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Stuttgart, Jan 18, 2007
Safety, comfort, agility: these are the outstanding attributes of the
new C-Class. The Saloon excels with a many-faceted product concept which
meets the expectations of various customer target groups. With the
AVANTGARDE, ELEGANCE and CLASSIC lines, Mercedes-Benz offers three
individual models whose emphasis is on either comfort or agility. All
model variants share the latest, state-of-the-art technology. This
includes the newly developed AGILITY CONTROL package with
situation-responsive shock absorber control, the Intelligent Light
System with five different lighting functions and the PRE-SAFE®
preventive occupant protection system. There is a choice of four and
six-cylinder engines with up to 13 percent more output than the
preceding model, accompanied by up an to six percent lower fuel
consumption.
With a length of 4581 millimetres, the Saloon is 55 millimetres longer
than its predecessor. The body width has increased by 42 mm to 1770
millimetres, and the wheelbase by 45 mm to 2760 millimetres. These
dimensions create the conditions for a generously sized interior, and
therefore more comfort. The front shoulder room has increased by 40
millimetres, for example.
The design of the new C-Class is based on the modern Mercedes idiom,
which reflects the technical superiority of automobiles bearing the star
with taut lines and large, tranquil surfaces. The pronounced wedge-shape
of the front end serves to emphasise attributes such as agility and
performance. For the first time in a Mercedes salon, the radiator grille
is used as a distinguishing feature to position the model variants more
clearly. Three extended, horizontal louvres and a big centrally
positioned Mercedes star characterise the AVANTGARDE model as a
traditional design feature of sporty Mercedes models. Together with the
sporty, high-quality appointments, this feature emphasises the youthful,
agile appearance of this C-Class. This sporty presence can be enhanced
even further with the AMG sports package, which includes striking front
and rear aprons plus side skirts.
In the ELEGANCE model Mercedes-Benz employs a three-dimensional, louvred
radiator grille with a high-gloss paint finish to accentuate other
brand-typical attributes such as comfort and luxury. The CLASSIC model
in the new C-Class is intentionally more restrained and traditional, but
offers the same technical innovations as the other two model variants.
This "product-in-product" concept enables Mercedes customers to
accentuate individual choices, and configure the C-Class to suit their
personal taste and lifestyle even more emphatically than before. All the
models offer the same, extraordinary driving experience that the Saloon
provides by virtue of further technical improvements. Both by its
outstanding long-distance comfort and its dynamic handling, the C-Class
sets new standards in this market segment.
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Shock absorbers automatically adapt to the driving situation
AGILITY CONTROL – this is the term used by Mercedes-Benz for all new and
further developments that improve both comfort and agility in equal
measure. This standard package includes the AGILITY CONTROL suspension,
which controls the shock absorber forces according to the driving
situation: when driving normally with low shock absorber impulses, the
damping forces are automatically reduced for a noticeable improvement in
ride comfort – but without any compromise in handling safety. When
driving more dynamically, the maximum damping forces are set and the car
is effectively stabilised. The AGILITY CONTROL steering of the new
C-Class has a ratio of 14.5, and is therefore six percent more direct
than the steering of the preceding model. The likewise included AGILITY
CONTROL gearshift reflects the sporty character of the C-Class with a
short travel and precise shifts.
Mercedes-Benz has also developed the ADVANCED AGILITY package with a
sporty driving mode, which will become optionally available from autumn
2007. This offers the driver a choice of two gearshift programmes: Sport
and Comfort. Within these programmes the shock absorber for each wheel
has infinitely variable electronic control. A newly developed
speed-sensitive steering with a more direct ratio, variable centring and
adaptation of the accelerator characteristics and automatic transmission
shift points is also included in the package.
ADAPTIVE BRAKE is another new development in the area of running gear
technology. This is based on the technology of the S-Class and provides
additional support functions for even more safety and comfort. Examples
include Start-Off Assist for uphill gradients, priming the braking
system in critical situations and light contact to dry the brake discs
in wet conditions.
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The latest Mercedes inventions ensure maximum safety
During the course of its development, the new C-Class successfully
passed more than 100 crash tests, including the particularly demanding,
in-house impact tests of which some go well beyond the legal
requirements. Passing these is a precondition for the highest accolade
in automobile safety: the Mercedes star. Occupant protection is based on
an intelligently designed bodyshell, 70 percent of which consists of
high-strength and ultra high-strength steel. Compared to the previous
series, Mercedes-Benz has enlarged the deformation zones even further
and improved energy flows. The front-end structure of the new C-Class
has four independently acting impact levels, which enable forces to be
distributed over a wide area while bypassing the passenger cell.
