Mercedes-Benz introduces C Class Coupe in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, MAY 22 — Mercedes-Benz Malaysia introduced the new C Class Coupe, its latest addition to the Mercedes-Benz Dream Cars Collection. Sporty, thrilling and fascinating, this coupe will appeal to both genders with its great looks and equally great driving dynamics, not to mention a certain sense of exclusivity, since it is a CBU (fully imported) unit. The C Class Coupe is the sporty variant of the C Class, targeted at those who like the Mercedes-Benz brand, but want something more than the ordinary sedan, and are willing to pay for it.

“The new C-Class Coupe continues the philosophy of our exciting coupes, an embodiment that makes our brand fascinating. It is the symbol of perfect proportions, combining thrilling design with agile sportiness and modern luxury. The C-Class Coupé therefore clearly pledges itself to stylish driving experience,” says Mark Raine, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia.

The C Class Coupe shares the same platform as the sedan, but comes in a two-door body, and a coupe rendition at the rear end — the front doors are frameless, and are longer than in the sedan to allow easier ingress and egress from the rear seats, and the coupe remains a four (or five at a squeeze) seater. Visually, it does appear the rear head room may be somewhat less than in the sedan on account of the low-slung roof. The coupe also sits 36mm lower than the sedan. The suspension is 15mm lower than that of the sedan, and while the C 200 Coupe gets 18-inch AMG 5-spoke wheels, while the C 250 Coupe and the C 300 Coupe gets 19-inch multi-spoke AMG wheels.

An interior reflecting the Mercedes-Benz design philosophy of sensual purity combining emotion with intelligence.

The interior is likewise a statement of the Mercedes-Benz design philosophy of sensual purity, combining emotion with intelligence. Driver and passengers enjoy an ambience that leans toward the interior of the C-Class sedan yet raises it to a new, sporty level. The individually combined trim elements underscore the sporty character of the interior. A seating system including integral sports seats designed specifically for the Coupé offers sporty comfort. An automatic belt extender also offers convenience. The choice of materials and the workmanship have a hand-crafted feel with high-class appeal and deliver a new take on modern luxury: sportiness without compromising on comfort and exquisite style. The unique position of the new C-Class Coupe is emphasised by the special upholstery colour combinations of saddle brown and black and porcelain.

Each of the variants comes in AMG Line as standard, with special bumpers and sills featuring AMG body styling, a diamond radiator grille with pins in chrome. Interior highlights of the AMG Line include sportily exclusive touches such as upholstery in ARTICO man-made leather/DINAMICA microfibre in black with contrasting topstitching, a multifunction sports steering wheel with flat bottom and AMG sports pedals. The trim in open-pore black ash, combined with aluminium in the dashboard and the doors, emphasise the AMG look.

The new multimedia generation offers intuitive controls with animations and visual effects. Frontbass ensures a listening experience almost on a par with a concert hall – especially if the car is equipped with the Burmester® sound system, available as standard in the C230 Coupe and C 300 Coupe. The Frontbass system uses the space within the cross-member and side member in the body structure as a resonance chamber for the bass speakers.

The suspension of the new C-Class Coupe is said to offer a high level of comfort with low road roar and tyre vibration whilst ensuring agile driving dynamics – the basis for driving pleasure, something we have to test to verify for ourselves.

A new 4-link front axle with wheel suspension decoupled from the spring strut plays a part in the agile handling characteristics. This enables sporty axle kinematics for plenty of grip and high lateral stability. As a result, the suspension responds more sensitively to steering movements and allows a sporty, agile driving style. Multi-link independent rear suspension with 5 links ensures excellent wheel location qualities and supreme straight-line stability.

Two suspensions with selective damping are available in conjunction with this system. All the variants ride 15mm lower than the sedan, which by itself provides a more sporty performance, while the C 250 Coupe and C300 Coupe are said to be equipped with tauter springing and damping.

The pick of three petrol powerhouses are available.

Powerful and efficient four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines with ECO start/stop function provide for sporty performance and driving pleasure. All are compliant with the Euro 6 emissions standard. Three petrol engines are available for the Coupe. The output spectrum ranges from the two-litre C 200 (135 kW/184 hp) and C 250 (155 kW/211 hp) models and the C 300, likewise with a displacement of two litres but with an output of 180 kW/245 hp. Power is sent to the road via the 7G-TRONIC PLUS 7-speed automatic transmission.

Drivers can choose the character of their Coupe at the push of a button: sporty, comfortable or consumption-optimised. To this end, the driver can select one of five driving modes using the DYNAMIC SELECT switch: “ECO”, “Comfort”, “Sport”, “Sport +” and “Individual”. Selecting “Individual” allows the driver to customise the vehicle settings to personal preferences.

Intelligent lightweight construction with a higher proportion of aluminium helps make the Coupe lighter than its predecessor. Light-alloy components include the wings, bonnet and boot lid. At the same time, the body is now much stiffer and stronger thanks to the use of high-strength materials, which has a positive effect on not only driving dynamics and noise levels but also crash safety. 

Mercedes-Benz is setting the pace in the field of aerodynamics and offers the C Class with the best drag coefficients in almost all vehicle categories.

Mercedes-Benz is setting the pace in the field of aerodynamics and offers the cars with the best drag coefficients (Cd values) in almost all vehicle categories. The new C-Class Coupe boasts a Cd value of 0.26. This leading figure pays off above all when driving on country roads and motorways as wind resistance is greater than other forms of driving resistance at speeds above 70 km/h.

 There is a host of safety and assistance systems based on the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive concept to choose from on board. ATTENTION ASSIST with adjustable sensitivity, which can warn the driver of inattentiveness and drowsiness, is included as standard. Further standard equipment includes COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS. Apart from a visual proximity warning and an additional audible collision warning, it includes Adaptive Brake Assist, which can help prevent collisions by boosting the brake pressure commensurate with the situation. When a danger of collision persists and the driver fails to respond, the system is able to carry out autonomous braking at speeds of up to 200 km/h, thereby reducing the severity of collisions with slower or stopping vehicles or, in the best-case scenario, even avoiding the collision altogether. At speeds of up to 50 km/h, the system also brakes in response to stationary vehicles and is thus able to help prevent rear-end collisions at up to 40 km/h.

In addition to 3-point seat belts with pyrotechnical belt tensioning and belt-force limitation for driver, front passenger and rear passengers, numerous airbags serve to protect the vehicle's occupants in an accident. Services include: 

Frontal protection systems: Adaptive front airbags for driver and front passenger, additionally with a kneebag on the driver's side and

Side protection systems: Thorax/pelvis bags for driver and front passenger plus front and rear windowbags, with rear sidebags.

COMAND Online in the C 300 Coupé provides not only a larger display with a resolution of 960 x 540 pixels, it also allows digital TV/radio reception and, in addition to many other features, offers fast hard-disc navigation, integral W-LAN hotspot functionality and the LINGUATRONIC voice control system. The Audio 20 CD (available in C 200 Coupé and C 250 Coupé) and COMAND Online all offer basic telephony as standard, which links up a mobile phone to the vehicle via a standardised Bluetooth® interface.

The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe at a glance: