First pics: Mercedes-Benz C-Class

A day after releasing the first teaser video of its most important new model for 2014, Mercedes-Benz has released the first details and interior images of its fourth-generation C-Class sedan, which goes on sale here in the third quarter of next year.

Inspired by the new S-Class limousine, which makes its Australian debuts at Motorclassica in Melbourne this week, the interior of W205-series C-Class, which will make its world debut at the Detroit motor show in January, will take a significant step upmarket.

In the first of a series of technical workshops in Germany this week, Mercedes also promised that its direct rival for BMW’s 3 Series and the Audi A4 will be both the lightest and most rigid vehicle in its class.

Official technical images reveal the new C-Class body-in-white will be 70kg lighter thanks in part to an aluminium roof, rear bulkhead and front strut towers and braces, which together increase the use of aluminium in the vehicle’s construction by 39 per cent to almost half – up from just nine per cent in the third-generation C-Class.

Based on Daimler’s new Modular Rear Drive (MRA) chassis architecture, the new lightweight body structure’s hybrid steel-aluminium construction is claimed to reduce kerb weight by up to 100kg in some models, which is said to contribute to a 20 per cent fuel consumption reduction in some engine variants without any performance loss.

The current C-Class weighs 1395kg in its lightest form, rising to 1660kg for the C 350 CDI diesel V6, so the new base model could weigh as little as 1300kg.

Apart from more extensive use of aluminium, Mercedes says it increased the amount of hot-formed steel to eight per cent and high-strength steel to four per cent (up five per cent and one per cent respectively), while newly developed hydro-formed tube and aluminium cast components are expected to deliver outstanding crash test performance.

Comprising nine primary cast components, the new C-Class chassis features new four-link front and five-link rear suspension systems mounted on die-cast aluminium components that are claimed to be significantly more rigid than the steel components they replace. The rear-end also features die-cast aluminium longitudinal and cross members.

Mercedes says the result is “unsurpassed” wheel location qualities, “supreme” straight line stability and “outstanding” noise, vibration, harshness qualities.

While the new suspension set-up will be produced in three states of tune depending on the model -- Comfort, Direct Control and Sport, with a 15mm lower ride height – the next C-Class will come with the option of self-levelling Airmatic air suspension for the first time on some models, offering drivers the ability to choose between Comfort, ECO, Sport and Sport Plus damping modes.

Also inside the all-new cabin, as revealed by the teaser video, are luxurious new details such as a trio of retro-styled round chromed air-vents in the centre stack and vast swathes of woodgrain trim.

But the two key new technologies will be a more advanced version of Merc’s COMAND in-car connectivity and entertainment system, featuring a new Lexus-style central controller with fingertip-controlled touch-pad and free-standing colour monitors measuring either 7.0 or 8.4 inches.

A host of new high-end convenience options will include a high-quality Burmester surround sound system and a BMW-style head-up display.

Providing a range of advanced driver aids such as radar cruise control, blind spot monitoring and lane keeping assistance will be an array of cameras and sensors, including a windscreen-mounted long-range radar device that scans up to 200 metres ahead at am 18-degree angle and 60 metres ahead at a 60-degree angle.

In addition, there’s a multi-purpose stereo camera with a 500-metre range (and 3D capability over 50 metres) over an angle of 45 degrees, plus short-range radar sensors on each corner, which can sense up to 30 metres at 80 degrees.

Apart from a multitude of ultrasonic parking sensors on both bumpers, there’s also a rear-mounted multi-mode radar that can detect objects over a 16-degree field for up to 80 metres and over an 80-degree field for 30 metres.

Rounding out the list of new features revealed so far is a front passenger seat that automatically switches off the airbag if it detects a child seat and a new air-conditioning system that automatically recirculates air if the GPS system detects a tunnel to keep exhaust fumes out.

As we’ve reported, next year’s all-new sedan will be the first of four new C-Class body derivatives, including wagon, coupe and hatchback models – all riding on a 100mm-longer wheelbase that will finally make the C-Class longer overall than the A-Class-based CLA sedan.

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