The successful Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the safest car in its category, is reasserting its role as the technological leader in this market segment with the intelligent four-wheel drive system 4MATIC, a new generation of four-cylinder engines and other high-tech innovations. These top-class technologies open up new dimensions in safety, handling dynamics, comfort and driving pleasure. Since series production of the C-Class commenced around two years ago, more than 760 000 drivers worldwide have decided in favour of this Mercedes model series.
From autumn 2002 Mercedes-Benz is offering the permanent four-wheel drive system 4MATIC, which has proved its worth in the E-Class for a number of years, in the C-Class for the first time. By interacting perfectly with the standard Electronic Stability Program ESP® and the electronic traction control 4ETS the system helps the driver to master critical situations safely and confidently. In unfavour-able weather conditions such as ice, snow or wetness, and also when moving off and accelerating on poor road surfaces, the new C-Class 4MATIC models achieve even better traction and more dynamic handling.
At the same time 4ETS guarantees characteristic Mercedes ride comfort, as the system operates without the conventional differential locks which tend to compromise comfort and handling in other four-wheel drive cars. Instead 4ETS applies brake pressure to spinning wheels as required while directing the drive torque to the wheels with good traction. This electronic traction control thereby achieves the effect of three differential locks. A single-stage transfer case distributes the drive torque from the engine to the front and rear axles on a 40 : 60 basis.
Mercedes-Benz offers the innovative 4MATIC drive technology for the Estate versions of the V6 variants C 240 and C 320. The 4MATIC models are equipped with a five-speed automatic transmission as standard.
Five-star safety: NCAP tests passed with flying colours
The results of current crash tests carried out in accordance with the European NCAP standard (New Car Assessment Programme) once again documents that the Mercedes-Benz C-Class provides the highest level of safety in its market segment. The Euro-NCAP organisation has therefore awarded the C-Class a five-star rating, the highest available in this test category. At present only two cars in the world have attained this exemplary result.
This confirms the value of the innovative safety concept behind the C-Class, which is in line with the latest Mercedes crash research findings and as such is tailored to providing the highest level of occupant protection geared to the realities of day-t-day- road traffic. The standard safety equipment of the C-Class includes adaptive airbags for driver and front passenger, which deploy in two stages according to the severity of the accident, side and windowbags, belt tensioners, belt force limiters, automatic child seat recognition and now also a further developed "fix seatbelt" warning. The front-end structure of this Mercedes Saloon is designed with real-life rather than just simulated accidents in mind and features a three-stage system which comes into play in accordance with the severity of the collision. This ensures that the C-Class offers the best possible occupant safety in the event of collisions at medium speeds, which are particularly common.
New four-cylinder engines: more output, more dynamism, lower fuel consumption
The newly developed four-cylinder petrol engines in the C-Class feature the unique TWINPULSE system, which combines different technologies such as a compressor supercharger, intercooler, dynamically variable valve timing, four-valves per cylinder, Lanchester balancer and an adaptive drive system. With a low fuel consumption the system offers a high level of driving enjoyment, the smooth-ness of a six-cylinder and therefore even more of the typical Mercedes long-distance comfort.
The range of outputs extends from 105 kW/143 hp for the new C 180 KOMPRESSOR to 141 kW/192 hp for the C 230 KOMPRESSOR, which Mercedes-Benz offers exclusively in the C-Class Sports Coupé. With 15 percent more torque the C 180 KOMPRESSOR (Saloon) betters the fuel consumption of its predecessor by one litre per 100 kilometres according to the NEDC. For the C 200 KOMPRESSOR (120 kW/163 hp) the fuel consumption advantage is 0.6 litres / 100 km versus the previous four-cylinder engine, and 0.7 litres/100 km for the C 230 KOMPRESSOR.
The performance of the new engine variants in the C-Class is equally exemplary, emphasising that the claim to dynamism is also justified in the case of the four-cylinder models: the C 180 KOMPRESSOR (Saloon) accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h in only 9.7 seconds and is therefore 1.3 seconds faster than its predecessor. The maximum speed is 223 km/h - 13 km/h more than before.
With annual unit sales of 130 000 four-cylinder models in the C-Class and an average annual mileage of 40 000 kilometres per vehicle, the start of series production for the new, economical TWINPULSE engines allows a calculated annual saving of more than 47.8 million litres of premium petrol in Europe alone.
Automatic proximity control: more comfort with DISTRONIC
The innovative proximity cruise control system DISTRONIC will also become avail-able in this vehicle class for the first time from autumn 2002. This system from the Mercedes-Benz CL, SL, S and E-Class detects a vehicle in front with the help of a radar sensor and uses the reflected signals to calculate the distance and the relative speeds of the two vehicles. If the gap between the C-Class and a preceding vehicle is reduced, DISTRONIC automatically closes the throttle or - if necessary - applies the brakes to maintain the set distance. Once the gap has in-creased again, the system accelerates the car to the previously set speed. The driver is able to call up a screen on the central display In the instrument cluster at any time which informs him about the nominal vs. actual distance from a vehicle travelling ahead. DISTRONIC is available as optional equipment for C-Class Saloon and Estate models.
Powerful bi-xenon headlamps: more safety at night
High-tech systems previously only available in the top models by Mercedes-Benz now also provide even greater safety and comfort in the C-Class: powerful bi-xenon headlamps for dipped and high beam have up to 180 percent more light output then conventional H7 bulbs and therefore make driving at night even safer. Mercedes-Benz offer this high-performance lighting technology as optional equipment for the C-Class Saloon, Estate and Sports Coupé models; the bi-xenon equipment package also includes dynamic range adjustment and a high-pressure headlamp cleaning system.
Clear lenses and special indicator lens optics further enhance the headlamp design of the models with bi-xenon technology and accentuate the technically progressive appearance of the C-Class.
Text and photos courtesy of DaimlerChrysler AG
