What does C Class mean in Mercedes
Posted by Suraj Viswanathan on Apr 24, 2019
Up until the year 1997, the C-Class was the smallest and most affordable model in the Mercedes-Benz lineup. This compact German sedan went on sale in 1993, and remained the entry-level point for those wishing to own a three-pointed star in their life. Of course, since the introduction of the even smaller and less expensive A-Class, things have changed a little bit. However, what hasn’t changed is the name “C-Class”. So, what does this name mean, and does it even have any relevant significance? In the grand scheme of things… Not really. But, that doesn’t equate to the fact that it doesn’t mean anything or that its existence is completely devoid of purpose. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
You see, the “Class” system at Mercedes-Benz represents a model’s specific position within the entire family hierarchy. So, when the C-Class was launched, it was then the most cost-effective model that was manufactured by the Stuttgart-based luxury carmaker. And since it was to be slotted in the D-segment category of cars, Mercedes gave it the name C-Class – where the “C” stood for compact. The C-Class forms an integral part of what’s known within the company as its “core models”, along with the A-, E-, and S-Class. Today, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is one of the best success stories, and it won’t be inaccurate to say that it’s quite a common sight on our roads. The latest fourth-generation C-Class made its international debut back in 2014 and since then, it has been available as a sedan, coupe, cabriolet, and station wagon. However, the C-Class is only sold in its sedan and coupe avatars in the UAE market.
The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan lineup consists of six different variants, which includes the C180, C200, C250, C300, C43 AMG, and C63S AMG. Of these, the 165,000-dirham C180 is the cheapest, the 175,000-dirham C200 enjoys great sales and seems to be the most popular, while the fire-spitting, 420,000-dirham C63S is unabashedly the most mental and expensive variant. The UAE-spec C-Class variants are all petrol-powered and get a 7-speed automatic gearbox as standard, though foreign markets also get diesel and hybrid powertrain options. The lowest-powered C180 comes with a 1.6-liter turbo four-popper that makes 156 hp and 250 Nm of torque, while the AMG-developed 4.0-liter, bi-turbo beast in the C63S puts a whopping 510 hp and a massive 700 Nm of torque. Where the C180 can only do 223 km/h and takes 8.5 seconds to hit 100 km/h, the AMG is restricted to 250 km/h and can make it to 100 km/h in less than half that time. Interestingly, the most fuel-efficient C-Class isn’t the base car, it’s the C200, which not only performs better, but also returns a frugal 5.6 L/100 km.
The modern-day Mercedes-Benz C-Class is not just a great all-rounder, but it’s also an elegantly styled luxury sedan that oozes sophistication and panache – both inside and out. The interior looks beautiful and is finished in top-notch materials, and the overall build quality is pretty solid. It’s also a comfortable car with great seats and a quiet cabin, though the rear does feel tight. The C’s equipment list can be huge, but you can get adaptive cruise control, adaptive LED headlights, adjustable dampers, ambient lighting, a premium audio system, heated & ventilated from seats with memory, a panoramic glass roof, and an 8.4-inch COMAND display with navigation and speech recognition. Also impressive are the C-Class’s safety features which include 7 airbags, active headrests, attention assist, collision detection, blind-spot and lane-departure warning, hill assist, electronic stability and traction control programs, and all-around parking sensors with a reversing camera, among several others.
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