New Benz C-Class set to arrive in Malaysia

Arriving a few months after its International debut at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year, the latest C-Class is 7.3 inches longer, 3.6 inches wider, and 1.9 inches taller with a wheelbase that is 3.8 inches longer and not forgetting its curb weight has gone up about a hundred kilos or so depending on engine options. This confirms our first impression of the increased cabin space and better rear leg and shoulder room. The boot space of the new car has also increased to a vast 17 cubic feet, five more than in the previous car.

New chunky door handles open up to a high quality new cabin that mimics the interior of the much larger S-Class. In-fact many features are carried over from the S-Class and packaged into this new executive coach. The new. A new instrument panel features a new 'pop-up' information/navigation screen at the top of the centre stack in the middle of the dashboard, where it is more easily viewed by the driver and passengers. Control functions displayed on the screen for the climate control, in-car entertainment, telephone and navigation system can be operated by the driver or passenger via a round aluminum dial beside the driver on the lower centre console.

Our test C 350 takes just 6.4 seconds to get from 0 to 100km/h and we have no reason to doubt the claims as we planted our right foot after every red light heading out of the city. Hard throttle response was not jerky and the V6 engine and seven-speed transmission worked very smoothly together. To top it all off the cabin was very quiet with only impending engine roar creeping in at higher revs. Standard ventilated disc brakes include some new features: while stopped on a grade, the brakes will apply automatically until you press the accelerator; on wet roads, the brakes will dry themselves; and in critical braking situations, the brakes will prime themselves for panic braking. The sport button activates what Mercedes calls Advanced Agility (an enhancement to the sport's standard Agility Control package), a system designed to firm up the 350 Sport's self-adjusting suspension dampers and optimize throttle response. In addition, a quicker steering ratio and speed-sensitive steering help improve the wheel feel. With the seven-speed in sport mode, more aggressive gear shifting can be enjoyed at the steering wheel with the paddle shifters sitting on the wheel.

This new C-Class will definitely have a waiting list as you read this to decide on its purchase and even the new range of smaller power and efficient engines will leave little for the competitors to comment on. The new increased dimensions inside and outside, stylish coachwork, quality fitment and materials and the increased level of driver feedback and handling has put the C-Class back on top of the segment ladder without a doubt.

Specifications for the Mercedes Benz C-Class C350 V6

Engine: 3498 V6
Gearbox: 7-speed semi-automatic transmission
Max power: 272bhp
Max torque: 350 Nm @ 2400 rpm
Top Speed: 250km/h restricted0-100 km/h: 6.4 secs