Mercedes-Benz C-Class History
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The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a compact executive sedan introduced to the U.S. back in 1994 as the replacement for the 190 model. It served as the German luxury automaker’s entry-level model overseas until the arrival of the A-Class in 1997, but it remains the point of entry for the brand in the U.S. where it has a starting price of around $33,600.
This is right in line with pricing of rival four-doors in the compact executive sedan segment such as the BMW 3-Series and Audi A4, though, like all the models mentioned, once the options start to pile on the pricetag of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class can quickly shoot northwards. All C-Class models have seating for five but only four adults can comfortably fit inside.
The first generation of the C-Class was a conventional sedan with relatively safe styling and a range of economical four- and six-cylinder engines. Of course, there was also a V-8 engine used in a high-performance AMG variant, of which only limited numbers were imported to the U.S.
The second generation of the car was launched in 2000 and adopted a more daring design dominated by curved surfaces. One year later a new three-door hatchback variant dubbed the C-Class Sportcoupe was launched but poor sales, brought about by its relatively expensive pricetag, saw the model removed from the automaker’s U.S. lineup in 2005. Despite its failure in the U.S., a successor to the C-Class Sportcoupe, the new CLC, was launched overseas in 2008.
The current and third generation of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class arrived on the market as a 2008 model, complete with a brand new platform, upmarket styling derived from the bigger S-Class and new levels of quality and refinement. Most notably, the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class set two distinct styles, with separate Luxury and Sport models that catered to different types of C-Class buyers. No major changes have been implemented since then, with the 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class currently offering the choice of two V-6 engines--a 228 horsepower 3.0-liter unit and a 268 horsepower 3.5-liter mill--as well as a 451 horsepower 6.2-liter V-8 in the high-performance AMG C63 model.
A facelifted C-Class is due in time for the 2011 model and year and will see a major shift in the lineup--the addition of a new C-Class Coupe to replace the current CLC model and compete with the likes of the top-selling 3-Series Coupe. The 2011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class may also see the introduction of new direct fuel injected and turbocharged engines grouped under the “MoVe” family of V-6 and V-8 powerplants.
