Merc upgrades C-Class

02 February 2004: Four years after launch, Mercedes-Benz is significantly enhancing the technology, equipment and design of the successful C-Class.

The changes include a newly sports-tuned chassis and steering and a six-speed manual transmission. From spring 2004, a four-cylinder powerplant with compressor supercharger and an output of 192 hp will be added to the engine line-up for the Saloon and Estate models.

The C 220 CDI will develop 150 hp, thus making it 7 hp more powerful than its predecessor, whilst the new C 55 AMG developing 367 hp is the first car in this Mercedes-Benz model series to feature an eight-cylinder engine.

There's a new cockpit design and the THERMATIC automatic climate control system comes as standard. Also standard is the new paint which is based on nano-particle technology and offers greater scratch resistance.

Optional hitech equipment includes bi-xenon headlamps with cornering light function, steering-wheel gearshift buttons for the automatic transmission and a new range of audio/navigation systems.

Sales of the current C-Class have now topped the 1.26 million mark. Never before has Mercedes-Benz sold so many cars from the same model series in such a short space of time.

©2004 irishcar.com