MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS

The 'Mercedes-Benz C-Class' is a luxury compact car produced by the German division of DaimlerChrysler, Mercedes-Benz. First introduced in 1993 as a replacement for the 190 range, the C-Class was the most affordable model in the marque's lineup, until the 1997 arrival of the A-Class. The C-Class is built at Mercedes-Benz factories in Sindelfingen and Bremen, Germany, as well as in DaimlerChrysler's South African factory in East London. The very first W202 C-Class sedan was produced on June 1, 1993, and the second generation W203 C-Class rolled off the assembly line on July 18, 2000. The third generation W204 C-Class was launched in 2007.

Contents

W202 (1993–2000)

W203 (2000–current)

W204 (2007–Present)

References

External links

W202 (1993–2000)

The first generation W202 C-Class was introduced in 1993, as a replacement for the Mercedes-Benz W201 (190), and proved immensely popular, quickly becoming Mercedes-Benz's best-selling class of vehicles worldwide. Much of its popularity was accredited to the lower pricing point, when compared to other Mercedes-Benz models. The C-Class sedan was the company's entry-level model up until 1997, when Mercedes launched the A-Class supermini. Styling themes were carried over from the previous W201 series, but the new series had a smoother and rounder design than the previous generation of compact Mercedes.
On its debut, the C-Class was the only Mercedes model with a complete lineup of multivalve engines. The new family of four cylinder petrol and diesel units debuted in the C-Class before extending to the E-Class and the LCV. These ranged from 1.8 L to 2.2 L, with power beginning at 122 PS (90 kW/121 hp). The C 220 D had 95 PS (70 kW/94 hp), a value that was outstanding at the time, achieving over 40 hp/L without recourse to turbocharging. The top of the range was the C 280, with a six cylinder engine, capable of reaching 193 PS (142 kW/190 hp).
In 1994 and 1995, Mercedes introduced a few novelties in the engine range. The first was a supercharged petrol version, the C 230 Kompressor, using a Roots-type supercharger to generate 193 PS (142 kW/190 hp) at 5300 rpm. A new 250 D Turbo was also introduced, with a 20-valve five cylinder engine capable of reaching 150 PS (110 kW/148 hp).
But the most important addition was the first genuine performance C-Class, the C 36 AMG, to counter the new six-cylinder BMW M3. Developed with AMG, the tuning house that had now become a subsidiary of Daimler-Benz, it had a racing-tuned suspension (lowered by 25 mm (1 in)) and in the USA, from 1994-1995 a four-speed automatic gearbox followed by a standard five-speed automatic gearbox with Tiptronic function in 1996. The 3.6 L engine had a maximum output of 280 PS (206 kW/276 hp) at 5750 rpm and 385 Nm (284 ft•lb) at 4000 rpm. Top speed was electronically limited to 250 km/h (155 mph). A total of 5200 C 36 AMGs were produced.
In 1997, the C-Class was given a small midlife freshening, with new darker rear lights and new wheel rims as well as subtle interior trim changes, especially the door mouldings. Front and rear bumpers also changed in shape for a more modern, even sporty, look. For the first time, the C-Class also received a station wagon, named the T-Modell. The C 220 was transformed into the C 230, with displacement increasing to 2.3 L, retaining the same power, but with torque increased to 220 Nm (162 ft•lbf). In addition, brand new five speed automatic gearboxes were now optional in the whole range.
In 1998, a few other updates made it to the lineup. The European C-Class models received a less powerful C 200 Kompressor model, as well as a V6 engine for the first time, ranging from 2.4 L to 2.8 L. These replaced the DOHC 4-valve heads with new SOHC heads with only three valves per cylinder and twin sparkplugs, theoretically reducing emissions and fuel consumption without sacrificing power (the C 280 in fact had a slight 4 PS increase with the change). AMG developed a new range-topper for the C-Class, the C 43 AMG, powered by a smoother 4.3 L V8, which could now achieve 306 PS (225 kW/302 hp) at 5850 rpm, with a torque of 410 Nm (302 ft•lbf) at 3250 rpm. It was also available as a station wagon. 4200 AMG units were produced, with only 25 C 43 vehicles of the 2000 model year imported to the US. This vehicle bears four gear assembly each side by side to impart better fuel efficiency & performance.

