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The new Mercedes C-Class has been leaked ahead of its scheduled debut. The German brand’s fifth-generation compact executive saloon was set to be launched tomorrow – but these official press images have unintentionally gone public, revealing the car’s styling in full.
Mercedes hasn’t drastically changed the C-Class’s styling over the outgoing model. The new car retains the same rough shape, albeit with a few tweaks based around the company’s latest design language. So, there’s a narrower radiator grille, fresh LED headlamps and a new front bumper and tail lights inspired by the E-Class.
Mercedes’s changes to the C-Class’s cabin are far more extensive. There’s a fresh dashboard with a new digital instrument cluster and an enormous portrait infotainment system, which is similar to the unit found in the new S-Class. The steering wheel is another E-Class-sourced addition and it also looks like Mercedes has moved the car’s climate controls onto the touchscreen.
Despite Mercedes’s new-found focus on its electrification strategy, the C-Class (and its combustion engines) remains an important car for the company. The outgoing model accounted for 20 percent of the brand’s global sales – so it’s vital that this new model plays to the same strengths as the old car to retain its customer base.
The Mk5 saloon will be built on an updated version of the old car’s rear-wheel-drive MRA platform. Upgrades include a slightly longer wheelbase and fresh electrical architecture that will support a new, entirely electrified powertrain line-up – be it four or six-cylinder and petrol or diesel.
Mercedes introduced 48-volt technology to the C-Class on the outgoing model. Beneath the skin of the current C 200, there’s a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, a belt-driven starter-generator and a dinky battery pack. The ISG allows the engine to switch off on the motorway for fuel-free coasting, while also assisting the petrol engine with an extra 14bhp.
Mercedes C-Class - spyshot 2
Mercedes C-Class - spyshot 14
Mercedes C-Class - spyshot 8
Mercedes C-Class - spyshot 7
New Mercedes C-Class - spy shot 10
Mercedes C-Class 2021 - interior
Mercedes C-Class 2021 - spy
Mercedes C-Class 2021 - spy
Mercedes C-Class 2021 - spy
Mercedes C-Class 2021 - spy
Mercedes C-Class - spyshot 13
Mercedes C-Class - spyshot 4
Mercedes C-Class - spyshot 3
Mercedes C-Class 2021 - spy
Mercedes C-Class - spyshot 10
Mercedes C-Class - spyshot 1
New Mercedes C-Class - spy shot 8
New Mercedes C-Class - spy shot 6
New Mercedes C-Class - spy shot 9
Mercedes C-Class - rear (watermarked)
Mercedes C-Class 2021 - spy
Mercedes C-Class 2021 - spy
Mercedes C-Class 2021
Mercedes C-Class - front (watermarked)
Mercedes C-Class - spyshot 12
Mercedes C-Class - spyshot 11
New Mercedes C-Class - spy shot 1
New Mercedes C-Class - spy shot 4
New Mercedes C-Class - spy shot 13
New Mercedes C-Class - spy shot 12
Mercedes C-Class 2021 - rear
Mercedes C-Class 2021 - interior
Mercedes C-Class 2021 - spy
Mercedes C-Class 2021 - spy
New Mercedes C-Class - spy shot 7
New Mercedes C-Class - spy shot 2
New Mercedes C-Class - spy shot 3
New Mercedes C-Class - spy shot 5
New Mercedes C-Class - spy shot 11
Mercedes C-Class - spyshot 9
Mercedes C-Class - spyshot 5
Mercedes C-Class - spyshot 6
Mercedes C-Class 2021 - front
Mercedes C-Class 2022
Mercedes C-Class 2021 - spy
This technology is limited to just one model for now, but it will be applied to even the most basic versions of the new C-Class. It will be used in a performance capacity, too, with the addition of a six-cylinder AMG C 53 model to the line-up.
Mercedes will introduce new plug-in hybrid variants to take on the BMW 330e. The new 3 Series PHEV’s powertrain comprises a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor, for a combined output of 289bhp. The saloon’s 12kWh battery pack also offers a maximum pure-electric range of 41 miles.
Naturally, the next plug-in versions of the C-Class – both petrol and diesel versions could appear – will major on new battery technology to unlock the potential of up to 50 miles range on electric power and significantly reduced CO2 emissions when running in hybrid mode.
Mercedes is also expected to produce a separate all-electric rival for Tesla’s Model 3 at a later stage, using a unique platform developed for the firm’s EQ sub-brand.
One area where the next C-Class won’t chase the 3 Series too hard is in driving dynamics. It will remain a car that’s focused far more on passenger comfort and refinement. Key to this will be the decision to continue offering the C-Class with optional air suspension, something that isn’t available on its BMW, Audi A4 or Jaguar XE rivals.
Semi-autonomous driving technology will also take a big step forward in the new Mercedes, with the deployment of a level three driver-assistance feature, which is due also on the next S-Class. Such a set-up will permit conditional autonomy, and in the case of the next C-Class this will mean that the car is capable of looking after hands-off motorway driving at speeds of up to 81mph. However, the driver must remain ready to take back control.
