The new generation of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, available as a saloon and station wagon, takes a number of design cues from the new S-Class. Purity of line, long wheelbase, short overhangs, soft volumes and minimised surface edges. “We have designed the most sensual C-Class ever thanks to our Sensual Purity design philosophy,” says Gorden Wagener, head of design at Daimler. We drove the new C-Class saloon in Tuscany and found it to be precise, comfortable to drive and with a truly premium interior. The new infotainment system’s layout on a vertical screen is intuitive, fast and brings together all the car’s main settings, including the climate control section.
The windscreen and cabin are set back to give the impression of continuous movement, “details fuelled by perfect proportions and bold, sporty shapes”, continues Wagener. The profile is characterised by two ribs: the first, higher, encircles the waistline and starts at the height of the front wing, reaching as far as the headlights; the second, lower, defines the wheelbase and runs along the entire side above the sill. In the Station Wagon version, the roofline in combination with the sloping rear window add a sporty touch without functional compromise.
The interior follows the digital revolution ushered in by the new S-Class. As with the flagship, the designers have opted for a minimalist configuration for the C-Class, with a vertically positioned 9.5 or 11.9 inch screen installed at the end of the centre console. The instrumentation, on the other hand, is conveyed by a 10.2 or 12.3 inch horizontal high-resolution floating display positioned in front of the driver.
The layout of the passenger compartment follows a rational and uncluttered profile, oriented towards minimalism. The level of customisation of materials, colours and finishes is high. The door covers, modern and with reduced lines, envelop the instrument panel. The dimensions have increased for the saloon and station wagon: the new C-Class is 4.7 metres long, 1.8 metres wide and has a wheelbase of 2.8 metres, while the roof profile has been lowered by 1 centimetre. All petrol and diesel engines in the new model will be offered in an electrified version.
