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By Brian Afuang
Backed by 25 years of
commercially and critically successful pedigree, the all-new
fourth-generation Mercedes-Benz C-Class is all grown up but not
grown old, thanks to styling and tech features that’s crisper and
more dynamic than ever. On June 21, CATS Motors Inc., the
Philippines’ official distributor of DaimlerChrysler products,
took the wraps off this latest Mercedes baby to mark its official
debut in the country—ahead of other South East Asian markets at
that.
Already a success even before it
rolled out onto showrooms in Europe, CATS Motors president Felix Ang
said in his introductory speech that they aim to replicate the new
C-Class’s success there and create the same wave of the excitement
here, although he admitted that that would be quite a challenge for
them.
“But we are optimistic that the
new C-Class will present itself as the definitive, and therefore the
most desirable, car in its segment,” Ang said.
CATS Motors chairman Greg Yu
apparently shares the same optimism, and not only on the new C but
on the Mercedes brand in general. Yu cited figures that point the
brand’s growth in the market.
“Our sales volume grew by 6
percent in 2005 as the luxury car segment fell by 5 percent. In 2006
we grew 48 percent while the luxury car segment grew only 3 percent.
As of May this year, we have grown 36 percent while the luxury car
segment fell by 1 percent.
“From a perennial third in
terms of market share in the segment, Mercedes-Benz took the No. 2
slot in January and the gap between No.1 and No.2 is slowly
narrowing,” Yu said.
Now where does Mercedes bet its
future success on? You guessed right; on the new C-Class.
C for yourself
The new C is cleverly offered in
two distinct packages, Mercedes apparently intent on widening its
target range and ensuring the car remains true to tradition as the
company bestseller. As a marketing tact, the two variants are easily
recognizable through their grille designs, identifying which of them
is the athletic jock and which is the sophisticated gent.
First of the twin is the
Avantgarde model. Geared toward sporty driving, the Avantgarde has
three prominent louvers in its grille with a huge Mercedes
three-pointed star sitting right smack in the middle—just like any
sporty Mercedes model both past and present. Complementing this are
a host of features that promote spirited driving, presumably things
like a differently tuned suspension, aggressive rubbers and more
sporty interior appointments. To enhance its youthful character, the
Avantgarde can be fitted with an AMG sports package that includes a
full body kit treatment.
The other variant is called the
Elegance, a name that should already explain its target market. The
Elegance has a fancier, shinier, and generally more ornamental
grille, and has a ride quality and interior bits that are more
luxury oriented.
Whatever variant, however, the
new C offers features that would make a techie burst into his
alphanumeric chants. To tick off the car’s list of Inspector
Gadgets gizmos, the C boasts of the Agility Control package whose
shock absorbers automatically adapt to road conditions, has a
steering unit that’s 6 percent more direct—and therefore
quicker—than what the previous C had, and a short-throw gear
shifter for the manual versions.
Another feature is the Adaptive
Brake system, which is essentially an ABS with a PhD. With
technology lifted directly off Mercedes’ flagship S-Class, the
C’s Adaptive Brake has a Start-Off Assist function that’s useful
when driving steep inclines and can dry its own discs when driving
in the wet.
Other safety features abound like
a preventive occupant protection system called the PRE-SAFE and the
Intelligent Lighting System with bi-Xenon lamps and has five
different functions. Mercedes says the optional Linguatronic system
sets new standards in computerized voice recognition, the device
allowing the C’s driver to take phone calls and text messages
hands-free through the wonders of Bluetooth, and the trick Command
Control and Display that integrates a 4-gig music server, DVD player
and phone connector through an iPod-like interface. Needless to say,
that thing is sweet.
The power of C
A host of four- and six-cylinder
engines are available, the four-pot variant now developing around 18
percent more torque than in the previous model. Meanwhile, the V6
models remain unchanged, although the top-model variant packs the
company’s vaunted 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission as
standard.
C them all
CATS is offering the new C-Class
in a wide array of choices. Starting with the C200, the Elegance
model is priced at P2.880 million and the Avantgarde at P2.980
million. The C280 Avantgarde sells for P3.980 million. Now shell out
P4.480 million and you get the top-model C350 Avantgarde with the
AMG package—not to mention all that class.
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