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Stuttgart -- Just a few months after the global market debut of the
saloon, Mercedes-Benz is now unveiling the estate version of the new C-Class.
The estate takes the trademark strengths of the saloon, such as safety, agility
and comfort, and combines them with a significant increase in spaciousness and
versatility. Quite apart from being able to hold a maximum of 1500 Litres,
giving it a larger load capacity than any other premium-class es-tate in this
market segment, the new C-Class Estate also offers a host of handy features for
easy loading and safe transportation, including a tailgate which opens and
closes automatically at the push of a button. Com-pared to the outgoing model,
the new Mercedes estate burns as much as twelve per cent less fuel. Just like
the saloon, the estate version of the new C-Class has also been awarded an
Environmental Certificate, which attests to the environmentally oriented
development process as conforming with the international ISO standard. In terms
of safety, the new estate blazes a trail with innovations of the likes of
PRE-SAFE® and distinguishes itself as the safest car in this vehicle class.
The new estate adopts the C-Class Saloon's customer-focussed concept for the
design and equipment lines. There is a choice of three model lines - CLAS-SIC,
ELEGANCE and AVANTGARDE - which highlight the vehicle's comfort or agility to
differing degrees.
The AVANTGARDE line features a large Mercedes star positioned in the
centre of the radiator grille that emphasises its sporty, agile nature. This
traditional distinctive mark of sporty models from Mercedes is now be-ing
employed in an estate model for the first time by the Stuttgart-based car maker.
In the ELEGANCE model, a three-dimensional, louvered radiator grille
with a high-gloss paint finish accentuates other brand-typical attributes such
as comfort and luxury.
The CLASSIC model, meanwhile, is deliberately more restrained and
traditional.
New benchmark figure: maximum load capacity of 1500 litres
During the concept phase for the new estate, the designers and engineers at
Mercedes took the expectations of the brand's customers as their yardstick.
Consequently, spaciousness, versatility and functionality were given top
priority. Compared to its predecessor, the rear of the new estate is slanted far
more steeply, a crucial factor for enlarging the vehicle's load vol-ume.
This now varies between 485 and 1500 litres (VDA measuring method),
depending on the position of the 1/3 : 2/3 split-folding rear seat -- more than
any of the model's rivals in this class of premium es-tate car are able to
offer. Measured against the outgoing C-Class Estate, load capacity has been
increased by as much as 146 litres.
This makes the estate a thoroughly practical vehicle in every respect. It is
able to accommodate, for example, four golf bags including trol-leys,
nine large packing cases or a total of 44 drinks crates each containing
six 1-litre juice bottles. The largest possible cuboid that fits into the
load compartment now has a volume of 827 litres - that is an increase of 66
litres compared to the previous model and between 50 and 100 litres more than
other premium estate models in this class are able to handle.
The maximum utilisable interior length is a whole 2.82 metres, as
measured between the tailgate and the front passenger footwell – 17 centi-metres
more than in the previous model estate.
Convenient loading: EASY-PACK tailgate and load-securing kit
Thanks to a host of practical details, the new Mercedes estate can be loa-ded
more easily, more conveniently and more safely. For instance, two bag hooks and four rings for anchoring loads are included in the load compartment as
standard.
Stowage compartments with net covers and a collapsible shopping
crate can likewise be found in all models, as can the combined luggage
cover and retaining net. The new EASY-PACK tailgate opens and closes
as the push of a button, representing a first in this segment. Finally, the
optional EASY-PACK load-securing kit presents drivers with even more
possibilities for both partitioning the load compartment -- that measures around
1.80 metres long and up to 1.20 metres wide -- and for securing the load being
carried.
The new C-Class Estate also makes a perfectly good towing vehicle and,
indeed, offers a class-beating towing capacity of as much as 1800
kilograms (Australian towing specifications are yet to be announced). The
self-levelling suspension that is optionally available keeps the vehicle
at a constant ride height regardless of the load it is carrying.
