Design: At its launch, the C-Class was notable for having two distinct brands of styling. The Elegance model had the classic Mercedes-Benz grille and upright chrome logo on the hood. This gave it a more stately (read: sedate) appearance. On the other hand, the Avantgarde line carried the styling of the sports models, with a large three-pointed star mounted in the middle of the grille. The upright hood ornament disappears, replaced with a flat Mercedes badge, again as on sports cars like the SL and SLK.
The 2011 C-Class updates the looks by, not surprisingly, changing the headlamps, taillights and minor details. The headlamps now bulge and sweep up at the corners, not unlike its Bavarian counterpart. LED technology is used for the daytime running lights built into the headlamp clusters, as well as on the taillights. An aluminum hood helps to reduce weight.
Engine and transmission: There are five models available at launch: C 180 CGI, C 180 CGI Avantgarde, C 200 CGI Avantgarde, C 250 CGI Avantgarde, and the C 300 Avantgarde AMG Sport. The 180, 200, and 250 actually use variants of the four-cylinder, 1.8-liter engine. Turbocharging and direct injection bump up the power and torque. Output varies from 156 hp on the C 180 to 204 hp in the C 250. For the C 250, torque is healthy 310 Nm, from as low as 2000 rpm.
The engines have been tweaked to make them more fuel efficient. All engines pair with a 7-speed automatic transmission, feeding power to the rear wheels.
Suspension: Mercedes has been saying that this is the sportiest C-Class yet. Using MacPherson struts up front and independent multi-link suspension at the rear, the C has been tuned to have a compliant ride, yet deliver the goods when cornering. This was borne out by the current model, during comparisons with its German and Japanese rivals, and gives reason to expect that the 2011 car will be similarly well-balanced.
Built in: Sindelfingen and Bremen, Germany. Where else can you still find an available Becker radio?