Benz takes handling back to black

Senior Daimler officials have promised to deliver the “best-handling Mercedes-Benz in history” with its C-Class Coupe Black Series next year.

While the secret car enthusiast at Mercedes-Benz was uncorked with the C-Class Coupe, the once-stodgy brand is deep into a program to fill its model line-up with the coupe’s handling philosophy, starting with the Black Series.

The promised move to sharper handling through steering, active damping and geometry changes will eventually run the full gamut of sporty Benzes, ranging from the SL convertible to next year’s A-Class four-door coupe.

“This new handling philosophy – and that’s what it is – has left an impression on all of us, but we will be showing something early next year that will really cement it,” Mercedes-Benz vice-president of Project Management, Phillip Schiemer, insisted.

“The AMG Black Series version of the Coupe will be here early next year and it will be the best handling Mercedes-Benz ever. The best in history,” he insisted.

Powered by the final evolution of the hard-hitting, high-compression Black Series version of the 6.2-litre V8 from the CLK Black Series (pictured), the Coupe promises not just high handling values but a 0-100km/h time of around 4.2 seconds coupled with a top speed limited to 300km/h.

Schiemer implied that the existing Black Series engine, with its 380kW (514hp) at 7200rpm and 630Nm of torque at 5250rpm, would be more than enough for a car which would become known for its handling, more than its straight-line performance.

It will have a deep front splitter and run a slightly wider track than the new C63 AMG Coupe, with aggressively flared wheel arches hiding 19-inch forged alloy wheels and carbon-ceramic brake discs.

But though the Black Series will provide the star power for the new handling philosophy ushered in by the C-Class Coupe, Schiemer promised it would be just the start.

“Next year’s SL will be a huge statement in handling from us,” he insisted.

“The A-Class four-door coupe will be designed from the philosophy of handling from the C-Class coupe, too.”

Code named C117, this A-Class-based, four-door coupe will be a small version of last year’s Geneva show-stealing F800 Style and will most likely make its debut at the New York Motor Show in April.

But the news isn’t all good, with Mercedes-Benz refusing to transfer the philosophy across to the existing C-Class or CLS models.

“The Avant Garde sells well the way it is and the feedback is that consumer like it the way it is, so that will stay that way. Of course, if enough people want it changed for the next-generation C-Class, that might change.”

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