The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class Saloon and Estate will also be present in Geneva

Mercedes updates its C-Class range, in both saloon and estate body variants with a large number of improvements to both its exterior and interior design, and especially to the car’s electronic architecture, which is completely changed.

In terms of equipment, Mercedes-Benz introduces in the C-Class a new instrument display, fully digital, new multimedia systems and advanced driver-assistance systems. Thanks to the new electronic architecture, the C-Class now offers such a range of assistance systems that it is practically on a par with the S-Class.

The current generation of the C-Class, launched four years ago, is Mercedes-Benz’s best-selling model. In 2017 alone, the star brand registered a total of 415,000 units, combining sales of the saloon and estate body variants.

Exterior changes

As we mentioned, the car receives changes to its exterior. The new C-Class features new designs for both the front and rear lights, which now have clearer, more defined lines and high-quality sculpted details that give it a genuinely sophisticated appearance. For the first time on the C-Class, Multibeam LED headlights with the Ultra Range light beam and 84 individually controllable LEDs are available as an option.

The bumpers are also newly designed across all lines and now, depending on the trim, feature a silver, chrome-finished trim on Avantgarde trims, and also chrome but in three-part finish on Exclusive trims. Furthermore, on AMG Line versions the grille with a diamond-finish is standard equipment.

Improved, higher-quality interior with a sporty ambience

The changes introduced to the interior of the new C-Class provide an improved, higher-quality and more premium ambience than before. The style features smoother lines, such as those now framing the edges of the centre console, which will also be available finished in open-pore brown walnut or in anthracite colour.

As for the instrument cluster, the new C-Class incorporates the current control and information display concept that Mercedes-Benz offers in its S-Class. Optionally, it can also be fitted with a digital cluster configurable in up to three distinct display styles to suit the driver’s preference. The controls integrated into the steering wheel are also touch-sensitive. With them, in addition to operating the infotainment system, the driver can also control both the Distronic system and cruise control using controls specifically designed for this purpose.

The new C-Class with semi-autonomous driving technologies

Thanks to its new electronic architecture, inherited directly from the current S-Class, the new C-Class benefits from the highest level of driving assistance available today, which results in a significant improvement in on-board safety measures, especially when compared with its predecessor, still available at the brand’s dealerships. This new architecture also brings it closer to autonomous driving: the new C-Class offers semi-autonomous driving in certain situations.

Among the systems it features is Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC, which is included in the Driving Assistance package. DISTRONIC allows the system to handle numerous situations based on map information and, for example, predictively adjust speed when approaching bends, junctions or roundabouts.

Also incorporated into this new generation of the C-Class are the intuitive active lane change assist and the active emergency stop assist, functions that work directly with the active steering assist.