A new type of comfort zone is here to challenge the status quo. The 6th generation C-Class boasts minimalist design, luxurious comfort and innovative assistance systems.
The new C-Class, which reaches local showrooms from December 2021, is manufactured in the Mercedes-Benz Cars plants in Bremen, Beijing and East London.
Mark Raine, Co- CEO for Mercedes-Benz South Africa and Executive Director for Mercedes-Benz Cars South Africa says the fact that East London is one of three global manufacturing plants for the new C-Class is a ‘massive success story’ for the local industry.
Mark Raine:Co- CEO for Mercedes-Benz South Africa and Executive Director for Mercedes-Benz Cars South Africa Image: Going Places/Malaysia Airlines
Bigger, better, sleeker
“The new C-Class is a sportive incarnation of luxury. It combines dynamic proportions with reduced design lines and sculptural surfaces. I have no doubt that the new C-Class will excite current and future customers with its wide range of high-tech features derived from the flagship S-Class”, said Mark Raine, Co- CEO for Mercedes-Benz South Africa and Executive Director for Mercedes-Benz Cars South Africa.
Considerably larger than its predecessor, with a length of 4751 mm and a width of 1820 mm, the wheelbase of the incoming C-Class has been increased by 25 mm to 2865 mm. It features a dynamic exterior design and a sumptuous interior that borrows heavily from the flagship S-Class.
“The new C-Class is being launched into the South Africa market initially with the C200 and C220d engine derivatives, both sporting four-cylinder units from the current modular FAME (Family of Modular Engines) Mercedes-Benz engine family,” said Selvin Govender, Director of Marketing and Sales for Mercedes-Benz Cars.
The C200 boasts power delivery of 150kw and 300Nm of torque, while the C220d delivers 147kw and 440Nm of Torque. The C220d achieves a combined fuel consumption of 4.6l/100km and the C200 achieves a combined fuel consumption of 6.6l/100km.
Govender added, “The C200 is also available at launch in a limited debut edition known as Edition 6, which has numerous visual accents which underlines its exclusivity. Edition 6 will be limited to 400 units.
We have always made automotive dreams come true, and the E-Class Coupé and Cabriolet facelift take this to the next level.
– Johannes Fritz, Co-CEO of Mercedes-Benz South Africa and Executive Director for Mercedes-Benz Cars
Back in 1991, Mercedes-Benz debuted an elegant cabriolet at the Frankfurt International Motor Show. A four-seater with a fabric top, it was initially known as the 300 CE-24, and revived a long tradition of four-door open-top vehicles in company’s brand history. It was renamed the E-Class in 1993, launching a range that has become amongst the most emotionally appealing in the Mercedes-Benz stable.
Fast forward to 2021, and Mercedes-Benz has just launched a comprehensive facelift for its already stunning E-Class Coupé and Cabriolet. Upgrades include a healthy facelift, with the front sections, in particular, being given a fresh look; a good dose of new technology, including the next generation of driving assistance systems and the MBUX infotainment system; and a range of electrified, more efficient, petrol and diesel engines.
“We have always made automotive dreams come true, and the E-Class Coupé and Cabriolet facelift take this to the next level. We have resharpened the brand identity and we are continuing to drive forward the revision of our entire E-Class family successively,” says Johannes Fritz, Co-CEO of Mercedes-Benz South Africa and Executive Director for Mercedes-Benz Cars.
The emotive appeal of these two dream cars has been further reinforced by the model upgrade
– Johannes Fritz, Co-CEO of Mercedes-Benz South Africa and Executive Director for Mercedes-Benz Cars.
“The emotive appeal of these two dream cars has been further reinforced by the model upgrade. The E-Class Cabriolet with the classic fabric top offers spaciousness and comfort on long journeys for up to four people, while the new E-Class Coupé combines the beauty and classic virtues of a grand tourer with state-of-the-art technology.”
South African customers will initially have two models available at launch. The E200 offers a 2 litre four-cylinder engine that delivers 145 kW and 320 Nm of torque. This results in a 0-100 time of 7.5. The E300 has the same engine, which is tweaked to deliver 190 kW and 370 Nm, with a 0-100 time of 6.4 seconds.
Vuyi Mpofu attended the media presentation of the new Mercedes-Benz GLB and shares a bird’s-eye-view of what the compact SUV has to offer.
The new Mercedes-Benz GLB has arrived in South Africa – and it’s aims to redefine the versatile compact SUV market. The new GLB is the first for Mercedes-Benz in the compact segment and is optionally available as a seven-seater. It is powered by completely updated four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines that offer a combination of fuel economy and performance.
The new GLB joins the Mercedes-Benz compact car family of the A-Class Hatch, A-Class Sedan, B-Class, CLA and the GLA.
