We drive Merc's new pocket rockets
2005-08-12 10:03
The Mercedes-Benz C350
Author: John Oxley
Mercedes-Benz fans get a feast with the announcement of four new V6 engines that give more power, more torque, and equal or better fuel economy than the ones they replace.
Top of the tree is the new C350. This gets scintillating performance from its 200 kW 3.5-litre V6 motor, rivaling BMW's 330i model. Top speed of the C350 is limited to 250 km/h, while its 0 - 100 km/h time of just 6.4 seconds is 1.3 seconds faster than that of the outgoing C320.
And that's with the standard fitment 7G-TRONIC 7-speed automatic gearbox.
At the same time the suspension has been beefed-up to cope with the extra power, while the lighter weight of the new all-alloy engine makes for cleaner, crisper handling. Alloy wheels shod with fat rubber - 225/45 R 17 - are standard.
Safety is improved by standard fitment of MB's NECK-PRO anti-whiplash - it's now standard across the whole C-Class range. Other changes include more logical controls for the air conditioning, plus a new entry/exit aid setup that ensures rear seat passengers aren't "trapped" when the driver gets in or out of the car.
And the optional CD changer is now MP3 compatible.
On the road this car proves to be a real road rocket, yet at no time does it feel "over-powered".
The suspension is firmer than on the C280 - more anon about that one - without having the spine-jarring ride we encountered later on a car with the optional sports package.
Brakes
The car feels absolutely rock-steady in all conditions, while brakes - not always an MB strongpoint - are right up to the job in hand, even when pulling down from very high speeds.
Comfort, of course, is a big issue, and the car has an excellent combination of fine handling and good ride quality.
However the big thing here is the massive torque, with 350 Nm of torque available from a lowly 2 400 r/min and kept constant right through to 5 000 r/min. This makes for strong pulling power and swift mid-range acceleration, as well as relaxed cruising in top gear.
Add to this strong motor a smooth 7-speed gearbox, with tiptronic operation, and it makes for a sports saloon de luxe.
The C350 sedan pricing starts at R377 000, and the estate at R388 000.
Next in the new range is the C280.
Ride quality
On the road I found this to be the best of the bunch in terms of its ride quality, yet at the same time it was certainly no compromise model, its handling almost on a par with that of the top-range model.
Interestingly, when I drove off I thought we were actually in the C350, such is the power and torque of the new 3-litre V6 which produces 170 kW at 6 000 r/min and has maximum torque of 300 Nm available from 2 500 r/min.
This represents an output increase of 45 kW versus the previous C240, which it replaces, accompanied by an approximate 12 % reduction in fuel consumption.
Acceleration sees 100 km/h from rest in 7 seconds, and again top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h.
Prices: Sedan R339 000, Estate: R349 000.
The new C230 Sport Coupe in front of C-Class sedan and Estate
New diesel
The third model in our C-Class triumvirate was the new turbo-diesel, the C320 CDI.
Ands wow, what a performer!
This one has a brand-new 3-litre V6 motor with intercooler and variable nozzle turbines to replace the outgoing 2.7-litre 5-cylinder, and it proves to be quite a revelation.
Torque, as expected, is absolutely seamless, with 400 Nm - approximately 80% of the maximum - on call from as low as 1 200 to 1 400 r/min.
Maximum power is 165 kW, while max. torque is 510 Nm from 1 600 to 2 800 r/min.
The V6 format already makes it smoother than the uneven 5-cylinder, but the addition of contra-rotating balance shafts in the crankcase evens out the pulses even more, and it's VERY hard to believe, yet alone hear or feel, that this is a diesel.
The 280 CDI is less lavishly equipped than the C350, with manual control of the seat squab (but still electric for the backrests).
Sports pack
The car we had on offer had the optional sports pack, which made for a very firm and mainly uncomfortable ride. We wouldn't recommend this, especially on the diesel model, and would rather opt for the standard suspension as found in the C280.
As with the rest of the V6 sedan and estate range, 7G-TRONIC is standard.
On the performance front, this is one mean diesel. Even in our very hard test driving we could not exceed 8 litres/100 km, backing up Mercedes-Benz claims of 7.1 litres/100 km overall average consumption.
Top speed is limited to 250 km/h, and the 0-100 km/h sprint is covered in 7.2 seconds.
The sedan starts at R362 000 and the estate at R373 000.
One car we didn't get to drive is the new C-Class sports model, the C230 Sport Coupe. This replaces the C230K, and although it keeps the same numbering, it now actually gets a 2.5-litre normally-aspirated V6 engine to replace the outgoing four-cylinder Kompressor motor.
There's no loss in power, though, with 150 kW available at 6 100 r/min and 245 Nm of torque between 2 900 r/min and 5 500 r/min.
Available with 7G-TRONIC, it costs R311 000.