This week the very first Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupes are hitting the road. Complete with bold AMG styling and a standard panorama sunroof, the new two-door coupe marks the first time Mercedes-Benz has offered a traditional coupe in this market segment. Also arriving is the popular four-door C-Class sedan which has undergone a major restyling involving 2,000 new parts, including new bumpers, headlights, front grille, an aluminum hood, LED taillights and a redesigned interior that incorporates color gauges, a new 5.8-inch display and new-generation telematics.
In addition, there are 13 new standard equipment features on the 2012 C-Class sedan and coupe line, as well as five new safety systems. Standard-equipment Attention Assist warns drivers when they get drowsy, and a new HOLD feature for the Adaptive Brake system allows the driver to remove their foot from the brake pedal at a stop. Optional Blind Spot Assist provides a warning whenever a turn signal is activated with a car in a blind spot, while Lane Keeping Assist alerts drivers if the car drifts from its lane without the turn signals on. PARKTRONIC now incorporates a parking guidance system that can identify right-size parking spaces and provide helpful steering guidance in the instrument cluster.
Both the C-Class coupe and sedan are available in three different versions: the C250, powered by a new direct-injection, turbocharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine (201 horsepower, 229 lb.-ft. of torque); the C350 Sport, with a new direct-injection 3.5-liter V6 (302 hp, 273 lb.-ft.); and the high-performance C63 AMG with a normally aspirated 6.3-liter V8 (451 hp, 443 lb.- ft.) and AMG's MCT multi-clutch transmission. With an optional AMG Development Package, the C63 AMG jumps to 481 hp.
In addition, the C-Class sedan is available as a C300, with standard 4MATIC all-wheel drive and the familiar 3.0-liter V6 engine (228 hp, 221 lb.-ft.). The C250 and C300 sedans are available in a choice of Luxury or Sport trim. Sport models feature staggered-width, fivespoke 17-inch wheels; sport shocks; springs and stabilizer bars that provide a crisper ride and more than a half-inch lower ride height; and standard AMG styling, including deeper front and rear aprons as well as sculpted rocker panels. Inside, Sport models are equipped with a three-spoke steering wheel and metallic trim, while Luxury models come with a fourspoke steering wheel and burl walnut trim. In addition to the standard body styling, Luxury models have equal-width tires, front and rear.
Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association
