We’re only a few months away from Mercedes unveiling their latest BMW 3-Series rival in the all-new W206 C-Class, arriving with the same rear-wheel / four-wheel drive setup as before. Its styling should resemble that of the latest S-Class, as well as the facelifted E-Class, although we can’t say for certain which of the two it takes after more as long as these prototypes keep showing up with camouflage tape all over their front and rear fascias.
This particular prototype, while very
similar to that other blue test car we showed you back in November, is missing
some of that vehicle’s sporty elements, such as the AMG wheels and Night
Package (glossy black trim). It does however come with AMG Line bumpers and
skirts. Compared to its predecessor, the new C-Class features sleeker
headlights, new door handles, a new shoulder line, and horizontal teardrop
taillights that are positioned higher up on the boot lid than on the E or
S-Class.
It’s quite possible that the C-Class’s
compact dimensions will match up well with Mercedes‘ latest design language,
perhaps even better than with any of the carmaker’s other new sedans. The good
news is that we’ll soon find out whether that’s true or not. s for the
interior, it borrows heavily from the latest S-Class, boasting a free-standing
digital gauge cluster and a portrait-style infotainment display. It should be
among the, if not the most modern-looking interiors in the segment.
The all-new C-Class will be powered by a
wide range of 48-volt EQ Boost mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid drivetrains, with
flagship AMG models possibly ditching their 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 units if
you believe the latest reports, which talk about Mercedes introducing a four
cylinder-only engine range.