Engine	Cyl.	Power (PS)
1.8 16V	S4	122
2.0 16V	S4	136
2.2 16V	S4	150
2.3 16V	S4	150
2.4 18V	V6	170
2.3 16V K	S4	193
2.8 24V	S6	193
2.8 18V	V6	197
3.6 24V AMG	S6	280
4.3 24V AMG	V8	306
2.0 8V D	S4	75
2.2 16V D	S4	95
2.2 16V CDI	S4	102
2.5 20V D	S5	113
2.2 16V CDI	S4	125
2.5 20V TD	S5	150

W203 (2000–current)

The second generation C-Class was introduced in 2000, with an even sportier look than the previous generations, with a steeper front-end and shorter rear-end. The sedan debuted with a range of straight-four and V6 gasoline engines and straight-four and straight-five Diesels. The V6s were versions of the previous model with increased displacement, to 2.6 L and 3.2 L, this one with 218 PS (160 kW/215 hp). The diesels now featured common rail direct injection and variable geometry turbochargers. Six-speed manual gearboxes were now standard for nearly the entire range (except the C320 and C 270 CDI). For the first time, the number designations were no longer equivalent to the engine displacement, more specifically in the C 180 (2.0 L), C 240 (2.6 L) and C 200 CDI (2.2 L).
In 2001, Mercedes increased the range, with the introduction of the new T-Modell (station wagon) and Sportcoupé bodyworks. The Sportcoupé was actually a three-door liftback made to counter the BMW Compact, but like its competitor, it proved unpopular with the younger buyers it was targeted towards, due to high prices compared to the lower entry-level models it was competing against, and unfavorable exchange rates. Although removed from the North American lineup in 2005, it continues on sale in other markets. In Canada, it was replaced by the Mercedes-Benz B-Class. A new family of supercharged four cylinder engines, dubbed M271, also debuted. All of them used the same 1.8 L engine, with different designations according to horsepower levels, including a version powered by natural gas. The 193 PS(142 kW/190 hp) C 230K was initially available only in the Sportcoupé. 4MATIC four wheel drive versions were also offered for the C 240 and C 320.
After the success of the AMG models in the previous generation, Mercedes-Benz attempted to increase sales by introducing two different AMG versions in the new model, also in 2001. The C 32 AMG scaled back down to a 3.2 L V6 engine, to match the E46 M3 displacement and improve weight distribution, but it required a twin-screw type supercharger (manufactured by IHI) to reach 354 PS (260 kW/349 hp) at 6100 rpm and 450 Nm (332 ft•lbf) at 4400 rpm. Like its predecessors, it used a five-speed automatic. The second version was C 30 CDI AMG, using a 3.0 L five-cylinder engine, capable of 231 PS(170 kW/228 hp) at 3800 rpm and 540 Nm (398 ft•lbf) at 2000 rpm. Both were available in all three body styles, but the diesel model did not reach sales expectations and was retired in 2004, as well as the C 32 AMG Sportcoupé.
The C-Class was refreshed in early 2004. In this year, the interior styling was changed in all three body styles. Different taillights were added to the Sportcoupé and several all-new M272 and OM642 V6 engines were introduced later in the year. These were available in both petrol and diesel configuration, ranging between 2.5 L and 3.5 L, and the three-valve twin spark design was replaced by the more standard four-valve design, now with variable valve timing. The C 350 could now reach 272 PS (200 kW/268 hp), while the C 320 CDI was good for 224 PS (165 kW/221 hp). In addition, these engines also received the new seven-speed 7G-TRONIC semi-automatic gearbox as optional, the diesel four cylinder's power was slightly increased, and a more economical naturally-aspirated 1.8 L (C 160) was added to the Sportcoupé lineup.

The C 32 AMG was also replaced, giving way to a new 5.5 L naturally-aspirated V8-powered C 55 AMG. This was an evolution of the V8 engine found in the previous E-Class, with power raised to 367 PS (270 kW/362 hp) at 5750 rpm and torque climbing to 510 Nm (376 ft•lbf) at 4000 rpm. Unlike the less-powerful V6s and V8s in the rest of the Mercedes-Benz lineup, it continues to use Speedshift five-speed automatic. Maximum speed is still limited to 250 km/h (155 mph), but the car can now reach 100 km/h (62 mph) in a claimed 4.8 seconds.
The C-Class is arguably one of the most popular automobiles in its class in many of the European markets. The second generation was for a long time after its release the second most popular new car in the German market, right after the Volkswagen Golf, and in 2002 it achieved success in the field of safety by scoring the maximum five stars in a EuroNCAP crash test. In the United States, the C-Class automobiles are the least expensive of the Mercedes-Benz lineup.
The last W203 C-Class sedan was produced on December 14, 2006 at the Sindelfingen plant, after almost 630,000 units of the sedan were produced.
However, the W203 Sportcoupé will continue to be produced beyond this date, since Mercedes-Benz does not foresee producing a W204 Sportcoupé. Indeed, it has decided to offer an updated W203 Sportcoupé with a new restyled front end inspired by the W204 sedan [1] and an improved engine range parallel to the one of the W204.

