Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its next-generation C-Class sedans, and you can choose between two of them for 2001.

The Design Exterior styling is aimed at balancing dynamism with elegance, and according to Mercedes-Benz, "the shape of the fenders is reminiscent of the muscles of trained athletes." The raked headlights look sporty, while the more upright grille stretches the hood for a feeling of power and dignity. The cars are only slightly larger than those they replace--about 0.4-in longer on a 1.0-inch longer wheelbase. The familiar twin-headlight "face" of the E-Class and S-Class is adapted, with overlapping light units. At the rear, curved trapezoidal taillights mirror those of the CL500.

The steel unibody is 26-percent stiffer torsionally than that of the "old" C-Class, with static flexing reduced as much as 50 percent. Dynamic resonance for torsion and bending is about 12 percent better. In high-strength areas, "dual phase" steel with a two-phase microstructure better withstands high crash stresses. Such strength enhancements reduce vibration and noise and augment crash protection. Still, thanks to increased use of recycled and natural material, the car is 85-percent recyclable by weight.

Comfort

Interior design extends the flowing S-Class motif, with rounded air ducts and instruments on the top level and everything else below. Individual control switches are better grouped, too. Wood trim is accented by leather matching the interior color, and the glovebox is three times larger than in the 2000 model. Headroom, shoulder room, and elbow room match or slightly exceed the dimensions of the outgoing sedans.

Noise and vibration attenuation received special attention. During assembly, some of the 42 foam or fiber sound-absorbing elements are installed on special plates; later, heat in the paint drying oven causes them to expand. To defeat rust, zinc-coated steel content is up from 65 to 85 percent, and the paint includes zinc pigments. Conventional PVC undercoating is replaced by fiberglass and plastic underbody encapsulation, reducing drag, outside engine noise, and corrosion. In Europe, Mercedes-Benz guarantees the body against rust for 30 years. Thanks to slicker front and rear valances, the rear spoiler lip, wheel spoilers, and the plastic undertrays, aerodynamic drag is reduced by fully 16 percent, with the skinny-tired C180 earning a drag coefficient of just 0.26. Front and rear lift are cut by as much as 57 percent, enhancing driving stability.

As programmed by the driver, Headlamp Assist uses a light sensor to automatically switch on the lights as needed, even in a tunnel. Automatic rain-sensing windshield wipers are another trickle-down convenience feature.

Technology

The most obvious trickle-down electronic feature is the Cockpit Management and Data System (COMAND) and the multi-function steering wheel, which together control the radio, CD player, telephone, navigation functions, and more.

Europeans can enjoy telematics services including TeleDiagnosis. In case of a fault, this system transmits the car's year, model, engine data, mileage, and fault codes and its location to a Mercedes-Benz communications center, where service personnel with appropriate equipment and parts can be dispatched. Since North America involves more territory and infrastructure, don't expect such sophisticated routing systems here yet, but they are coming, along with remote fault correction. Meanwhile, we do get TeleAid.

Using the multi-function steering wheel and the display beneath the large arc-shaped speedometer, a driver can program more than 50 individual settings such as exterior lights; window and sunroof closing; seat, mirror and steering wheel position; automatic climate control settings; automatic door locking; and more. Navigation, audio system, telephone, next service, engine oil level, and other information can be displayed easily and quickly. Distronic radar-controlled braking is not offered, but Speedtronic allows the driver to limit the car's top speed.

Three databus networks connect all this electronica, with fiber optics used for audio and telephone signals. The on-board computers process more than 850 items of information to control more than 130 functions.

FSS is used throughout the line, and the system is so trustworthy that only the C180 and C200 Kompressor still have an engine oil dipstick. In all other models you simply push a button to display oil level on the instrument panel. Mercedes-Benz says that oil change intervals can be increased, depending on driving style and engine load, to up to 19,000 miles on gasoline models and up to 25,000 miles on diesels.

Safety

Although the rest of the world is re-discovering automotive safety, it never went out of fashion at Mercedes-Benz. Standard in the new C-Class are the latest-generation Electronic Stability Program (ESP), adaptive front airbags, front door-mounted side airbags, window bags, Headlamp Assist (automatic headlight operation), Brake Assist, automatic child safety seat recognition, seat belt tensioners and belt force limiters for the front seats and rear outer seats, and head restraints for every seat. Xenon low-beam headlights are available with automatic adjustment and water-jet cleaning.

The chassis gains equally significant improvements. Bolt-on front and rear modules incorporate high-strength steel crash boxes. Below nine mph, the front module absorbs all impact energy, protecting the passenger compartment behind it. After a crash, both modules can be easily replaced without welding. Passengers are also protected by a forward-arcing ellipsoid firewall comprised of six panels varying in thickness, to absorb and distribute crash forces.

Mercedes-Benz has developed a six-stage Real-Life Safety Concept.
Danger Warning: sensors monitor the car's handling and warn the driver by lighting a symbol in the instrument panel.
Accident Prevention: Systems such as ABS, ESP, and Brake Assist help the driver maintain control.
Minor Knocks: Impacts under 9 mph are absorbed by the bumpers and crash boxes; airbags don't deploy until needed.
Impact: Body structure absorbs more energy, belt tensioners and airbags deploy partially.
Occupant Protection: Second-stage airbag inflation; belt-force limiters activated.
Emergency Rescue: Doors automatically unlock, hazard warning lights go on; Tele Aid emergency call guides rescue service to accident.

Euro-diesels all use four valves per cylinder, variable-nozzle turbines, and intercooling, with pilot injection instead of a pre-chamber. Since diesels run cooler than gasoline engines, and direct-injection diesels run cooler yet, they also come with an auxiliary electric heater. As expected, performance is up significantly.

European models are marketed in three trim levels. The restrained Classic has steel wheels and a cloth interior. The Avant Garde, the stylish Generation X of the line, offers blue-tinted glass, aluminum interior trim, and alloy wheels. The luxurious Elegance, with chrome trim, leather upholstery, and more convenience features, comes closest to North American trim levels. European options include automatic climate control, the COMAND system, the DynAPS routing (traffic avoidance) system, a Bose sound system, and Linguatronic, which allows drivers to command the telephone, CD changer, and radio in several languages (though not all at once).

After an investment of 1.36 billion Euros ($1.31 billion as the eagle flies), these new sedans are expected to boost U.S. C-Class sales by 27 percent. About half of those Euros went to expand C-Class production capacity at the Sindelfingen and Bremen plants. According to Helmut Petri, member of the management board in charge of production, "we can provide our customers in the first launch year with 40 percent more cars than was the case with the outgoing model."

DCAG expects to build 160,000 new C-Class cars this year, followed by 260,000 in 2001. The cars are already on sale in Europe, and American deliveries of the C240 and C320 are planned for early fall. Prices, to be announced in July, are expected to be at or perhaps even below present levels. Other models will follow-some for North America--including a hatchback and a C320 AMG sports sedan, a station wagon, and a diesel to be named later.

FDB