Lorinser takes on the new Merc C-class
by Dan Roth on Mar 17th 2007 at 3:52PM 
The C-class is the entry-level Benz in the North American market. As such, every nouveau riche new graduate seemingly goes out and treats themselves to a slice of flashy bourgeois pie. That can be alarming for the Euro-car fan, as you risk being lumped into that precocious category along with Johnny Overachiever from down the block. There's no denying that the Stuttgart Swabians build nice vehicles, and we've certainly considered parking one in our driveway. We wouldn't want to deny ourselves the pleasure just to avoid being lumped in with a group of lecherous climbers, either. Lorinser has given the C-class a once-over and made it possible for true car-guys to have their Mercedes pleasure while standing apart from the schmuck brigade.
We love the look of the cosmetic upgrades. The turbine-style wheels look like impellers from a turbocharger with a wacky pituitary gland, and we wonder if they can slice, dice and julienne at speed. We're not normally fans of unnecessary extra ventilation, but the revised front quarter panels have gained a nice pair of extractors. We do find the "gills" in the lower rocker covers sorta strange, and they don't appear to have any purpose other than serving as a visual element. The front airdam has also received some tasteful attention, and Lorinser offers performance upgrades to back up the high-powered looks. Unlike some of the entry-level MBZ crowd, we'd rather the car be the high-powered one in a zoot suit.
Gallery: C Class by Lorinser
[Source: World Car Fans]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Keija 4:10PM (3/17/2007)
i don't think that this car (tuned as well as the standard versoin) has a good design! way too unharmonic yet boring (i think!)
greetz Keija
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ICU 5:06PM (3/17/2007)
it looks cheap.
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Stealth E34 5:29PM (3/17/2007)
Give me the American grille and get rid of the side gills and we have a deal.
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larrybird 6:17PM (3/17/2007)
wow, someone has a serious problem with yuppies... calling them "lecherous" is a bit presumptuous though, isn't it?
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DPC car videos 7:41PM (3/17/2007)
Never liked Lorinser tuned cars, if you want a nice sporty benz just buy the AMG cars from Mercedes.
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Ben 9:02PM (3/17/2007)
See, and I always thought that it was the 3 series owners that were the "nouveau riche new graduate[s]" that were "treat[ing] themselves to a slice of flashy bourgeois pie".
C-class owners have a median age of close to 50....
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Mike G 11:02PM (3/17/2007)
3 series owners are the "nouveau riche new graduates", because they're smart enough to choose a car that connotes wealth AND good looks. C class buyers are so old that they can't see that well and just settle on a Mercedes because they used to be the top marque, like in the 80s. Out of touch.
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Agent MOO 12:30AM (3/18/2007)
The body kit really clashes with the lines of the body. All I can think of is the new sebring riced out...
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Louis Duran 1:53AM (3/18/2007)
Slight correction. The Class isn't entry level for all North America. Unfortunately, the C-class is entry level in US only now. MB Canada has made the B-Class entry level there. No B-Class for US for a while.
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Aki 2:06AM (3/18/2007)
"3 series owners are the "nouveau riche new graduates", because they're smart enough to choose a car that connotes wealth AND good looks."
No, 3-series owners are typically marketing fodder who think iPod's are a must-have in addition to overpriced grande latte's with non-fat soy milk from an overpriced Seattle-based coffee joint. Not saying 3-series isn't a well-made car, but most people drive it like they would a Camry, and pat themselves on the back having peace of mind that the car can handle well--though their aesthetic-conscious insecuries would never allow themselves to.
Back on topic, that's quite possibly the ugliest Lorinser I've seen. Little vents on the side skirts, and the gaudy gills look like something you'd see on a trashy Civic "show" car.
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G 4:17AM (3/18/2007)
You've gotta be pretty retarded to buy the C-Class Benz, Lorinser or not. When the 3 series and Lexus IS250/350 own it completely, buying a C-Class is basically proof you know nothing about cars and bought it for the logo.
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nagmashot 6:44AM (3/18/2007)
#11 I wanna see a single Lexus IS 250/350 owning a C 63 MAG... I only can laugh about such silly comments... the IS250/350 is a average car!
Not fast
Not sporty and not cheaper as a C230 with the same power as the IS 250.
Making such comments like yours realy proof that you know nothing at all about cars!
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Howard Kerr 10:42AM (3/18/2007)
Just 2 thoughts:
1.) In my part of the country, C-Class Benzs are driven almost exclusively by women, MATURE women who think a 3 series is too much of a sports car.
2.) I had to read the "headline" to this article...
I thought I was looking at the pix of a
Cadillac CTS "tuner car"
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J 3:26PM (3/18/2007)
I'll take a Infiniti G35 over this any day.
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BOB 5:13PM (3/18/2007)
-- C CLASS IS DRIVEN BY SNOOTY REPUBLICAN WANNABES, MALE OR FEMALE, WHO WANT TO LOOK SUBSTANTIAL
-- 3 SERIES BY POSEURS, ACTUAL SPORT SEDAN LOVERS, AND GAY BOYS, PEOPLE WHO WANT TO LOOK LIKE THEY HAVE SEX
-- LEXUS IS BY RICEROCKET FANS WHO DID NOT GROW UP TO BETTER TASTE, PEOPLE WHO WANT TO LOOK AS IF THEY CAN GET AN ERECTION
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BOB 5:15PM (3/18/2007)
-- #12, congratulations on your struggle to learn English, but spell check should be your best friend, for now.
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Pouya 4:21AM (3/19/2007)
This car has an awful stance and the lines do not flow well at all. It looks like the designers copy/pasted a bunch of parts together without worrying much about the overall bulky and awkward result.
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viable 10:45PM (3/18/2007)
"You've gotta be pretty retarded to buy the C-Class Benz, Lorinser or not. When the 3 series and Lexus IS250/350 own it completely, buying a C-Class is basically proof you know nothing about cars and bought it for the logo."
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHA
Anyone who buys a f***in Lexus is just following the crowd and wasting money on an expensive Toyota with some added chrome! Lexus is nothing but a wannabe!
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