Mercedes-Benz never does anything halfway at motor show time, so there's plenty of fresh metal on the stand here at the 2011 Geneva International Motor Show. The C-Class Coupe and SLK are all-new, the C63 AMG gets a facelift, and there are some interesting niche models, too.
For example, the new E200 NGT runs on either unleaded gasoline or natural gas, with jolt-free changeover when necessary. And the Viano Avantgarde Edition 125 is a high-chrome, 258-horsepower derivative that shows there's no need for Mercedes owners to go to a custom body shop. The automaker will do it for you before your Benzo leaves the factory.
But M-B's big news here in Switzerland is the C-Class. Seen for the first time ever, the C-Class is one of the automaker's true success stories. While the C-Class will eventually count the coupe shown here and AMG editions in its lineup, it will first arrive as a sedan, which makes perfect sense out of the return of the 4-cylinder engine, the first time one has been offer in a C in nearly a decade.
The coupe on display stands head and shoulders above the CLC it supersedes. It's a classic Mercedes design, dynamic yet sophisticated. It has the 3-box proportions that shout class, rather than the truncated hatchback design of yore. Doubtless the C-Class Coupe will be more expensive when it hits the showrooms in a few months, but it looks worth the extra green.
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What is it? The third-generation of Mercedes' small sports car.
What's makes it hot? Mercedes is particularly proud of two aspects of the new SLK, the roof and the efficiency. But there are improvements across the board, not least in the interior, where the previous model lacked the perceived quality of much of the Mercedes range. Magic Sky Control is the big deal with the roof. Now constructed largely of glass, the roof switches from light to dark at the touch of a button. When it's light, it offers an open-air experience even in cold weather. In dark mode, the interior stays cool even when the sun is blazing. Inevitably, even with sports cars these days, the SLK had to be cleaner and more fuel-efficient. The base SLK 200 produces a decent 184 horsepower but promised class-leading economy of 46.3 mpg and carbon-dioxide emissions of 142g/km with the 7G-Tronic Plus transmission. Yet performance is not compromised. The engines in the three launch models are all new: the SLK 250 producing 204 horsepower and the V6 in the SLK 350 producing 306 horses, which is good for a zero-to-62-mph romp of 5.6 seconds. Throw in the inevitable vast range of options, including three different types of suspension and a zillion personalization possibilities, and there's little doubt that Mercedes has another winner on its hands with the new SLK.
What concerns us? To our eyes, the new SLK looks better in the flesh than it does in the pictures. Transferring some of the abrupt front end for the C-Class doesn't do it any favors though, especially as the previous SLK had overtones of the McLaren F1 car.
How much and when? Price for the new SLK will start at approximately $54,000, and delivery is scheduled for June 2011.
Our verdict? This new SLK comes at just the right time. Mercedes shows a clear understanding of what its customers are likely to want over the next five years.
Read Blog: 2012 Mercedes SLK Video Leaked
What is it? The latest iteration of Mercedes' successful entry-level machine.
What makes it hot? M-B is no longer shying away from 4-cylinder engines. After a generation of upsizing power plants and downsizing fuel-economy numbers, even the German luxury brands are paying close attention to the fragile U.S. economy and the spiky threat of rising gas prices. The C-Class still spreads the wealth between bigger, more powerful V6 and AMG V8 versions, but it's the new 1.8-liter turbocharged 4-banger that's the most interesting and the latest base-model engine for the C250. It will develop 201 horsepower and 229 lb-ft of torque. The new drivetrain is bundled up in a tastefully retouched body. It's a closer visual link to its newer siblings, everything from the SLS AMG to the SLK. Inside, the C-Class' 2012 update layers on handsome touches and plenty of high-tech bells and whistles.
What concerns us? The more formal look doesn't exactly do it for us, the laid-back grille duking it out with the scalloped chin. There's not much excuse for leaning on tradition here. And while front-seat passengers are quite comfortable, the back-seaters might lodge a complaint or two if they're outsized or leggy.
When and how much? Sedans should hit dealerships this August, but the price has yet to be announced.
Our verdict? For now, the big news is smaller displacement — and by all the usual yardsticks, the C250 makes a convincing case for its return. We're impressed.
Read Blog: Mercedes Gets Small