Mercedes-Benz C-Class

From Mercedes-Wiki

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is an entry-level luxury car / compact executive car produced by the German automaker Mercedes-Benz. The C-Class was first introduced in 1993 as a replacement for the 190 range. It was the most affordable model in the Mercedes lineup until the arrival of the A-Class in 1998. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is built at Mercedes-Benz factories in the German towns of Sindelfingen and Bremen, as well as in DaimlerChrysler's South African factory in East London. The very first C-Class sedan (Model W202) was produced on June 1, 1993 and the second generation C-Class (W203) rolled off the assembly line on July 18, 2000. The third generation (W204) is expected to be available for sale in Europe in late March 2007.

1 W202
2 W203
3 W204
4 Competitors
5 Racing
6 Sources
7 External links

[edit] W202

Template:Infobox Automobile generation The C-Class was introduced in 1993, as a competitor to the BMW E36 3 Series, as its predecessor, the 190, had been. The C-Class proved immensely popular, quickly becoming Mercedes-Benz's best-selling class of vehicles worldwide. Much of its popularity was accredited to its affordability. At the time the C-Class sedans were the entry level to the Mercedes-Benz range, but now are no longer the smallest, least expensive sedans offered by Mercedes-Benz. The model also kept the sporty image of the 190 with a smoother and more rounded appearance than lines than the other vehicles produced by Mercedes at the time, its sporty image giving birth to a competition version in the German Touring Car Championship.

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 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 for 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 a standard five-speed automatic gearbox with Tiptronic function. The 3.6 L engine had a maximum output of 280 PS (206 kW/276 hp) at 5750 rpm and 385 Nm (284 ft.lbf) at 4000 rpm. Top speed was electronically limited to 250 km/h (155 mph). A total of 5200 C 36 AMGs were produced.

Image:Mercedes-Benz-W202.jpg

Updated W202 sedan

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 c43 vehicles of the 2000 model year imported to the US.

[edit] W203

Template:Infobox Automobile generation The second generation C-Class was introduced in 2000, with an even sportier look than the previous generations, with a steeper frontend and shorter rearend. 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 C270 CDI). For the first time, the number designations were no longer equivalent to the engine displacement, more specifically in the C180 (2.0 L), C240 (2.6 L) and C200 CDI (2.2 L).

Image:Mercedes-C-Class-wagon.jpg

W203 wagon

Image:Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe.jpg

W203 Sportcoupe

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 hatchback 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, a cramped cabin, and handling problems when compared to the sedan. It was removed from the US lineup in 2005. 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) C230K 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.

Image:Mercedes-Benz W203s.jpg

Pre-update C-Class (background) with updated model (foreground)

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 5.2 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 to produce 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.

Model lineup

The W203 C-Class model lineup was composed of:

Model	Displ.	Power	SCoupé	Sedan	T-Model
C 160	1.8 L	122 PS	X
C 180 K	1.8 L	143 PS	X	X	X
C 200 K	1.8 L	163 PS	X	X	X
C 230	2.5 L	204 PS	X	X	X
C 280	3.0 L	231 PS		X	X
C 280 4MATIC	3.0 L	231 PS		X	X
C 350	3.5 L	272 PS	X	X	X
C 350 4MATIC	3.5 L	272 PS		X	X
C 55 AMG	5.5 L	367 PS		X	X
C 200 CDI	2.2 L	121 PS	X	X	X
C 220 CDI	2.2 L	150 PS	X	X	X
C 320 CDI	3.0 L	224 PS		X	X
C 30 CDI AMG	3.0 L	231 PS	X	X	X

[edit] W204

Template:Infobox Automobile generation DaimlerChrysler introduced a new generation of the C-Class on January 18, 2007 [2] and is expected to display it in the 2007 Geneva Auto Show. Sales will start in late March 2007 for the European market. 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 will have three levels of equipment - Classic, Elegance and Avantgarde. A high performance AMG version with a 6.2 L engine will follow. 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 three horizontal bars and a large centre-mounted star.

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), 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 and the 7G-TRONIC seven-gear automatic transmissions will be available on six-cylinder engines and a five speed automatic will be optional on the four cylinder models.

Engines announced at release [3] were:

	C 180 K	C 200 K	C 230	C 280	C 350	C 200 CDI	C 220 CDI	C 320 CDI
Cylinders	4 in-line	4 in-line	V6	V6	V6	4 in-line	4 in-line	V6
Displacement	1796 cc	1796 cc	2496 cc	2996 cc	3498 cc	2148 cc	2148 cc	2987 cc
Output	115 kW/ 156 PS	135 kW/ 184 PS	150 kW/ 204 PS	170 kW/ 231 PS	200 kW/ 272 PS	100 kW/ 136 PS	125 kW/ 170 PS	165 kW/ 224 PS
Max torque	230 Nm at 2800-4600 rpm	250 Nm at 2800-5000 rpm	245 Nm at 2900-5500 rpm	300 Nm at 2500-5000 rpm	350 Nm at 2400-5000 rpm	270 Nm at 1600-3000 rpm	400 Nm at 2000 rpm	510 Nm at 1600-2800 rpm
0-100 km/h	9.5 s	8.6 s	8.4 s	7.3 s	6.4 s	10.4 s	8.5 s	7.7 s
Max speed	223 km/h	235 km/h	240 km/h	250 km/h	250 km/h	215 km/h	229 km/h	250 km/h
Comb fuel consumption	7.8 l/100km	7.9 l/100km	9.6 l/100km	9.4 l/100km	9.7 l/100km	6.1 l/100km	6.1 l/100km	7.2 l/100km