FIRST LOOK: Merc's new baby Coupe'
- Ah, so this is the much-rumoured two-door C-class ...
Yes, as Mercedes-Benz finally confirmed this week, officially. The 2+2 coupe' becomes the fourth body style after the saloon, estate and CLC three-door hatchback in the C-class model range.
Apart from the number of doors and coupe' profile (that's 41mm lower in height than the saloon), everything else is essentially C-class.
The front and rear lights, interior dashboard and underpinnings are all shared with the (facelifted) saloon and estate (which have yet to be introduced in Thailand).
Unsurprisingly, the engines are the same, too. The most familiar units to Thais would be the 1.8-litre petrol-turbo and 2.1-litre diesel-turbo, both producing an identical 204hp in C250 forms and coming with an updated seven-speed automatic transmission.
- Hmm ... where does that leave the E-class Coupe'?
Good question, because it starts to get a little confusing here. As its badge indicates, the C-class Coupe' should be a natural rival for the BMW 3-series Coupe'.
The C-class Coupe´ is aimed at the younger generation of buyers.
But for nearly two years now Mercedes has been providing that Bimmer with an answer in the guise of E-class Coupe' (it actually uses a C-class platform). Both coupe's are very similarly sized.
You would be quick to point out that the C-class Coupe' should be a potential rival to the 1-series Coupe', although Mercedes hasn't been kind enough to reveal the body dimensions for us to make a proper comparison.
Some European sources suggest that the C-class Coupe' is designed to replace the much-unloved CLC hatch. So far, Mercedes has made no statement to that effect.
- What about pricing for the C-class Coupe'?
There's also no word about this yet. But let's not forget that the E-class Coupe' C250, being in the 4.75-4.99 million baht price range, is a tad dearer than the 325i Coupe', which retails at 4.7 million.
In theory, that means the C-class Coupe' could be priced slightly lower than the 3-series Coupe' at some 4 million. But if heavily specified - the C-class Coupe' gets an array of driver assistance and safety technologies - the price would certainly surge to the 3-series Coupe''s level.
The interior is practically the same as that of the saloon and estate Cs.
- Shouldn't I just stick with my elegant E-class Coupe'?
Probably, since this kind of money is already a lot in Thailand for a completely built-up imported car. Moreover, the E-class Coupe' arguably is sexier than the rather staid-looking C-class Coupe', as well as the 3-series.
One reason why Mercedes has come out with the C-class Coupe' is because it wants to attract buyers in the 35-45 age bracket. But whether that kind of thinking is going to materialise in Thailand is another matter.
Credit: Bangkok Post (www.bangkokpost.com)
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