New Mercedes-Benz C-Class to debut next week

The all-new Mercedes-Benz C-Class is just a week away from making its global debut, ahead of its arrival in Australia in late 2021.

Overnight, Mercedes-Benz confirmed the fifth-generation W206 sedan (and Estate/wagon, judging by the accompanying teaser image), will make its digital world premiere on the Mercedes me media platform on February 23 at 2:00pm CET (midnight AEST next Tuesday).

No new technical details were provided alongside the invite to the reveal, which will be presented by Mercedes-Benz Cars COO Markus Schäfer, head of product management C-Class Dirk Fetzer and chief engineer for C-Class Christian Früh, among others.

However, Mercedes-Benz says the replacement for its fourth-generation W205 C-Class, which has found 2.5 million customers since 2014, “is setting off into a more efficient and even more digital world, creating an all-round future-proof comfort zone – a refuge that combines apparent opposites, such as sportiness and comfort with efficiency, emotion and intelligence, thus defining modern luxury”.

Bigger in all directions, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class will take on the latest G20 BMW 3 Series and facelifted Audi A4 with two key advances: the second-generation MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system from the new S-Class limousine and electrification of every variant for the first time in a Mercedes model.

In fact, Mercedes-Benz sources have confirmed its new C-Class with ditch the V6 (C 43) and V8 (C 63) engines of the current Mercedes-AMG models, and the entire range will be powered by hybridised four-cylinder powertrains.

When the 2022 Mercedes-AMG C 53 and C 63 eventually appear, they will come with electrified versions of the world’s most powerful four-cylinder production engine – the M139 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine that already delivers 310kW/500Nm in the existing Mercedes-AMG A 45, CLA 45 and GLA 45.

So with the aid of electric motors, you can expect the new C 53 and C 63 to easily out-power the current C 43 4MATIC’s twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 (287kW/520Nm) and even the 375kW/700Nm 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 in the existing C 63 S sports sedan.

For now, all mainstream versions of the new C-Class, which will remain rear-wheel drive, will also be powered by electrified four-cylinder engines matched to Mercedes’ nine-speed automatic transmission (a manual gearbox will no longer be available in Europe).

Therefore the W206 will return to its roots, since the original (W202) C-Class of 1993 was launched exclusively with four-cylinder engines, as was the Mercedes-Benz 190 that predated it from 1982.

Mercedes-Benz’s new straight-six engines would reportedly have necessitated a much longer engine bay and front overhang.

Once again, mainstream C-Class variants will open with the Europe-only C 180, Australia’s core line-up will retain the C 200 and C 300, and a range of super-efficient diesels will be offered in some markets.

All powertrains will come with at least 48-volt mild-hybrid electrification with an integrated 15kW starter motor.

Also on offer will be plug-in hybrid 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol (C 300e) and diesel (C 300de) powerplants with all-wheel drive, delivering more power than all but AMG models and a reported driving range of up to 100km.

Based on the same new Modular Rear Architecture (MRA) chassis architecture as the new S-Class but employing a higher percentage of steel than aluminium, the W206 also comes with a completely new 48V electrical platform.

Double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension configurations with carry over and all models will ride on steel coil springs, with the air suspension option now limited to hybrid variants.

Three chassis tunes will be offered including a top-shelf AMG Line set-up with electronically adjustable damping and a 10mm-lower ride height, and the first-time availability of rear-axle steering will increase high-speed stability and low-speed manoeuvrability.

According to Autocar, the new C-Class sedan, which scores a wider front track, larger wheelhouses and a ‘powerdome’ bonnets across the range, rides on a 30mm-longer wheelbase and measures 65mm longer overall (thanks to 10/25mm longer overhangs front/rear respectively).

Inside the longer body, which has a slippery 0.24Cd drag coefficient, the interior will lack almost any physical switches, offer 25mm more rear legroom and 13mm more headroom, and feature four central air-vents that glow in shades of blue and red, just like the S-Class.

Apart from a big new portrait-style central touch-screen, upgraded digital instrument cluster and more advanced augmented reality head-up display, new technologies will include over-the-air software updates and a standard-setting Burmester sound system.

Naturally, the new W206 sedan and wagon will be joined by new C-Class Coupe and Cabriolet in due course.