This all-new 2021 C-Class prototype spotted anywhere
in the world, and as you can see, it’s fully camouflaged, with body cladding
front and rear in order to help mask its true overall shape. While some people weren’t all that excited
about Mercedes‘ copy/paste design philosophy,
sales numbers told a much different story, showing just how successful you can
be when you implement a very elegant exterior design.
It would have been highly unlikely for Mercedes to
give up on that notion and make the 2021 C-Class look unlike the upcoming
S-Class, which has been making the rounds for quite some time now, also under
camouflage. Bottom line, here’s what we see. We see a similar shoulder line to
that of the next S-Class, and a low slung front fascia, also shared by both
prototypes. The crease on the side of the car is a little more pronounced than
on the current W205 model, and curbs upwards toward the rear wheel arch, sort
of like on the 2019 A-Class and A-Class Sedan. The end result should of course
be a product that’s been “sensually purified” by Mercedes’ design boffins.
A 2020 S-Class prototype spied earlier
this year only had one single large display behind the steering wheel. This
could mean a number of things. Mercedes might look to implement a
different type of infotainment display moving forward, perhaps one that’s
positioned further back or more towards the center console, like Audi‘s been
doing recently. Of course, that prototype could have simply been an early
development tester.
It’s doubtful that Mercedes would hold anything back
with the new C-Class, so expect it to either feature whatever the upcoming S is
getting inside, or at least the dual-screen setup we’ve all been waiting for. With on-board tech, there should
be plenty of it – in the sense that whatever the new G20 3-Series can do, the
next C-Class will be able to replicate and probably even build upon, seen as
how the ball is currently in Mercedes’ court.
Even though there haven’t been any rumblings
regarding the new C-Class’ engine range, it should still feature a wide array
of petrol and diesel units, to go with plug-in hybrid versions. As for a fully
electric model, reports indicate that Mercedes might save such an option for a
future EQ sports executive saloon. Seen as how the C-Class has
always had a life cycle of roughly seven years, it’s unlikely that we’ll get to
see the brand new car anytime before 2020 – and that’s if Mercedes rushes it a
little bit (which they should).