Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has launched the all-new Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe, its latest addition to the Mercedes-Benz Dream Cars Collection. As the sportiest variant of the C-Class, the Coupe displays an athletic and distinctive design and a perfectly proportioned rear.
“The new C-Class Coupé continues the philosophy of our exciting coupés, 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.
Now, I’ve been delving in automotive writing for a couple of years now and I have a confession; I’ve never driven on the Sepang track before! I’ve had my share of being ‘on’ track there before but never behind the steering wheel and my virgin experience here, I gladly give to Mercedes-Benz, what more one as seductive as the C-class Coupe. Here’s my story with it:-
Design
The Coupe has a sporty striking front section featuring diamond radiator grille with a single bar instead of two found in its sister sedan and a long bonnet that seemingly flows into a bold and powerful-looking rear end. A high beltline and frameless doors with free-standing exterior mirrors underscore the sporty character.
It cuts through the wind with a drag coefficient value of 0.26, making it one of the least wind resistant vehicle on the move
One particular highlight is the long drawn-out dropping line typical of a coupé. In contrast to the C-Class sedan, the dropping line extends further past the rear wheel arch. To underscore the Coupé’s sporty disposition, the suspension is 15 millimetres lower than the sedan, giving it a very sporty stance when combined with the 18-inch AMG 5-spoke light alloy wheels on the C 200 Coupé and 19-inch AMG multi-spoke alloy wheels in the C 250 Coupé and C 300 Coupé
Performance
Three petrol engines are available for the Coupé. The output spectrum ranges from the two-litre high-pressure injection are:-
C 200 Coupe
Engine: 184 hp @ 5,500rpm, max torque 300Nm @ 1,200 – 4,000rpm
0-100km/h: 7.3 seconds
Top speed: 235km/h
Rated fuel consumption: 5.4-5.9l/100km
C 250 Coupe
Engine: 211 hp @ 5,500rpm, max torque 350Nm @ 1,200 – 4,000rpm
0-100km/h: 6.8 seconds
Top speed: 250km/h
Rated fuel consumption: 5.4-5.9l/100km
C300
Engine: 245 hp @ 5,500rpm, max torque 370Nm @ 1,200 – 4,000rpm
0-100km/h: 6.0 seconds
Top speed: 250km/h
Rated fuel consumption: 6.3-6.8l/100km,
Power is sent to the road via the 7G-TRONIC PLUS 7-speed automatic transmission.
Drivers can choose the character of their Coupé 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.
We were all given the opportunity to sample the vehicle for two laps on track and I ended up with the C200, which is fine considering it’s the more affordable option. Affordable but not any less capable. There is more than sufficient grunt to get the vehicle moving yet you don’t get huge amounts of power shoving you against your seat. Instead, power, while abundant is granted in a gradual and easily modulated manner. Too much? Lessen the pressure on the pedal and you’re good. Which doesn’t happen often, really because all you’d want to do is Go Go Go.
Ride and Handling
As I’ve said, this is my first time on Sepang track so I wasn’t very sure of the bends. The first run was a bit – tentative but the caution proved to be unnecessary. The capable suspension of the new C-Class Coupé offers a high level of comfort with low road roar and tyre vibration whilst ensuring agile driving dynamics. Push it a little harder at the corners and the Coupe rewards you with a playful slide – like dancer revealing a naked leg as she twirls around. And when you feel your heart had enough excitement, pulling the tail back in is simple, easy and effortless.
The reason for this is a new 4-link front axle with wheel suspension decoupled from the spring strut. 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. On wide corners, I could progressively add more speed, acutely feeling the fine balance of the vehicle at every second.
Two suspensions with selective damping are available in conjunction with this system.
- comfortable AGILITY CONTROL suspension with sporty character and a ride height lowered by 15 millimetres compared with the C-Class saloon on the C 200 Coupé and
- sports suspension with tauter springing and damping including Sports Direct-Steer system for even more agile handling on the C 250 Coupé and C 300 Coupé.
Cabin Convenience
Inside is a statement of the Mercedes-Benz design philosophy of sensual purity, combining emotion with intelligence. Driver and passengers enjoy an ambiance that leans toward the interior of the C-Class sedan yet raises it to a new, sporty level. Flowing forms characterise the centre console as well as the door and rear side panelling, which smoothly merge into one another to emphasise the coupé character. 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 Coupé is emphasised by the special upholstery colour combinations of saddle brown and black and porcelain.
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. 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 Burmester® sound system is available as standard in the C 250 Coupé and C 300 Coupé.
A Bluetooth®-compatible mobile phone with data option and tethering feature is all it takes to make even the Audio 20 system internet-capable. This enables surfing the internet without restrictions when the vehicle is stationary. Mercedes-Benz Apps can be used while driving. Audio and video playback is possible from various sources.
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.
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 look.
You can forget about placing adults taller than 5.5 feet at the back. Both leg and head room is lacking and best suited for children – or Tyrion Lannister.
The trade-off for the poor rear space is excellent boot space. More than enough for a couple of golf bags.
Safety
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.
Additional assistance systems with substantially expanded functions are available, combining data from various sensor technologies such as radar sensors and a stereo camera as part of the Intelligent Drive concept to significantly enhance comfort and safety.
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.
Specifications
C200 Coupe
Exterior
- AMG Line exterior
- Twin pipe exhaust system
- AMG Body styling
- 18-inch AMG 5-spoke light-alloy wheels
- Automatically Dimming Interior Mirror and Driver’s Side Exterior Mirror, Electrically Folding and Adjustable
- Surround Lighting
- LED High Performance Headlamp
Interior
- ARTICO leather upholstery
- AMG Line interior
- Illuminated door sill panels
- Interior Lighting Package
- Through-loading feature
- THERMATIC automatic climate control
- KEYLESS-GO
- KEYLESS-GO Starting Function
- Windscreen wiper with rain sensor
- Cruise control with SPEEDTRONIC speed limiter
- Electrically adjustable driver’s seat and front passenger’s seat with memory
- Active parking assist
- Reverse camera
- Adjustable lumbar support
- Audio 20 with CD Player
- Garmin MAP Pilot
- Touch Pad
C250 Coupe
In addition to the C200 Coupe unless specified otherwise
- 19-inch AMG multi-spoke alloy wheels
- Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus
- ARTICO leather on upper section of dashboard
- Remote bootlid closing
C300 Coupe
In addition to the C200 Coupe and C250 Coupe unless specified otherwise
- Sports exhaust system
- Electric panoramic sliding glass sunroof
- Black open pore ash wood trim
- Analogue clock
- HANDS FREE ACCESS
Ownership and Maintenance
The C200 Coupe retails for RM308,888.00, the C250 Coupe for RM333,888.00 and the C300 Coupe asks for RM388,888.00. All prices are inclusive of GST, excluding insurance. Like all Mercedes-Benz sold in Malaysia, the Coupe comes with a 4-years unlimited mileage warranty.
Is it worth it?
Two words: Hell yeah!
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