Accredited environmental protection: a twelve per cent cut in fuel
consumption
Environmental considerations played a key role in the development of the
Mercedes-Benz C-Class from the very start. This is corroborated by the
Environmental Certificate that was awarded by the TÜV Techni-cal
Inspection Authority in Germany. Mercedes-Benz is the only automotive brand in
the world to have obtained a certificate under the terms of ISO standard 14062
for environmentally acceptable product development.
With brand new or redeveloped engines under the bonnet offering greater power
and torque, the C-Class Estate consumes up to twelve per cent less fuel
than previously. The four-cylinder power units were the focus of the development
work: in the case of the C 180 KOMPRESSOR and C 200 KOMPRESSOR petrol models Mercedes-Benz modified the engine management and fitted a more
dynamic supercharger and improved pistons to boost output by 10 kW and 15
kW respectively. At the same time, the fuel consumption fig-ures for the two
models could be cut by as much as 10.3 per cent to 7.7 and 7.8 litres/100
kilometres.
Mercedes-Benz also gave the four-cylinder diesel engines a thorough over-haul
too, making improvements not only to the injection system, the turbo-charger and
the intercooler but to more than 90 other components too. The upshot is engines
delivering more power and higher torque, combined with fuel consumption that is
around twelve per cent lower. The new C 220 CDI now has an output of 125
kW (previously: 110 kW) and musters up 400 Newton metres of peak torque
(previously: 340 Newton metres) from 2000 rpm. Fuel consumption on the NEDC
driving cycle comes in at just 6.1 litres for every 100 kilome-tres (previously:
6.9 l/100 km).
In the new C 200 CDI, power has been upped by eleven per cent (100 kW
instead of 90 kW before) and fuel consumption is 6.0 litres/100 kilometres
(previously 6.8 l/100 km).As for the six-cylinder engine range, there is a
choice of three petrol units developing 150 kW, 170 kW and 200 kW, as well as
the new C 320 CDI with an output of 165 kW. With the ex-ception of the C 350,
all engine variants are coupled to a six-speed manual transmission. The C
350 is partnered by the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission.
Sporty agility: shock absorbers that change with the driving situa-tion
The unique blend of agility and comfort that forms one of the exceptional
strengths of the new C-Class is basically down to the standard-fit AGIL-ITY
CONTROL package. This features shock absorbers which automatically adapt to
the current driving situation for a noticeable improvement in ride comfort when
driving normally. As soon as a more dynamic driving style is adopted, on the
other hand, the maximum damping forces are set to stabilise the estate
effectively.
A steering system that is six per cent more direct and a short-throw
six-speed manual transmission also form part of the AGIL-ITY CONTROL
package.
The dynamic handling package that is available as an option be-stows
the new C-Class Estate with a degree of agility worthy of out-and-out sports
cars. The driver is able to choose from two drive modes which determine the
fun-damental suspension characteristic: Comfort and Sport.
Within these modes, the shock absorbers at each wheel are regulated by means
of an infinitely variable electronic control. What's more, the body is lowered
by 15 millimetres and the suspension equipped with shorter springs and thicker
torsion bars. The dynamic handling package also encompasses the new
speed-sensitive power steering with a more direct ratio and variable
centring.
The body index devised by engineers at Mercedes clearly illus-trates
just how agile the new C-Class Estate is out on the road. This index is
calculated from the readings for various driving manoeuvres, thereby forming a
new composite formula for a vehicle's dynamic handling abilities. The larger the
body index, the better the suspension is linked to the body and the firmer the
suspension's tuning. The standard AGILITY CONTROL suspension gives the C-Class a
body index of 1.91 to 2.01 hertz, while the new model attains sports-car-like
values of up to 2.46 hertz with the dynamic handling package fitted.
Kitting out the new estate with the AMG sports package adds sports
suspension with shorter springs and firmer shock absorbers to the
specification, along with 17-inch light-alloy wheels. The body is also dropped
by 15 millimetres.
Hallmark Mercedes quality: the safest car in its class
The C-Class Estate has come through an exhaustive programme of testing,
during which it demonstrated its typical Mercedes-like levels of safety in over
100 crash tests in all. The occupant protection concept is underpinned by an
intelligently designed bodyshell, 70 percent of which consists of high-strength
and ultra-high-strength grades of steel. The front-end structure
comprises four impact levels which act independently of one an-other and enable
forces to be distributed over a wide area while bypassing the passenger cell.
