Further journey of the greatest class
Mercedes-Benz announced its decision to restyle the popular W204 back in December 2010, in order to stir up the interest of potential buyers. But the officially upgraded W204 was presented at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show and then in Shanghai. Restyling touched on the exterior design, interior and engine range. Plus, a C-Class coupe was introduced.
Engines and chassis
Each new generation of the C-Class came with a new line of engines, all of which were upgraded. As part of the W204 restyling, all engines acquired the BlueEfficiency technology. All petrol engines were equipped with a direct injection system. The restyled models came with a 6-speed automatic transmission. At the same time, all models could be equipped with a 5- and 7-speed gearbox. The C 300 CDI 4Matic version was equipped with a 7-speed gearbox.
The upgraded engines of the restyled estates consumed 12% less fuel than prior to the restyling. Moreover, after the restyling, it was possible to install the start-stop system and to obtain a 7-speed gearbox with changed gear ratios to increase fuel economy.
Exterior and interior
The exterior of the W204 did not change much, as the original design of the C-generation was one of its major advantages, and consumers did not want to see something different. Arguably, the design was made even more brutal and serious in order to better match the established reputation of the C-Class. Compared to the previous generation, the W204 became 55 mm longer (4,581 mm) and 42 mm wider (1770 mm). The driver and passenger shoulder room increased by 40 mm. The wheelbase grew by 45 mm, up to 2,760 mm.
The restyled version could also boast of LED daytime running lights, LED taillights, a new hood and bumpers. The interior was redesigned more significantly to bring the C-Class to the level of the W212 E-Class and W221 S-Class cars. The dashboard featured a high-resolution monitor similar to that of the S- and CL-Class cars, and the new Mercedes-Benz Comand APS control system, first installed on the W212 E-Class.
The third generation Mercedes C-Class (W204) was successful both before and after the restyling. Its sales volume exceeded 2.4 million units around the world.
The basic version of the W204 offered ten new advanced driver assistance systems, including: Adaptive Highbeam Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Driving Anti-Sleep Alarm Device, Distronic Plus proximity control, Speed Limit Assist, parking sensors and much more.
The upgraded models had access to the Internet and a three-dimensional navigation display. At the same time, the Comand Online multimedia system provided Internet access when the car was parked. From mid-2012, the C-Class models equipped with Comand Online additionally received a new Mercedes-Benz emergency calling system called ‘eCall’.
Versions
The C-Class coupe has been developed since 2008 and was first presented at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. It was the first true C-Class coupe. The car was designed with due account to the experience obtained when creating the E-Class coupe (C207). The coupe was originally fitted with the eco-friendly C 180 BlueEfficiency, C 250 BlueEfficiency, C 350 BlueEfficiency, C 220 CDI BlueEfficiency and C 250 CDI BlueEfficiency engines.
The C-Class 125! Edition car is a special version, released in honor of the 125th anniversary of the invention of the car by Karl Benz. The version had 17-inch twin-spoke AMG sports aluminum wheels, perforated brake discs, a leather 3-spoke steering wheel, stainless steel pedals and a sports suspension as standard. The C 200 CGI BlueEfficiency 125! Edition modification also featured LED daytime running lights with intelligent lighting and 8-way power front seats. The C 250 CGI BlueEfficiency Avantgarde 125! Edition modification was equipped in the same way as the basic version, but also included 18-inch AMG sports aluminum wheels with two spokes.
A few months after the premiere of the W204 sedan, Mercedes-Benz presented the third generation of the C-Class estates, the S204, at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt am Main (IAA). It was the best load-lifting estate, practically a truck, capable of carrying loads of up to 1,500 liters, with the towing capacity reaching up to 1,800 kg. To facilitate loading and transporting, the S204 acquired such additional options as an automatically opening tailgate. The maximum usable length of the passenger compartment was 2.82 meters from the tailgate to the front passenger’s legroom, which was 17 centimeters more than the previous estate could offer. The estates were equipped with eco-friendly engines, so, like the sedan, the new C-Class estate was awarded an environmental certificate in accordance with the current international ISO standard. The safety systems of the S204 made it the safest estate at the time. The basic version of the car was equipped with a PRE-SAFE preventive passenger protection system and an intelligent lighting system, seven airbags, emergency tensioning devices and seat belt tension limiters, and NECK-PRO head restraints.
Market
The third generation Mercedes C-Class (W204) was successful both before and after the restyling. Its sales volume exceeded 2.4 million units around the world. It was the most popular model in its category in Germany, enjoying great popularity in North America, Australia and Japan. And until now, the C-Class cars are the most demanded cars by Mercedes-Benz.
Serial production of the Mercedes W204 models was discontinued by the end of 2013. In 2014, the manufacturer introduced the fourth generation of the C-Class, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W205).
