Cars - Mercedes-Benz C-Class

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	Cars - Mercedes-Benz C-Class

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a line of midsize entry-level luxury automobiles produced by Mercedes-Benz. The C-Class was first introduced in 1993 as a replacement for the 190 range. It was the most affordable model in the Mercedes lineup until the arrival of the A-Class in 1998. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is built at Mercedes-Benz factories in the German towns of Sindelfingen and Bremen. The very first C-Class sedan was produced on June 1, 1993 and the second generation C-Class rolled off the assembly line on July 18, 2000. The third generation is expected to be available for sale in early 2007 as a 2008 year model.

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The C-Class was introduced in 1993, as a competitor to BMW's E36 3 Series, as its predecessor, the 190, had been. The C-Class proved immensely popular, quickly becoming Mercedes-Benz's best-selling class of vehicles worldwide. Much of its popularity was accredited to its affordability. The C-Class sedans were the entry level to the Mercedes-Benz range, and are still the smallest, least expensive sedans offered by Mercedes-Benz. The model also kept the sporty image of the 190 with a smoother and more rounded appearance than lines than the other vehicles produced by Mercedes at the time, its sporty image giving birth to a competition version in the DTM (German Touring Car Championship).

On its debut, the C-Class was the only Mercedes model with a complete lineup of multivalve engines. The new family of four cylinder petrol and Diesel units debuted in the C before extending to the E-Class and the LCV. These ranged from 1.8 L to 2.2 L, with power beginning at 122 PS (90 kw/121 hp). The C 220 D had 95 PS (70 kW/94 hp), a value that was outstanding for the time, achieving over 40 hp/L without recourse to turbocharging. The top of the range was the C 280, the first midsize Mercedes with a six cylinder engine, capable of reaching 193 PS (142 kW/190 hp).

In 1994 and 1995, Mercedes introduced a few novelties in the engine range. The first was a supercharged petrol version, the C 230 Kompressor, using a Roots-type supercharger to generate 193 PS (142 kW/190 hp) at 5300 rpm. A new 250 D Turbo was also introduced, with a 20-valve five cylinder engine capable of reaching 150 PS (110 kW/148 hp).

But the most important addition was the first genuine performance C-Class, the C 36 AMG, to counter the new six-cylinder BMW M3. Developed with AMG, the tuning house that had now become a subsidiary of Daimler-Benz, it had a racing-tuned suspension (lowered by 25 mm (1&nsp;in)) and a standard five-speed automatic gearbox with Tiptronic function. The 3.6 L engine had a maximum output of 280 PS (206 kW/276 hp) at 5750 rpm and 385 Nm (284 ft.lbf) at 4000 rpm. Top speed was electronically limited to 250 km/h (155 mph). A total of 5200 C 36 AMGs were produced.

In 1996, the C-Class was given a small midlife freshening, with new lights and wheel rims. For the first time, the C-Class also received a station wagon, named the T-Modell. The C 220 was transformed into the C 230, with displacement increasing to 2.3 L, retaining the same power, but with torque increased to 220 Nm (162 ft.lbf). In addition, brand new five speed automatic gearboxes were now optional in the whole range.

In 1998, a few other updates made it to the lineup. The European C-Class models received a less powerful C 200 Kompressor model, as well as a V6 engine for the first time, ranging from 2.4 L to 2.8 L. These replaced the DOHC 4-valve heads with new SOHC heads with only three valves per cylinder and twin sparkplugs, theoretically reducing emissions and fuel consumption without sacrificing power (the C 280 in fact had a slight 4 PS increase with the change). AMG developed a new range-topper for the C-Class, the C 43 AMG, powered by a smoother 4.3 L V8, which could now achieve 306 PS (225 kW/302 hp) at 5850 rpm, with a torque of 410 Nm (302 ft.lbf) at 3250 rpm, less powerful but more torquey than its competition, the BMW M3. It still lacked a manual gearbox, but it was now available as a station wagon. 4200 AMG units were produced.

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The second generation C-Class was introduced in 2000, with an even sportier look than the previous generations, with a steeper frontend and shorter rearend. The sedan debuted with a range of straight-four and V6 petrol engines and straight-four and straight-five Diesels. The V6s were versions of the previous model with increased displacement, to 2.6 L and 3.2 L, this one with 218 PS (160 kW/215 hp). The Diesels now featured common rail direct injection and variable geometry turbochargers. Six-speed manual gearboxes were now standard for nearly the entire range (except the C 320 and C 270 CDI). For the first time, the number designations were no longer equivalent to the engine displacement, more specifically in the C 180 (2.0 L), C 240 (2.6 L) and C 200 CDI (2.2 L).

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