The safety technology in the interior has been complemented with the
very latest protection systems. Seven airbags are included as standard
equipment: two adaptive airbags for the driver and front passenger, a
kneebag for the driver, two sidebags in the front seat backrests and two
large windowbags which extend from the A to the C-pillar during a side
impact. The driver, front passenger and the passengers on the outer rear
seats also benefit from belt tensioners and belt force limiters as
standard. The standard head restraints operate on the NECK PRO
principle: during a rear-end collision the padded surfaces are pushed
forward within milliseconds to support the heads of the driver and front
passenger at an early stage. This significantly reduces the risk of a
whiplash injury.
Mercedes-Benz has developed flashing brake lights as a major help in
reducing rear-end collisions, and these are also standard equipment in
the new C-Class. If the driver needs to brake hard at speeds in excess
of 50 km/h, the brake lights flash rapidly to warn drivers following
behind.
PRE-SAFE® is another special feature of the new Mercedes Saloon. This
preventive occupant protection system (optional) is linked to active
safety systems such as ESP® and Brake Assist, and is able to recognise
critical driving manoeuvres at a very early stage. If the C-Class is in
danger of crashing as a result of heavy under or oversteering, or if the
driver needs to brake very heavily in a dangerous situation, PRE-SAFE®
activates certain systems as a precaution to prepare the vehicle and its
occupants for an impending accident. Accordingly the passive safety
phase does not begin when the impact has already occurred, but before an
impending collision.
The Intelligent Light System developed by Mercedes-Benz is also
available in this vehicle class for the first time. Powerful bi-xenon
headlamps provide five different lighting functions suited to typical
driving and weather conditions: country mode, motorway mode, enhanced
foglamps, the Active Light System and cornering lights. Yet another
important contribution by Mercedes-Benz to safer driving in poor
visibility. |
Interior design "cast from a single mould"
When developing the cockpit, Mercedes designers took their lead from the
sporty sector and included clearly laid-out dial instruments such as may
be found in roadsters or coupés. Silver-coloured bezels, black dial
faces, white markings and glowing orange needles perfectly combine form
with function for a high value impression and easy legibility.
Equally clearly laid out and well-arranged, the two-tone dashboard and
centre console of the new C-Class form a harmonious unit in line with
the "design cast from a single mould" principle. The same applies to the
integration of the colour display at the upper centre of the dashboard.
This is perfectly positioned within the driver’s line of vision, but can
also be covered or folded away as required, without switching off the
radio, navigation system or other units linked to the display. If the
pivoting cover of the display aperture is closed, the infotainment units
continue to operate. |
New control concept for clarity and comfort
The central colour display is part of the new control and display
concept which the new C-Class has adopted from the luxury-class Mercedes
models. Its major advantage is rapid access to frequently used
functions, which means that the driver does not need to relearn, is able
to maintain familiar habits and feels at home immediately. All the
control and display elements necessary and important during a journey
are located in the cockpit, i.e. in immediate proximity to the driver.
In the same way, linking the standard multifunction steering wheel with
the instrument cluster is an important precondition for rapid access to
a wide range of information and functions in the driver’s direct line of
vision. Other functions such as infotainment are shown by the display at
the centre of the dashboard. The driver and front passenger are able to
control the radio, navigation system or telephone by using a controller
on the centre console, or access the main menus using direct selection
keys. |
COMAND provides voice operation, a music server and DVD navigation
The Audio 20, Audio 50 APS and COMAND APS systems are a range of newly
developed, optional infotainment units for C-Class passengers. They all
feature a keypad for entering telephone numbers and radio frequencies,
as well as a Bluetooth interface which wirelessly connects the mobile
phone to the hands-free system. In the Audio 50 APS, the route guidance
information – some of it as a visually attractive automatic junction
zoom display - is shown by means of arrows on the fixed colour display
(4.9-inch) in the dashboard. An integral 6-CD changer and the
LINGUATRONIC voice control system are available on request.
The multimedia system COMAND APS offers even more functions than before
in the new C-Class. One new feature is a Europe-wide navigation system
whose data are stored on a hard disc (30 gigabytes). The high-resolution
maps are shown on a colour display (7-inch) which pivots away and
disappears beneath a cover at the touch of a button. Other functions of
COMAND APS include a music server with a four-gigabyte memory, a
DVD-player for video and audio, and the LINGUATRONIC voice control
system, which Mercedes-Benz has likewise improved further: the driver no
longer needs to spell out the names of countries, towns or roads, but is
able to speak them as whole words. The voice control system is just as
convenient when selecting radio stations or entries in the telephone
directory. |
The C-Class is the bestseller in the Mercedes lineup
The new C-Class Salon replaces a model series of which more than 1.4
million units have been sold since spring 2000. All in all,
Mercedes-Benz has delivered more than two million of the Saloon, Estate
and Sports Coupé models in the previous C-Class to customers all over
the world. This makes the C-Class the bestseller in the Mercedes-Benz
passenger car range. Germany is the largest market for the C-Class,
accounting for around 30 percent of worldwide sales.
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