2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Road Test
PALMA DE MAJORCA, Spain: You may not be able to tell from a casual glance at the exterior (except at night in certain models when you see the headlights light up the curves), but Mercedes-Benz has upgraded its current entry-level model for the 2005 model year.
That would be the C-class, formerly known as the 190 and the "Baby Benz'' and soon to have two smaller and less-expensive siblings, including the Smart (which joins the fold this year) and some version of the new A-class in 2005 as a 2006.
Except for those optional Bi-xenon headlights, which cast light in the direction of the upcoming turn so the driver can better see into a curving road, the exteriors of the 2005 C-class sedan, wagon and coupe look pretty much the same.
For the record, however, there are alterations to the front bumper and grille, though they weren't readily apparent to the media hordes that congregated here to drive the car.
Mercedes does make a big deal of the fact that the exterior of the new C-class will look pretty much the same for a long time, since it's been covered in a new kind of nano-technology paint which resists scratches and stays shinier longer much better than anything else on the market. This could be an incredibly attractive part of the ownership experience for those folks who want a car to look as good as it can for as long as it can.
The German firm and its Canadian distributor are also excited about the addition of a V8 to the model line for the first time, in a fire-breathing sedan called the C55 AMG, which should blow pretty much everything else off the roads and into the weeds. Look for more about that in a separate story elsewhere on the website.
There is probably a speed at which you can appreciate the dynamic changes that Mercedes has put into the suspension, steering and six-speed manual shifter in the regular models of the C-class to make the cars feel sportier and more agile, but I don't think there will be many situations where you will encounter that speed in Canada, or at least not legally. Having a bunch of the world's most accomplished engineers up-tweak their product is never a bad thing, however, so who am I to complain?
The changes for 2005 are really obvious when you sit behind the wheel, since the interior has been changed and upgraded. This you can see and appreciate at pretty much any speed and in any situation, since the Stuttgart wrenches have struck a nice balance between four-lane comfort and two-lane sportiness.
Mercedes calls this upgrade Direct Control, a package which includes newly developed front and rear axle bearings which ''provide more agile cornering with no loss of comfort, a more direct steering ratio and reconfigured standard and sports suspension systems.''
PALMA DE MAJORCA, Spain: You may not be able to tell from a casual glance at the exterior (except at night in certain models when you see the headlights light up the curves), but Mercedes-Benz has upgraded its current entry-level model for the 2005 model year.
That would be the C-class, formerly known as the 190 and the "Baby Benz'' and soon to have two smaller and less-expensive siblings, including the Smart (which joins the fold this year) and some version of the new A-class in 2005 as a 2006.
Except for those optional Bi-xenon headlights, which cast light in the direction of the upcoming turn so the driver can better see into a curving road, the exteriors of the 2005 C-class sedan, wagon and coupe look pretty much the same.
For the record, however, there are alterations to the front bumper and grille, though they weren't readily apparent to the media hordes that congregated here to drive the car.
Mercedes does make a big deal of the fact that the exterior of the new C-class will look pretty much the same for a long time, since it's been covered in a new kind of nano-technology paint which resists scratches and stays shinier longer much better than anything else on the market. This could be an incredibly attractive part of the ownership experience for those folks who want a car to look as good as it can for as long as it can.
The German firm and its Canadian distributor are also excited about the addition of a V8 to the model line for the first time, in a fire-breathing sedan called the C55 AMG, which should blow pretty much everything else off the roads and into the weeds. Look for more about that in a separate story elsewhere on the website.
There is probably a speed at which you can appreciate the dynamic changes that Mercedes has put into the suspension, steering and six-speed manual shifter in the regular models of the C-class to make the cars feel sportier and more agile, but I don't think there will be many situations where you will encounter that speed in Canada, or at least not legally. Having a bunch of the world's most accomplished engineers up-tweak their product is never a bad thing, however, so who am I to complain?
The changes for 2005 are really obvious when you sit behind the wheel, since the interior has been changed and upgraded. This you can see and appreciate at pretty much any speed and in any situation, since the Stuttgart wrenches have struck a nice balance between four-lane comfort and two-lane sportiness.
Mercedes calls this upgrade Direct Control, a package which includes newly developed front and rear axle bearings which ''provide more agile cornering with no loss of comfort, a more direct steering ratio and reconfigured standard and sports suspension systems.''