Curb Zone - View Single Post - TheCarConnection: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Merc1 · 03-19-2007, 12:18 AM

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the original Mercedes-Benz 190, a little car that led to some big changes, not only in Stuttgart , but across the entire automotive industry.

Whether or not to launch such a small car led to "an intense debate," recalls Juergen Hubbert, the former boss of the Teutonic brand, and a man known to many as "Dr. Mercedes." Back in the early 1980s, the definition of a luxury car was rigid and narrowly defined, perhaps best personified by the likes of the big Benz S-Class and slightly smaller E-Class. A compact? Verboten, argued the traditionalists. But in the wake of the second Mideast oil crisis, consumers were clamoring for something smaller and more fuel-efficient, and the radicals won.

It's easy to understand why there were so many folks inside Mercedes worried about the baby Benz. It was more than just a downsized S-Class - or perhaps less, if you prefer. On the most basic 190 models, there were cloth seats with mechanical adjusters and none of the electronic and mechanical niceties you normally associate with a Mercedes. Wood and leather yielded to inexpensive plastic. The exterior design was clunky and awkward, and the interior layout was unpleasantly inefficient, with virtually no leg room for back seat passengers.

Yet despite its drawbacks, the baby Benz proved an immediate hit with consumers around the world. It quickly demonstrated that size alone is not the measure of a luxury car. And at Mercedes, that led to a dramatic change in strategy. Back in the early '80s, you could count the marque's various models on one hand. Today, you'll run short of fingers and toes, with a range that includes the classic S- and E-; the 190's descendant, the C-Class; the SL, SLK and SLR; the CL and CLK; and, well, the list just keeps going.

Cont..........

Prices won't be announced until later this year, but we were told the goal was to maintain the numbers at current levels. If that proves accurate, expect a base C350 at around $40,000, and the C300 around $35,000 (a bit more than the current C280).

The original baby Benz was a real eye-opener in its day. The sedan didn't quite live up to luxury expectations, but it certainly stretched the design envelope and helped transform industry boundaries.

The new, fourth-generation C-Class is just about everything earlier buyers would have liked: it's stylish, swift and lavishly-equipped, even without all the option packages. While BMW still sets the benchmark for small and sporty, the new C- gives good chase, and it's hard to find anything more elegant in its class. Considering all the competition, it may be difficult for Mercedes to match the record sales numbers of 2001, but if any car can capture the heart, mind and pocketbook of entry-luxury buyers, the new C-Class is it.

Full Article:

2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Car Reviews - The Car Connection

M

03-19-2007, 12:18 AM	#1 (permalink)
Merc1 Contributor Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Aurora IL USA Posts: 4,955 Thanks: 363 Thanked 672 Times in 346 Posts	TheCarConnection: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class This year marks the 25th anniversary of the original Mercedes-Benz 190, a little car that led to some big changes, not only in Stuttgart , but across the entire automotive industry. Whether or not to launch such a small car led to "an intense debate," recalls Juergen Hubbert, the former boss of the Teutonic brand, and a man known to many as "Dr. Mercedes." Back in the early 1980s, the definition of a luxury car was rigid and narrowly defined, perhaps best personified by the likes of the big Benz S-Class and slightly smaller E-Class. A compact? Verboten, argued the traditionalists. But in the wake of the second Mideast oil crisis, consumers were clamoring for something smaller and more fuel-efficient, and the radicals won. It's easy to understand why there were so many folks inside Mercedes worried about the baby Benz. It was more than just a downsized S-Class - or perhaps less, if you prefer. On the most basic 190 models, there were cloth seats with mechanical adjusters and none of the electronic and mechanical niceties you normally associate with a Mercedes. Wood and leather yielded to inexpensive plastic. The exterior design was clunky and awkward, and the interior layout was unpleasantly inefficient, with virtually no leg room for back seat passengers. Yet despite its drawbacks, the baby Benz proved an immediate hit with consumers around the world. It quickly demonstrated that size alone is not the measure of a luxury car. And at Mercedes, that led to a dramatic change in strategy. Back in the early '80s, you could count the marque's various models on one hand. Today, you'll run short of fingers and toes, with a range that includes the classic S- and E-; the 190's descendant, the C-Class; the SL, SLK and SLR; the CL and CLK; and, well, the list just keeps going. Cont.......... Prices won't be announced until later this year, but we were told the goal was to maintain the numbers at current levels. If that proves accurate, expect a base C350 at around $40,000, and the C300 around $35,000 (a bit more than the current C280). The original baby Benz was a real eye-opener in its day. The sedan didn't quite live up to luxury expectations, but it certainly stretched the design envelope and helped transform industry boundaries. The new, fourth-generation C-Class is just about everything earlier buyers would have liked: it's stylish, swift and lavishly-equipped, even without all the option packages. While BMW still sets the benchmark for small and sporty, the new C- gives good chase, and it's hard to find anything more elegant in its class. Considering all the competition, it may be difficult for Mercedes to match the record sales numbers of 2001, but if any car can capture the heart, mind and pocketbook of entry-luxury buyers, the new C-Class is it. Full Article: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Car Reviews - The Car Connection M