between the bonnet and the wing? Every one I have ever passed/looked at has a gap between the bonnet and the wing big enough for you to stick your thumb in.

[noclue]

kambites said:

noclue said:

Sorry guys but are you aware of a little thing called "Company Car Tax"??

Surely the tax wouldn't be that bad at 159-164g/km?

Sorry, that's true, it isnt bad at all really, think my old 520d was 148 or something so for a V6 pertol thats prety damn impressive.

[nyxster]

I have one of the new BlueEfficiency C200 CDi's, our car was delayed from the factory and the dealer lent us a brand new C220 CDi as a stopgap. both cars are auto's.

With some very lightfooted driving on a run down from the north to sussex and back i managed 715 miles on a tank of diesel. When i got my C200 CDi i managed to get this to nearly 800 miles. Even the dealers were quite surprised as the car isn't run in yet.

There is a noticeable difference between the C200 and Cdi in terms of both consumption and power, the C220 definately felt perkier and in certain situations is more economical as you don't need to rev it quite as much, but the C200 still pips it to the post for outright economy is still quite perky and saves a bit on the car tax.

[GTEYE]

This is typical of modern diesels. My BMW 330d auto will easily do 600 miles on a tank and thats with heavyfooted driving too. Quite remarkable in these days of ever higher fuel prices and certainly compared to derv drivers of even 5 years ago.

nyxster said:

I have one of the new BlueEfficiency C200 CDi's, our car was delayed from the factory and the dealer lent us a brand new C220 CDi as a stopgap. both cars are auto's.

With some very lightfooted driving on a run down from the north to sussex and back i managed 715 miles on a tank of diesel. When i got my C200 CDi i managed to get this to nearly 800 miles. Even the dealers were quite surprised as the car isn't run in yet.

There is a noticeable difference between the C200 and Cdi in terms of both consumption and power, the C220 definately felt perkier and in certain situations is more economical as you don't need to rev it quite as much, but the C200 still pips it to the post for outright economy is still quite perky and saves a bit on the car tax.

[Oddball RS]

Interior is much better, not convinced that the outside is better tbh?

[leon9191]

I will have a black estate C 250 CDI please. Lovely car.

[David87]

Looks better than before, but as this is PH: what about the C63?

[Wills2]

David87 said:

Looks better than before, but as this is PH: what about the C63?

I wonder if it will get the twin turbo lump from the new CLS63, now that would be a monster.

[baz1985]

There's nothing there to compete with the 109g/km E90 320d ED.

[va1o]

Looks good to me, an improvement all round. Exterior looks fresh and the interior is leaps and bounds better than the below-par one of the pre-facelift model.

[va1o]

Mudgey said:

Is there any point in buying the lowest powered diesel when its not any better on fuel and is lacking on power?

None whatsoever, especially since the C180 petrol will be faster and cheaper than the C200 diesel.

Its the same story with the BMW 3-series, the 316d is more expensive and slower than the 318i, and its less economical than the more powerful 320d ED.

[va1o]

baz1985 said:

There's nothing there to compete with the 109g/km E90 320d ED.

Well the C220 CDI BeF stop/start is within spitting distance of that figure with 117g/ km, and its more powerful than the BMW.

[kambites]

va1o said:

baz1985 said:

There's nothing there to compete with the 109g/km E90 320d ED.

Well the C220 CDI BeF stop/start is within spitting distance of that figure with 117g/ km, and its more powerful than the BMW.

Indeed, and the 350 looks damned impressive next to the 335i's engine.

[va1o]

kambites said:

va1o said:

baz1985 said:

There's nothing there to compete with the 109g/km E90 320d ED.

Well the C220 CDI BeF stop/start is within spitting distance of that figure with 117g/ km, and its more powerful than the BMW.

Indeed, and the 350 looks damned impressive next to the 335i's engine.

... and the C250 CDI beats all the 325d figures

Edited by va1o on Thursday 23 December 14:04

[baz1985]

va1o said:

baz1985 said:

There's nothing there to compete with the 109g/km E90 320d ED.

Well the C220 CDI BeF stop/start is within spitting distance of that figure with 117g/ km, and its more powerful than the BMW.

Any vehicle with <110g/km can be written down in full in year one- that's a major difference for a business/self-employed 40/50% taxpayer purchaser.