By Moses Akaigwe
The all-new C-Class, which hit the Nigerian market recently with a perfect combination of comfort and performance, has been described a car built with the singular objective of helping people escape the stress of everyday life into a luxurious retreat, into your own comfort zone.
Introducing the car recently, Mr. Mirko Plath, CEO of Weststar Associates Limited, the authorised general distributor of Mercedes-Benz in Nigeria, disclosed that the C-Class is one of the brand’s best sellers and longest running model series with over 10.5 million units delivered to customers globally since its inception in 1982.
This all-new model generation takes things many steps further with even more digitised featuresm as well as stunning and expressive design features.
The most prominent highlight in the all-new C-Class is most certainly the latest generation of the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system, which is more intuitively operated and has a higher learning capacity. Like the new S-Class, the new C-Class is equipped with the second generation of MBUX.
The vehicle interior becomes even more digital and intelligent, as both the hardware and software have made great strides, i.e. brilliant images on the LCD screens make it easy to control vehicle and comfort functions.
Other key highlights of the MBUX in the new C-Class include; an increasingly sharp “Hey Mercedes” voice assistant, music streaming available with the “Online Music” service, astunning widescreen central display, Augmented Video and a fingerprint scanner for personalization of MBUX settings.
The modern and luxurious design of the new generation C-Class is most certainly another stand out feature. The all-new C-Class can be described as slimmer, sportier and more stylish, featuring bold exterior accents like the power domes on the bonnet, the radiator grille with the Mercedes-Benz pattern design and flush 17- to 19-inch wheels in modern designs.
Another key feature in the exterior design of the new C-Class is the DIGITAL LIGHT which is inherited from the S-Class: It has a light module with three extremely powerful LEDs in each headlamp that pr+-ojectresolutionsof more than 2.6 million pixels.
The interior design on the other hand, is flushed with new surfaces and elements on the instrument panel and center console. There is a new air vent design which is reminiscent of aircraft engine nacelles and customers who go for the AMG line interior get more extra special features like the two-tone upholstery. Thanks to the longer body design and a longer wheelbase, there is even more space and leg room for rear seat passengers. Other luxury features in the interior include a high-resolution LCD screen housing the instrument cluster, ambient lighting featuring optical fibres and the Burmester 3D surround sound system.
The driving experience in the all-new C-Class comes with more power and increased efficiency thanks to powerful new 4-cylinder M 254 petrol engines with outputs at 150kw/204hp – 190kw/258hp and a peak torque of 300nm – 400nm. These 4-cylinder engines come with mild hybrid electrified drivetrains equipped with a 48-volt integrated stater alternator (EQ Boost), the additional output of these electrified drivetrains is capped at 15kw/20hp.
Shifting is carried out smoothly with the 9GTRONIC automatic transmission. Also, the suspension configuration in the new C-Class provides a high level of suspension, ride and noise comfort, agile handling and driving fun, this thanks to a new four-link axle at the front and a multi-link axle at the rear mounted to a subframe.
The car is loaded with a flurry of safety and assistance systems that ensure you’re always out of harm’s way. Owners of the new C-Class can benefit from a range of features from the Mercedes-Benz S-Class which are a part of the Driving Assistance package Plus. Some of these features include the Active Steering Assist with 360° camera, Active Brake Assist, Parking Package with 360° camera and additional safety features with the DIGITAL LIGHT.
Commenting on how the market has ressponded to the new product so far, Plath remarked, “We have started receiving some big demand for the all-new C-Class in this market as many of our customers are really blown away with the new high-tech features of this vehicle, it’s also very spacious thanks to the new long wheel base and I can assure Mercedes-Benz lovers that the driving experience is out of the world.”
The all-new Mercedes-Benz C-Class is now available in Nigeria, courtesy of Weststar Associates and its dealerships nationwide.