Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate

Mercedes-Benz has released first official pictures of the new C-Class Estate.

The C-Class Estate -- or 'wagon', as Aussies usually call anything with a tailgate and some overhang -- will likely find a following, by offering a practical load-space with the acknowledged benefits of the W204 generation Mercedes (see our report on the C-Class sedan here).

For those who buy a wagon with the actual intention of using it to cart around large and bulky items, the C-Class Estate will accept up to 1500 litres of cargo through its powered tailgate. With seats in the upright position -- in accordance with the VDA method -- the storage volume is 485 litres.

Maximum storage space is up 146 litres over the previous (W203) model -- an improvement of approximately ten per cent.

Not only has Benz improved the total capacity, but the company has designed the load space in such a way that it can now accept a single cube of up to 827 litres, an improvement of 66 litres over the previous Estate.

To ease the whole process of loading the car, two bag hooks and four anchorage points are installed in the load space. Other features include additional stowage compartments with nets and a luggage cover/cargo net. A load-securing device named 'Easy Pack' allows the driver to partition and further secure the load.

Three levels of trim for the new car are Classic, Elegance and Avantgarde, in that order.

As for the C-Class sedan, the Estate will be sold with a range of four-cylinder and V6 engines, including a turbodiesel four.

Australian specifications are still up in the air, but Benz expects the C-Class Estate to be capable of towing loads weighing up to 1800kg.

The C-Class Estate will make its debut at the Frankfurt motor show in a week's time and the Australian public will get to see it during the second quarter of 2008. In the meantime, Benz dealers are taking orders now.

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