Click image for a gallery of the recently-revealed C-Class
In a report published earlier last week by Automotive News, Mercedes-Benz USA president and CEO Ernst Lieb told the industry mag that when the newly-unveiled C-Class arrives in the US this September, it'll sport a more aggressive look than its European counterpart.
What does that mean? Well, we don't know, but we'll happily don our speculation caps. When you consider that the new C will be sold in Sport (top left) and Luxury (top right) trim levels when it hits the Continent in March, it makes us think that maybe we won't see the more staid-looking Luxury version in US dealerships. The Sport, with its grille-mounted 3-pointed star, snazzy 5-spokes and AMG fascia, is clearly the more aggressive of the two. We can't imagine MB would do anything too drastic (read: costly) to separate the US car from the Euro-model, so exporting the only sportier of the two seems like a pretty good possibility to us.
How will it shake out? We'll find out in September. But if it's as simple as sending over the C-Class Sport by itself, you won't hear any complaints from us.
[Source: Automotive News -- sub req'd]
New KITT Attack Mode revealed at Comic Con
London 2008: Honda OSM concept roadster says, "Cheerio!"
London 2008: Lotus unveils the Evora
2010 Chevy Camaro - Official Details and Images
2010 Chevy Camaro - LIVE from the reveal
In the Autoblog Garage: Aprilia RSV 1000 R
First Drive: Maserati Quattroporte S in Europe
First Drive: 2008 MINI Cooper S JCW
In the Autoblog Garage:2009 Nissan GT-R
North American Exclusive First Drive: Alfa MiTo
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Howard Kerr @ Feb 25th 2007 12:38PM
My first reaction on reading the headline: Why bother?
Most of the drivers for the C-class are women and wouldn't a MORE aggressive design turn off the "intended" market ? Is it perhaps M-B's hope to get more men/ANY MEN into the C and perhaps OUT of BMW's "3" ? But hey, this is after all M-B, a company not exactly know for it's aggressive or avant garde styling. My guess? the U.S. car will be somewhere between the Euro Sport and Luxury because a TOO aggressive car would scare all those Mercedes sales people.
Rob @ Feb 25th 2007 12:41PM
Is it just me, or does the new one have a mercedes emblem on the grill, and 2 inches above that on the hood? If so, that is really dumb looking.
Howard Kerr @ Feb 25th 2007 12:50PM
Re Rob,
Mercedes has put the "star" in the grille AND on the hood several times before. Often the one on the hood is "buried" (flush with the hood's surface)on top...and yeah, it is stupid and redundant.
kevin @ Feb 25th 2007 12:50PM
a more agressive looking c-class is a good thing not a bad thing. it'll result in more sales for mercedes.
david @ Feb 25th 2007 12:56PM
mb, cadillac called and they want their cts design back.
Type R @ Feb 25th 2007 1:26PM
Those rear lights look kind of like ones from Honda City.
http://hgunadi.tripod.com/DL-3C-AA9213-back.jpg
paul34 @ Feb 25th 2007 1:51PM
Well, it doesn't really matter what MB does with its C-Class, because its basically just a "ghetto" MB "for the masses," just like the 3-series. Although I intend no offense, its basically for those folks to whom only some perceived "image" matters.
Both cars aren't representative or their respective companies, they're only designed to produce sales with people who otherwise couldn't afford "high-class" vehicles.
So even if they made it ugly(ier, I guess, depending on your opinion), people would still buy it as its all about being a poser these days.
That's not to say all 3-series and C-class owners are posers, but, I find most are.
Storm9 @ Feb 25th 2007 2:04PM
@Paul34
You know when you want to talk smack about a topic,
you should first make sure you are saying the truth.
Other wise you sound like a retard.
Btw:
BMW brand was built on the 3 series!
The 2002(later renamed 3) started it all for BMW.
All the other BMW models spawned off the 3 series.
3 series is the core of BMW. I agree that there are posers who buy them. But its a ridicously outrageous claim that most of them are posers.
Just becuase you cant afford a 3er doesnt mean you have to bash it.