Powerful proportions with short overhangs and off-road-oriented design, standard LED headlights, as well as 4MATIC all-wheel drive in the GLB 220d make the GLB a versatile SUV and a spacious family car.
With a wheelbase of 2829 millimetres, the GLB is 10cm longer than the new B-Class. The car is 4634 millimetres long, 1834 millimetres wide and 1658 millimetres high.
Driving assistance systems are drawn from the S-Class, with improved camera and radar systems that allow the GLB to see up to 500 metres ahead and drive in semi-automated mode in certain situations.
The MBUX infotainment system (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) offers powerful computer, brilliant screens and graphics, customisable presentation, full-colour head-up display, with optional navigation and augmented reality, learning software, and voice control activated with the prompt “Hey Mercedes”.
South Africans will be able to choose from the GLB 250 and the GLB 220 d 4MATIC at launch. Mercedes-Benz states that the GLB 250 offers a combined fuel consumption 7.4-7.1 l/100 km.
According to the German auto-maker, the two-litre diesel engine in the GLB 220d 4MATIC offers a combined fuel consumption of 5.4-5.1 l/100 km.
Seating variability in detail:
Variability
Five-seater (Standard)
Seven-seater (Optional)
First seat row
Folding front passenger seat (option)
Second seat row
Seat backrest with 40:20:40 folding split
Multi-stage seat backrest inclination adjustment
Seat row can be moved fore and aft by 140 mm, seat with 40:60 split (option)
Seat row can be moved fore and aft by 140 mm, seat with 40:60 split (standard)
Mercedes-Benz has launched the latest GLE 400d Coupe, a burgeoning SUV and our Editor, Vuyi Mpofu attended the media presentation. She shares a bird’s-eye-view of what the vehicle has to offer.
The new GLE Coupé combines the modern luxury, elegance and sportiness of a coupé with the robustness and technology of the latest large premium SUV models.
South African customers will initially only have one model available in 2020: the GLE 400 d 4MATIC Sports Coupe, which offers a powerful 3.0 litre six-cylinder diesel engine that delivers 243 kW and 700 Nm of torque. This results in a brisk 0-100 time of 5.7 seconds at a combined fuel consumption of 7.4-6.9 l/100 km.
“With the renewal of the premium-SUV family, Mercedes-Benz is also putting the GLE Coupé on a new technical footing, says Selvin Govender, Marketing Director for Mercedes-Benz Cars South Africa. “The GLE 400d Coupé combines the impressive power of an off-road vehicle with the emotively appealing sportiness and elegance of a coupé,” says Govender.
Exterior design: powerful presence
The new GLE Coupé is 4939 mm long and 2010 mm wide (39 mm longer and 7 mm wider than its predecessor). The front view combines the characteristics of the Mercedes-Benz SUV family with clear coupé attributes such as the diamond grille with its single horizontal louvre.
The dynamism of the coupé line is especially evident in the rear-end design. A broad muscle in the vehicle flank beneath the C-pillar, that starts in the rear door and envelops the tail lamps, gives the GLE Coupé its powerful, ready-to-pounce appearance. Together with the elongated tail lamps, it highlights the width of the rear end. The lamps are specific to the coupé, but fit the characteristic day and night design of the Mercedes-Benz SUVs outline.
The GLE 400d Coupé combines the impressive power of an off-road vehicle with the emotively appealing sportiness and elegance of a coupé.
– Selvin Govender, Marketing Director for Mercedes-Benz Cars South Africa
Interior design: sporty, with particular design touches
The interior of the new GLE Coupé shares numerous features with the other models in the new premium-SUV family and clearly emphasises the sporty aspect. A familiar sight is the modern cockpit with two large 12.3-inch /31.2 cm screens. The strikingly styled instrument panel, horizontally divided by a trim tier, transitions seamlessly into the door panels. The sporty emphasis comes courtesy of the standard sports seats and the new sports steering wheel with nappa leather trim. The SUV touch, meanwhile, is added by the tall centre console with the dominant grab handles.
Enjoy the pleasure of being served: the Mercedes-Benz User Experience
The GLE Coupé offers the latest generation of the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system with a host of functions for connectivity, entertainment and operating comfort. They include intuitive voice control and the learning capability of MBUX, as well as a large range of apps that can be integrated into or controlled with MBUX.
Driving assistance systems: even better support in all situations
The new GLE Coupé has the latest generation of Mercedes-Benz driving assistance systems, which results in an especially high level of active safety. As standard, the new GLE Coupé boasts Active Brake Assist, which can help prevent rear-end collisions and collisions with crossing pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles.
Some Intelligent Drive functions can be ordered as additional options. They include the Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC with route-based speed adaptation, which allows the vehicle to react to information from Live Traffic, even before the driver or the radar and camera sensors can perceive a traffic obstruction. When a traffic tailback is detected, the speed is reduced to approx. 100 km/h as a precaution unless the driver specifically decides otherwise.
