Fourth-Generation Mercedes C-Class to Arrive in U.S. Shores

Mercedes Car Group is offering a new breed of entry level luxury sedans for the United States market. The 2007 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) that will take place at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan this week will be the stage for the U.S. debut of the 4th-generation Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

According to a Mercedes-Benz official press release, "With a nod to the recently introduced S-Class sedan, the look of the new mid-size C-Class reveals the latest Mercedes design idiom that’s characterized by an edgy interplay of taut lines and wide, rounded surfaces. Revised suspension and steering help make the new C-Class noticeably more agile, along with a new slick-shifting six-speed manual transmission for the C300 Sport model"

Mercedes-Benz is offering three 2008 C-Class models for the United States market: the C 350 Sport, C 300 Luxury, and the C 300 Sport. All of these three C-Class models are equipped with a standard V6 engine, along with standard components inside and out including eight way adjustable power front seats with lumbar support, Bluetooth wireless mobile phone connectivity, two zone automatic climate control, , central controller with a 7-inch display screen, power sunroof and 17-inch wheels. For the Sport models, available features include grille-mounted Mercedes star logo, front and rear aprons, under-door rocker panels, twin-spoke 17-inch wheels, and three-spoke steering wheel.

In addition, the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class comes with an elegant, luxurious, and comfortable interior. The overall dimension of the 2008 C-Class is 3.7 inches longer and 1.7 inches wider than the previous C-Class models. As a result, the 2008 C-Class has a spacious luggage compartment area. Moreover, the trunk capacity is also increased an can now accommodate 16.8 cubic feet. Other interior features found on the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class models include instrument panel with 12-button multi-function steering, an electronic controller system featuring an aluminum controller that access the menus and sub-menus on the center console, COMAND navigation system with five-inch color display equipped with a hard drive to store map information of North America, and 8-speaker, 100-watt Audio 20 system with CD/MP3 player. For customers who wanted more audio output, a 450-watt Harman/Kardon LOGIC7 audio system featuring Dolby Digital/DTS 5.1 surround sound, 12 speakers, two surround-sound speakers, and a sub-woofer is available. The 2008 C-Class also comes with standard six air bags (including driver and passenger front air bags and side curtain air bags) and active front head restraints for safety.

Moving on the technical side, the V6 engine for C300 Sport and Luxury models is combined with a 7-speed automatic gearbox powering the an all new 4MATIC all-wheel-drive (AWD) system. The 2008 Mercedes C-Class is also equipped with four-wheel independent suspension and four-wheel disc brakes, anti lock braking system (ABS), traction control, electronic stability program (ESP), radiator, quality Mercedes water pump, and stabilizer bars.

Dwyane Thomas is a part time cook and full-time auto-enthusiast. This 31-year old Civil and Environmental graduate is a consultant at one of the engineering firms in Pennsylvania.