Matt @ Feb 25th 2007 3:06PM
#3
Yeah Rob, oh my god how could you be so dumb?!? =P
#8
There is no TRUTH associated with one's OPINION, which I believe is what Paul34 was stating to begin with. ;)
Carletti @ Feb 25th 2007 3:18PM
This car sure is an enigma…which in my book is not a good start. If I had to choose, I would immediately gravitate towards the Sport variant, as its stance and its new front end (coupled with that gargantuan Mercedes-Benz logo on the grille) fits better in my view. But this approach by Mercedes has effectively ruined the stately look of passed C-Class models. This showing by the new C-Class conveys an antagonistic persona that is kind of…lame, especially when one considers that this is Mercedes-Benz and so its cars should simply reflect an aura of high stature (like the current C-Class successfully does in my view).
The rear of this car only highlights my disappointment. It just looks so bland and what it does is it conforms. In fact, I feel as though the entire car and its design simply conform to what is currently offered by every other make, something I would suspect Mercedes-Benz would actively try to avoid. The headlights are banal in design (I think Dodge has a similar design scheme with perhaps the Caliber), the Bangle tail is incredibly overused, the tail lamps are awkwardly shaped and the car as a whole says nothing to me in terms of desirability.
Moreover, and to finally confirm my disappointment, one need only look inside of the new C-Class to realize that things have indeed changed. Gone is the nice central stack of controls and what emerges is an interior that A) looks, dare I say, rather cheap (especially around the glove box area) and B) looks as if cues from the 2004-2006 Mitsubishi Endeavor were utilized (which I don’t really approve of). Nothing special is this new C-Class.
Dr. Greenthumb @ Feb 25th 2007 3:27PM
------> 5. mb, cadillac called and they want their cts design back.
#5 I must disagree with you here. The CTS has far and away a better looking interior. This more closely resembles the Honda Odessey.
This car is playing in a tough crowd. Hundai Sonata, Lexus ES, Infiniti G35,CTS, Saab, Volvo all offer more value for the dollar.
Marc @ Feb 25th 2007 4:17PM
Hi,
looks nice.
I confirm Type-R's Comment. Looks a little bit like Honda tail lights.
regards
Marc
www.maxrev.us
Tina Silva @ Feb 25th 2007 4:51PM
Wow...that are is so classy. I would love to drive one of those! The mercendes looks beautiful!!
Tina Silva
http://blog.pimentels-photography.com
Tool @ Feb 25th 2007 4:54PM
This shouldn't be that startling of news.
The c-class has always been produced in a number of forms, from a more luxurious look to a more sporty look. In Germany, you can choose from 2-4 versions.
Here in the U.S., MBUSA has usually spec'd the more luxurious looking version until now.
Now they have gotten smarter and chose the sporty looking one.
Howard Kerr @ Feb 25th 2007 5:28PM
Re storm9,
the next time you TRY to "read someone the riot act" try spelling correctly and using correct grammar.
When you be mispelling you look RIDICOUS (?)
NoNameDenton @ Feb 25th 2007 7:49PM
Gee I can't wait to see the young freshman in the college where I teach to drive one of these around
FERNAN17 @ Feb 26th 2007 1:20AM
yeah cadillac, MBs are so chieseled ;)
BOB @ Feb 26th 2007 1:54AM
NOW ALEX --
Are you REALLY suggesting that MB would/should import its volume sedan without the regular sedan grille and the stand-up star? I cant imagine the dealers even beginning to allow that.
It is very simple -- most of the buyers (not auto writers, not blog commenters) are buying into the Mercedes mystique at the price level they can afford.
Is Mercedes going to tell them that they get no standing star unless they buy an E-class (thus moving the C down in class)
-- I DOUBT IT SERIOUSLY!!
CoffeeJones @ Feb 26th 2007 12:00PM
Hopefully they've done something to improve reliability.
Sure, some of MB's customers can buy a new S class every year or whenever it gets dirty, but some of us aren't that lucky.
I see a fair amount of BMW E36's still puttering about
JC3 @ Feb 26th 2007 5:59PM
Looking forward to seeing the coupe.Perhaps the greenhouse will have a better flow as viewed from the profile.