The occupants are protected by a total of seven airbags as standard. The
driver, front passenger and the passengers on the outer rear seats also benefit
from belt tensioners and belt force limiters.
The NECK-PRO head restraints in the front have a crash-responsive
design, meaning that they move to cushion the heads of the driver and front
passenger at an early stage in a rear-end collision to guard against the risk of
whiplash. The integrated child seats, which fold out of the rear bench
seat have undergone further development and are now also fitted with a
wraparound head re-straint.
Standard features such as the flashing brake lights, Brake Assist and
Electronic Stability Program make vital contributions to accident
prevention. The ESP® system now incorporates additional functions: not only does
it monitor the tyre pressure it also helps to enhance safety when towing a
trailer with an automatic trailer stabilisation function.
The anticipatory occupant protection system PRE-SAFE®gives the new
estate the edge over other models in this segment. This safety system makes use
of the time before an imminent accident to prepare the vehicle and its
occu-pants for a collision. The result is a considerable reduction in the loads
ex-erted on the passengers upon impact.
The Intelligent Light System is another technical innovation bor-rowed
from the higher-end models in the Mercedes range and is the only system of its
kind in this market segment at the current time. The system's five different
lighting functions are each suited to various typical driving and weather
conditions.
Excellent comfort on long journeys: newly developed seats and air
conditioning system
Inside, the attractively styled dashboard, the high-class materials and
ap-pealing colour schemes create a homely atmosphere. For the first time, the
colour concept has been extended to the load compartment too. On CLASSIC
and ELEGANCE models, the customer's selected appointments colour is used for
both the carpeting and the side trim. On the AVANTGARDE line, the rear
compartment is carpeted in black too. Newly developed seats, which can be
specified with a multicontour function as an option, as well as a
powerful air con-ditioning system add to the estate's excellent comfort on long
journeys.
The new estate from Mercedes-Benz is the first model in this class to offer
the option of individually adjustable three-zone climate control. And the
expansive panoramic sliding sunroof can be found on the list of optional
extras for an estate car for the first time, too.
The colour display in the centre of the dashboard is linked up to the
controller on the tunnel console. This is where the driver can operate
the audio and navigation systems or the telephone. A clear menu control
structure makes it simple to access all of these functions and more besides.
Alternatively, there are the direct selection keys in the centre console:
the car radio, CD/ DVD player, navigation system or telephone can be switched on
at the push of a button. Subsequent operating steps are performed using the
controller in unison with the colour display in the dashboard.
State-of-the-art technology: voice-controlled infotainment devices
Mercedes-Benz developed three new infotainment units for the C-Class: Audio
20, Audio 50 APS and COMAND APS. They all feature a keypad for entering
telephone numbers and radio frequencies, as well as a Blue-tooth interface which allows mobile phones to be connected wirelessly to the hands-free
system.
The Audio 50 APS system also comprises DVD navigation using arrow
symbols for route guidance. With the COMAND APS multimedia system, the
navigation data is stored on a hard disc. A high-resolution map which can be
viewed from different perspectives appears on the tilting colour display. The
COMAND APS also comprises a DVD player, along with a music server for
storing up to 1000 tracks.
The LINGUATRONIC voice control system is automatically in-cluded on
C-Class Estate models equipped with the Audio 50 APS plus the six-disc DVD
changer or with the COMAND APS system. For the first time, the new improved
system is now able to recognise whole-word com-mands when entering a
destination, selecting a radio station or calling up a name from the telephone
directory. The driver no longer needs to spell out the names of countries, towns
or roads, for example, but is able to speak them as whole words instead.
The all-new C-Class estate will enjoy its public premiere at this month’s
In-ternational Motor Show in Frankfurt, Germany.
Australian models, specifications and pricing will be announced closer to its
time of release, scheduled to be in the second quarter of next year.
All authorised Mercedes-Benz passenger car dealers are currently accept-ing
customer orders for this exciting new addition to the award-winning C-Class
range.
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