Merc's new coupe promises enough zest to lure punters of the BMW 3-series
It's been almost two decades since Mercedes-Benz's C-Class model (W202) replaced the "Baby Benz" 190E (W201).
In hindsight, the 190E wasn't exactly a cracker, but it did create a new phenomenon in the '80s for Thai motorists because you didn't have to mortgage your house to buy a Mercedes-Benz.
Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant (TAAP), the then distributor, sold about 5,000 Baby Benzes in three days, according to a former Merc expat.
Then in 1993, a major improvement came in the guise of its replacement: the rounder and smoother C-Class which was the entry-level Merc at that time until the smaller A-Class was launched in 1997.
Successive C-Class model changes came at the dawn of the new millennium with the W203; its successor, the W204, debuted in 2007.
Shifting gears back to the gist of this read, the Mercedes-Benz C250 CGI Coupe 1.8-litre petrol-head was my test car in Seville, Spain. Last week, Life presented its first verdict on the storming C63 AMG model, which went head-to-head with the BMW M3 in Brunch yesterday.
First impression of the two-door C250 is that it definitely looks better than its saloon sibling. The obvious tweaks are an engine start-stop feature, the 7G-Tronic automatic gearbox with revised gear ratios, the COMAND APS system, three-spoke steering wheel, upgraded brake piston calipers and larger alloys.
Our test car had the Avant Garde trim, and the first feature that speaks to you is the front grille consisting of two chrome horizontal slants with the centred round star in the middle for a sporty presence.
Piano lacquer trim inside looks very suave.
The design profile features sleek lines with powerful shoulders, narrow C-pillars to complement your typical coupe look which has a short front overhang, short sporty tail end (making it look wider), long roof and steep windshield. In short, this coupe has a really strong sporty aura about it.
I got the first leg of the drive and the first thing I noticed once inside is the three tube rings and air vents in galvanised trim; control panel has silver keys which gives it a really high quality look to complement what Mercedes terms as the porcelain piano lacquer look. Very upmarket and great detailing.
The seats are sporty and comfortable, while the rear seats can fold for more rear room. And then there is Merc's telematics technology which allows you to text SMS messages, Bluetooth, USB interface and internet (while stationary of course!).
The excellent test route provided us to explore the coupe's ability saw it corner neatly with great composure, thanks to multi-link independent suspension, gas shocks, coil springs with stabiliser setup at the front and rear (the rear gas shocks feature an amplitude dependent damping system).
The rear seats take two persons and can fold for extra boot space.
Engaging the Sports mode elicits a more rigid reaction through a stiffer suspension setup along and more engine responsiveness.
Steering is hydraulic rack and pinion with power-steering which was very precise and accurate to every movement of the hands.
The 7G-Tronic automatic delivers rapid gear changes in "D" mode. But when I switched to the paddle shifters, I felt that multiple gear changes didn't react fast enough, or at least it felt like I was made to wait for it to change.
All C-Class coupe models get this transmission with the exception of the diesel variants and basic C180 model which get a six-speed manual gearbox instead.
I liked the idea of having 204 horses, but what really impressed me was the acceleration, thanks to buckets of torque on wide engine range. Low to mid-range punch is assuring and there is still plenty of oomph left as one ventures into radar-gun territory.
The C-class Coupe´ has great styling cues.
Braking performance featured a lot of bite in its stopping power via internally ventilated discs inside all four wheels.
The presence of safety technology in capital-lettered acronyms and its supporting cast is a must for Mercs: ABS, ADAPTIVE BRAKE with Hill Start Assist, Brake Assist, optional Climatised front seats (cooling fans under your seat is great for Bangkok weather) and ESP.
Optional are PARKTRONIC parking guidance, Intelligent Light system, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Assist and seven airbags (Thai specs may vary) are just a few needing mention.
This is Merc's first foray into the two-door coupe segment where the BMW 3-series competes _ the E-class Coupe is slightly bigger, despite using C-class underpinnings _ and it has done so with great styling cues, solid performance and an abundance of luxury.
Credit: Bangkok Post (www.bangkokpost.com)
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