Merc's New C-Class Is A Budget S-Class For 'Normals'

Merc's latest BMW 3-Series-baiting saloon has been officially revealed, and it's gone all posh on us. With the company having a new entry-level saloon in the form of the CLA, Mercedes has moved the C-Class upmarket and festooned it with tech from the S-Class.

Despite being a decent margin bigger than the outgoing 'W204' C - partly to distance it from the CLA saloon - it's actually 100kg lighter. In a world where cars are getting increasingly obese, that's pretty damn significant.

Like the CLA, the new C has been given a somewhat taller, stubbier look than the W204. There's also plenty of nods towards the current S-Class. It's well proportioned, and looks particularly handsome in 'AMG Line' trim. Tick that box, and you lose the big, old fashioned grille in favour of a smarter two-slat affair with the famous three-pointed star in the middle. You'll also get a more aggressive stance courtesy of a 15mm suspension drop.

The most important news in that department though is the option of air suspension, something not seen in this class before. The AirMatic suspension will come with four selective driving modes: Comfort, Eco, Sport and Sport+. Alternatively, you can properly geek out and configure everything exactly how you want it.

At the car's launch next year you'll have a choice between the 154bhp 1.6-litre and 181bhp 2.0-litre petrols in the C180 and C200, and a 168bhp 2.1-litre turbodiesel in the C220 Bluetec.

None of these interest us of course. We'll be be more interested to see what the eventual full-fat AMG super-saloon model has squeezed under the bonnet, and whether or not the brutal 355bhp 2.0-litre turbo four-pot from the A45 AMG ends up in any C-Class...