Version	Engine	Cyl.	Power (PS)
C 160	1.8 16V	S4	122
C 180	2.0 16V 1.8 16V K	S4	129 143
C 200	2.0 16V K 1.8 16V K	S4	163 163
C 230	1.8 16V K 2.5 24V	S4 V6	192 204
C 240	2.6 18V	V6	170
C 280	3.0 24V	V6	231
C 320	3.2 18V	V6	218
C 350	3.5 24V	V6	272
C 32 AMG	3.2 18V SC	V6	354
C 55 AMG	5.5 24V	V8	367
C 200 CDI	2.2 16V CDI	S4	115 122
C 220 CDI	2.2 16V CDI	S4	143 150
C 270 CDI	2.7 20V CDI	S5	170
C 320 CDI	3.0 24V CDI	V6	224 231

W204 (2007–Present)

DaimlerChrysler introduced a new generation of the C-Class on January 18, 2007 [2] and displayed it in the 2007 Geneva Auto Show. Sales started on March 31, 2007 in almost all European countries. The new vehicle has an extended wheelbase and tracks, a stiffer bodyshell and a design inspired by the most recent S-Class and some hints from the CLS-Class. The model has three levels of equipment - Classic, Elegance and Avantgarde. A high performance AMG version with a 6.2 L engine is projected to follow in September 2007, labelled C 63 AMG with 457 PS (335 kW). The Classic and Elegance lines retain the traditional Mercedes-Benz radiator grill, with a three-point star bonnet emblem. The Avantgarde line has a grill similar to that on Mercedes' sport coupe models, with two horizontal bars and a large centre-mounted star. In the UK the Classic line is known as the SE and the Avantgarde line is known as the C-Class Sport [3], and comes with an AMG bodykit, and AMG alloy wheels as standard.
Mercedes plans on redesigning the entire C-Class lineup with saloon and estate versions - while the Sportcoupé will remain based on the W203 chassis - coming out throughout 2007 and 2008. There will be an increase of component-sharing with other Mercedes' models, namely the redesigned E- and S-Class, as well as the upcoming GLK-Class compact SUV.
Versions of the car will be available with a choice of rear- and all-wheel drive (in the latter case an improved version of the 4MATIC system, not available in right-hand drive format), along with a variety of four- and six-cylinder engines. Engines will most likely be the straight-4 M271 and V6 M272 petrol engines and straight-4 OM611 + OM651 and V6 OM642 Diesel engines. Six speed manual transmissions is standard on all models (except C 350), with the 7G-TRONIC seven-gear automatic transmission available for six-cylinder engines (7G-TRONIC is available for C 230K, C 280 and C 320 CDI and standard for C 350) and a five speed automatic transmission available for the four cylinder models.
The development of the W204 C-Class included the use of a "digital prototype", which put a 2.1 terabyte digital replica of the car through an exhaustive 15 million mile road course. This is an industry first, and allowed for crash testing and more, before a physical prototype was actually constructed.

Version	Engine	Cyl.	Power (PS)
C 180	1.8 16V K	S4	156
C 200	1.8 16V K	S4	184
C 230	2.5 24V	V6	204
C 280	3.0 24V	V6	231
C 350	3.5 24V	V6	272
C 63 AMG	6.2 32V	V8	457
C 200 CDI	2.2 16V CDI	S4	136
C 220 CDI	2.2 16V CDI	S4	170
C 320 CDI	3.0 24V CDI	V6	224

References

★ Mercedes and AMG - Performance Partners, March 1998

★ Mercedes unveils the new C-class, January 2007

★ New 2007 Mercedes Benz C Class

External links

★ Official 2008 C Class site

★ Official C Class page (USA)

★ Official C Class Page (Canada)

★ W204 C-Class press release, text, photographs