Facelifted Mercedes-Benz C-Class due in March

Mercedes-Benz is set to introduce sweeping changes to its popular C-Class passenger car range at the upcoming Geneva motor show.

That’s the word from English publication Autocar, which says both sedan and wagon derivatives will be unveiled at the Swiss show in March, followed by coupe and cabriolet versions at the New York motor show in April.

Citing internal sources, the publication says running changes will be spearheaded by new-generation 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol and diesel engines offering increased performance and reduced emissions. In a reflection of tightening emissions regulations, hybrid powertrains spanning mild 48-volt systems to fully-fledged plug-in applications will be incorporated into the update.

In a new mild hybrid application dubbed C200 EQ Boost, a belt-driven alternator and 48V electric architecture will reportedly offer electric boosting for short periods equivalent to 13kW, over and above the engine’s nominal 140kW offering.

Above the C200, the C300 trades hybrid technology for a higher state of tune with added turbo boost – to the order of 190kW, according to the report.

Diesel power will continue to constitute part of the C-Class range, with power upgrades and efficiency improvements mooted across C200d, C220d and C300d derivatives.

Further up the food chain there will be petrol-electric versions of the C400 and C400d, which will both adopt the new EQ Power nomenclature bringing plug-in capability and a speculated pure electric driving range of 50km.

While the freshly-derived C43 is set to go largely unchanged, the flagship C63 will reportedly employ new twin-scroll turbochargers to elicit more power from its 4.0-litre V8 engine.

All models will send drive via a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Cosmetically, the C-Class will adopt running changes to its exterior along with more significant revisions on the inside, including a larger 10.25-inch free-standing infotainment display and touchpad controller, new steering wheel, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration and trim updates.

The C-Class remains Mercedes’ biggest-selling model in Australia and is second only to the evergreen Toyota Camry in the competitive mid-size sedan segment.

Mercedes-Benz Australia is set to release more details on the C-Class' local arrival closer to the reveal.