The technical data of the new Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupé:
Mercedes-Benz has taken the wraps off its biggest, most luxurious GLA to date. Vuyi Mpofu attended the media presentation of the new GLA and shares a bird’s-eye-view of what the vehicle has to offer.
Mercedes-Benz has taken the wraps off its biggest, most luxurious GLA to date. South African customers will be able to choose from the GLA 200 and the GLA 200d.
With powerful and efficient four-cylinder engines, the latest driving assistance systems with cooperative driver support and the MBUX infotainment system with intuitive operation, the new model has all the strengths of the current generation of compacts from Mercedes-Benz.
The GLA 200’s 1332cc engine puts out 120kW and 250Nm of torque, with combined fuel consumption of 6.0-5.7 1/100 km. The GLA 200d’s 1950cc diesel engine generates 110kW and 320Nm of torque, with a combined fuel consumption of 5.2-4.9 l/100 km.
Video courtesy of Opak Media
Self-assured and dynamic exterior design
The GLA features powerful overall proportions, with powerful shoulders coupé-like lines, giving the car a dynamically elegant flair. The doors reach over the sills, thereby improving ease of access, keeping the door frames (and the occupants’ trousers) free of dirt.
The rear lights are in two parts, with the reflectors positioned separately in the bumper. The makes it possible to open the load compartment wider, making loading easier and the rear end appear wider. As with the other Mercedes-Benz SUV models, the radiator grille features distinctive openings, with a single louvre and a central star.
Contemporary and high-quality interior
The instrument panel on the driver’s side is dominated by a free-standing display unit, which is available with two 7-inch displays (17.78 cm), a 7- and 10.25-inch display (26 cm) and, in the Widescreen version, with two 10.25-inch displays.
The five round ventilation outlets feature a high-quality turbine look, and the door centre panel flows seamlessly over into the armrest.
Included as standard is the intuitively operated MBUX infotainment system (Mercedes-Benz User Experience). The system can be individually configured, and features a powerful computer, brilliant screens and graphics, customisable presentation, full colour head-up display, optional navigation with augmented reality, learning software, and voice control activated with the prompt ‘Hey Mercedes’.
Bigger interior, more functionality
The front seating positions are higher and more upright than before, and thus all-round visibility has been improved. The rear seats can be optionally adjusted by 14 centimetres, making room for such items as bulky boxes. There is still plenty of room for one or two people in the rear since these backrest variants come with a 40:60 split. The rear seat back rest can be can be split 40:20:40, with each section folding down individually.
The height-adjustable load floor, which comes as standard, offers considerable variability. When the rear seat backrests are folded down and the load floor is in the upper position, an almost flat loading area extending to the front seats can be created. For very bulky objects, the load floor can be put in the lower position, the cross member behind the rear seats can be removed and the rear seats with optional fore/aft adjustment can be moved forward.
Keeping an eye on the surrounding traffic
Driving assistance systems have also been enhanced in the new GLA and if you opt for the optional Driving Assistance Package, features include turning manoeuvre function, emergency corridor function, exit warning, pedestrian warning, Active Distance Assist Distronic, Active Steer Assist, Active Speed Limit Assist, route-based speed adjustment, evasive steering assist, active lane-keeping assist, active blind-spot assist, active brake assist, traffic sign assist and pre-safe plus which detects a potential rear impact.
Blind Spot Assist warns of vehicles, including bicycles, in the danger area – even when the vehicle is stationary. Traffic Sign Assist recognises posted speed limits and no-overtaking signs, and when selected, gives a signal when the speed limit is exceeded. No-entry restrictions are also recognised.
New car wash function
The GLA is the first model in its class to feature a car wash function: with just one command, the exterior mirrors are folded in and the side windows and sliding roof closed. The climate control switches to air-recirculation mode and, after a few seconds, the front image from the 360° camera (if fitted) is displayed to assist the driver when driving into the car wash. These settings are automatically deactivated when the driver drives out of the car wash.
The two GLA models at a glance:
GLA 200d
GLA 200
Engine
1950 cc/L4
1332cc/L4
Transmission
automatic
8G-DCT
7G-DCT
Output
kW
110
120
at
rpm
3400-4400
5500
Max. torque
Nm
320
250
at
rpm
1400-3200
1620 – 4000
Combined fuel consumption
l/100 km[1]
5.2-4.9
6.0-5.7
Combined CO2 emissions
g/km[1]
133
137
Acceleration 0- 100 km/h
s
8.9
8.7
Top speed
km/h
205
210
Image courtesy of Motorpress
We’ll be in a better position to give a more in-depth review of the new Mercedes-Benz GLA once we have had it on test in the new year.
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