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By MURRAY HUBBARD
3 May 2010
The
most popular car in the Mercedes Benz stable - the C-Class sedan -
has been upgraded as the German maker swaps from supercharger to
turbocharger technology. This upgrade is in line with the recent
changes to the E-Class with the letters CGI replacing the familiar
'Kompressor' badging in both E-Class and C-Class sedans and
estates. ‘CGI’ is Mercedes-speak for direct petrol injection.
C-Class sales here make up 41 per cent of Mercedes total sales in
Australia. These days more than 6000 C-Class sedans are sold in
Australia each year. Sales of the C-Class Estate wagon have also
been strong with 394 Estate models sold in Australia in 2009.
The engine upgrade features an adaptation of the soon to be
superseded 1.8-litre Kompressor engine and now has two turbo
variants: the C200 CGI which replaces the C200 Kompressor and the
all-new model, C250 CGI. The C200 CGI puts out the same amount of
power, 135 kW, as the current Kompressor, but torque has been
upped from 250 Nm to 270 Nm and more importantly kicks in 1000 rpm
lower than the supercharged engine. It also offers improved
economy.
Mercedes product manager, Zac Loo, said the turbo offered a number
advantages over supercharging; improved reliability is a factor,
it is 4 kg lighter, more efficient, and adds more torque, that is
delivered at lower revs. Mercedes-Benz engineers have worked hard
to produce an engine with minimum turbo lag.
Economy-wise the 200 CGI wins the battle with Mercedes officially
measuring the engine at 7.3 litres/100 km compared to the 250 CGI
which used 7.7 litres/100 km.
Both of the new turbo variants run power to the rear wheels via a
five-speed automatic transmission.
Changes to the 1.8 litre engine include direct fuel injectors, a
quantity-controlled fuel pump, rapid heating for the catalytic
converter, radiator shutters, Lambda control for air/fuel mixture
and a regulated oil pump for higher efficiency.
The changes to the C-Class range are more than just mechanical.
Both the C200 CGI and diesel C220 CDI gain extra equipment
including 17-inch alloy wheels, double cup holders, and the
split-fold rear seat, the latter being an option in the past. Over
and above the standard equipment on the 200 CGI, the 250 CGI gets
the entertainment and navigation system, ‘Comand APS’ and
18-inch alloy wheels.
All CGI models carry Blue Efficiency badges, which indicate
overall weight reduction, a thinner windscreen, turbocharging,
closed gaps around the bonnet and low rolling-resistance tyres.
On our day-long road test around western Victoria we were able to
drive a standard C200 CGI and C220 CGI fitted with an AMG package.
Mercedes is chasing a younger image for the brand - which was not
hurt by the off-track exploits of Lewis Hamilton during the
Melbourne F1 Gran Prix - and the latest C-Class features a large
tristar in the centre of the grille to distinguish them from the
superseded Kompressor cars.
The new engines are quiet with no signs of turbo lag, even when
accelerating hard from a stand still. Obviously the C250 CGI has a
little more grunt and would be our preference, but there's nothing
to dislike about the performance of the C200 CGI. Both engines rev
out to 6500 rpm and in the critical 80-120 km/h range both were
able to quickly, and safely, execute passing manoeuvres with ease.
With the import tariff dropping from 10 per cent to five percent
earlier this year, Mercedes opted not to reduce the price of
C-Class, but rather to add extra equipment, leaving the prices
unchanged. Spokesman, David McCarthy, said C-Class sales revealed
what buyers wanted - and optioned for C-Class - and these were now
incorporated into the vehicles at no extra cost.
The C200 CGI remains the same price as the outgoing C200
Kompressor at $57,900 but gains $3000 in equipment and features
including the 17-inch alloys, new Avantgarde-style grille, double
cup holders and split fold rear seats. The C200 CGI Estate gains
the same equipment and the price remains at $59,700. The new C 250
CGI is $65,900 for the sedan and $67,790 for the estate.
The complete Mercedes-Benz C-Class range, with prices (excluding
dealer and government charges) is:
C200 CGI 1.8-litre turbo-petrol sedan: $57,900
C220 CDI 2.1-litre turbo-diesel sedan: $61,400
C250 CGI 1.8-litre turbo-petrol sedan: $65,900
C300 3.0-litre V6 petrol sedan: $89,500
C350 CDI 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel sedan: $97,900
C63 AMG 6.2-litre V8 petrol sedan: $148,900
C200 CGI Estate 1.8-litre turbo-petrol wagon: $59,790
C220 CDI Estate 2.1-litre turbo-diesel wagon: $62,805
C250 CGI Estate 1.8-litre turbo-petrol wagon: $67,790
C63 AMG Estate 6.2-litre V8 petrol wagon: $150,800
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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