The German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz India on Tuesday launched the W206 model generation C-Class.
Available in three trim levels, the new sedan is priced at INR 55 lakh, ex-showroom, India, for the entry-level C200, while the diesel variant, C220d, starts at INR 56 lakh, moving up to INR 61 lakh for the top of the line C300d variant.
Under the hood in the C200 guise is the 1.5-litre direct-injection turbo petrol delivering 204hp and 300Nm of torque. While the diesel mill in the car is a 2.0L unit in C200d, churns out 200hp and 440Nm of torque, and the C300d delivers 265hp and 550Nm of torque.
All the engine options are mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission and a 48V mild hybrid system. The hybrid system allows the new sedan to generate an electric boost of 20hp or 200Nm of torque via an e-motor.
Furthermore, the hybrid system has also allowed the new C-Class to attain an ARAI test fuel efficiency of 16.9kpl for the petrol model, while the C220d and the C300d come with efficiency figures of 23kpl and 20.37kpl, respectively.
The new C-Class looks identical to the W223 S-Class, only a bit shrunk down. However, the new sedan has grown 25mm in wheelbase compared to its predecessor.
Cosmetically, it features sleeker LED headlamps with integrated LED DRLs, a set of new split LED taillights, along with new 18-inch alloy wheels.
The car is now available in six colour options, including Selenite Grey, Mojave Silver, High-tech Silver, Manufaktur Opalite White, Cavansite Blue, and Obsidian Black.
Moving on to the tech inside, Martin Schwenk, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said that the company believes high-tech as the key differentiator in the luxury vehicles.
The W206 model series has been dubbed as the baby S-Class, not only because of how it looks on the outside but also on the inside.
The car comes with an 11.9-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen infotainment system with the latest generation of the MBUX 7 software, just like the new S-Class. With the new software, the car also features biometric login for driver settings and voice assistant, which has been updated to use simple functions like attending a call without uttering ‘Hey Mercedes’.
In addition, the car also gets a 12.3-inch fully-digital instrument cluster, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless charging, a flat-bottom steering wheel with Nappa leather, dual-pane panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, memory functions for front seats and sunblinds for rear seats among others.
On the safety side, it comes with seven airbags, ABS, EBD, Active Brake Assist, Active Parking Assist, TPMS and a 360-degree camera as standard.
It also comes with the Car to X technology which allows the vehicle to communicate with other vehicles from the brand and transfer data regarding impending dangers in the road ahead.
Schwenk believes that sedans as a body are here to stay for a long time. He said, “In the world of SUVs, our sedans are continuing to make the mark. The success of the A-Class, the C-Class, the E-Class and the S-Class proves that luxury sedans are here to stay.”