Mercedes-Benz will bring a completely new C-class to market this fall and once again Canada will get its unique Special Edition (SE) model that will keep its price low, maybe below $40,000.
The German car maker introduced the C-class, which is the lowest-priced model it sells in North America, recently in Stuttgart and promised that the 4-door sedan would be followed by a 2-door hatchback and an all-wheel-drive 4-door wagon. The sedan will be in Canada this fall and the other two models could follow by 2002.
Once again, Canada will be the only country to get the SE trim, which is a slightly de-contented version of the base car that the U.S. will get. Details on this model have not yet been released by the Toronto-based company, but they have confirmed that the SE will return along with the other two new models destined for North America.
The SE will get with the same engine as the regular C240, a 2.6-litre V6 that will deliver 170 horsepower, while the upscale version will be the C320 powered by a 3.2-litre V6 good for 218 horspower.
Cars equipped with the 2.6 V6 will get either a new 6-speed manual or a driver-adaptive 5-speed automatic with Touch Shift, a system that allows semi-manual shifting, while the 3.2 V6 will be mated solely to the automatic.
The family resemblance to the top-of-the-line S-class sedan is strong in the new C-class, starting with the eliptical headlights and working back.