Click here to read our in-depth review of the current Mercedes C-Class…
Continue reading...
Mercedes hasn’t drastically changed the C-Class’s styling over the outgoing model. The new car retains the same rough shape, albeit with a few tweaks based around the company’s latest design language. So, there’s a narrower radiator grille, fresh LED headlamps and a new front bumper and tail lights inspired by the E-Class.
- SEE MORE Best executive cars 2021
Mercedes’s changes to the C-Class’s cabin are far more extensive. There’s a fresh dashboard with a new digital instrument cluster and an enormous portrait infotainment system, which is similar to the unit found in the new S-Class. The steering wheel is another E-Class-sourced addition and it also looks like Mercedes has moved the car’s climate controls onto the touchscreen.
Despite Mercedes’s new-found focus on its electrification strategy, the C-Class (and its combustion engines) remains an important car for the company. The outgoing model accounted for 20 percent of the brand’s global sales – so it’s vital that this new model plays to the same strengths as the old car to retain its customer base.
The Mk5 saloon will be built on an updated version of the old car’s rear-wheel-drive MRA platform. Upgrades include a slightly longer wheelbase and fresh electrical architecture that will support a new, entirely electrified powertrain line-up – be it four or six-cylinder and petrol or diesel.
Mercedes introduced 48-volt technology to the C-Class on the outgoing model. Beneath the skin of the current C 200, there’s a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, a belt-driven starter-generator and a dinky battery pack. The ISG allows the engine to switch off on the motorway for fuel-free coasting, while also assisting the petrol engine with an extra 14bhp.
Mercedes C-Class - spyshot 2
Mercedes C-Class - spyshot 14
Mercedes C-Class - spyshot 8
Mercedes C-Class - spyshot 7
New Mercedes C-Class - spy shot 10
Mercedes C-Class 2021 - interior
Mercedes C-Class 2021 - spy
Mercedes C-Class 2021 - spy
Mercedes C-Class 2021 - spy
Mercedes C-Class 2021 - spy
Mercedes C-Class - spyshot 13
Mercedes C-Class - spyshot 4
Mercedes C-Class - spyshot 3
Mercedes C-Class 2021 - spy
Mercedes C-Class - spyshot 10
Mercedes C-Class - spyshot 1
New Mercedes C-Class - spy shot 8
New Mercedes C-Class - spy shot 6
New Mercedes C-Class - spy shot 9
Mercedes C-Class - rear (watermarked)
Mercedes C-Class 2021 - spy
Mercedes C-Class 2021 - spy
Mercedes C-Class 2021
Mercedes C-Class - front (watermarked)
Mercedes C-Class - spyshot 12
Mercedes C-Class - spyshot 11
New Mercedes C-Class - spy shot 1
New Mercedes C-Class - spy shot 4
New Mercedes C-Class - spy shot 13
New Mercedes C-Class - spy shot 12
Mercedes C-Class 2021 - rear
Mercedes C-Class 2021 - interior
Mercedes C-Class 2021 - spy
Mercedes C-Class 2021 - spy
New Mercedes C-Class - spy shot 7
New Mercedes C-Class - spy shot 2
New Mercedes C-Class - spy shot 3
New Mercedes C-Class - spy shot 5
New Mercedes C-Class - spy shot 11
Mercedes C-Class - spyshot 9
Mercedes C-Class - spyshot 5
Mercedes C-Class - spyshot 6
Mercedes C-Class 2021 - front
Mercedes C-Class 2022
Mercedes C-Class 2021 - spy
This technology is limited to just one model for now, but it will be applied to even the most basic versions of the new C-Class. It will be used in a performance capacity, too, with the addition of a six-cylinder AMG C 53 model to the line-up.
Mercedes will introduce new plug-in hybrid variants to take on the BMW 330e. The new 3 Series PHEV’s powertrain comprises a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor, for a combined output of 289bhp. The saloon’s 12kWh battery pack also offers a maximum pure-electric range of 41 miles.
Naturally, the next plug-in versions of the C-Class – both petrol and diesel versions could appear – will major on new battery technology to unlock the potential of up to 50 miles range on electric power and significantly reduced CO2 emissions when running in hybrid mode.
Mercedes is also expected to produce a separate all-electric rival for Tesla’s Model 3 at a later stage, using a unique platform developed for the firm’s EQ sub-brand.
One area where the next C-Class won’t chase the 3 Series too hard is in driving dynamics. It will remain a car that’s focused far more on passenger comfort and refinement. Key to this will be the decision to continue offering the C-Class with optional air suspension, something that isn’t available on its BMW, Audi A4 or Jaguar XE rivals.
Semi-autonomous driving technology will also take a big step forward in the new Mercedes, with the deployment of a level three driver-assistance feature, which is due also on the next S-Class. Such a set-up will permit conditional autonomy, and in the case of the next C-Class this will mean that the car is capable of looking after hands-off motorway driving at speeds of up to 81mph. However, the driver must remain ready to take back control.
Click here to read our in-depth review of the current Mercedes C-Class…
Continue reading...
