Refined perfection
Why would you need to improve the most successful car model that enjoys great popularity as it is? But Mercedes-Benz is not looking for easy ways and has subjected the second generation of the C-Class to a deep modernization after just four years of its introduction. The creators have revised and improved the engines, design, chassis, and steering.
Exterior and interior
The restyled W203 looks sportier, featuring the modified bumper and radiator grille. The car was painted with a nanotechnology-based paint. 16-inch wheels and 205/55 R 16 tires come as standard. The car has acquired the modernized interior with the automatic climate control unit as standard, window airbags and head restraints.
The interior design was visually concentrated on the round instrument dials. Between the speedometer and tachometer, there is an information board with the settings corresponding to the multifunction steering wheel settings. The CLASSIC and ELEGANCE versions feature sports kicking plates, whereas the AVANTGARDE version offers a rear bumper with the appropriate protection. In addition to the traditional three versions, the restyling presented two additional modifications, including Sport Edition and Sport Edition+ (Sport Edition+ additionally with an AMG front apron and side skirts).
Engines and chassis
During the restyling, significant technical changes were made to the chassis, steering and manual transmission. This package of improvements was called DIRECT CONTROL, which, in particular, included the refinement of bearings on the front and rear axles, steering transmission force and rear axle stabilizer. All the measures were aimed at comfortable cornering. The restyled W203 featured a modified C 230 KOMPRESSOR supercharged 192 hp engine. The diesel C 220 CDI was also upgraded, becoming 7 hp more powerful (150 hp).
But the real expansion of new engines of the W203 happened in 2005 with the introduction of new progressive engines:
- C 320 CDI diesel six-cylinder engine with third-generation Common Rail technology and a particulate filter, which outperformed the previous 170-hp in-line 5-cylinder engines by 23%;
- C 350 petrol six-cylinder engine capable of generating 272 hp with a decrease in petrol consumption by 13% when compared to previous analogues.
By the way, for the first time for the updated version, four six-cylinder petrol monsters have become available: C 230, C 280, C 350 and C 320 CDI.
When developing the W203, engineers continued to pay particular attention to engine environmental friendliness. The diesel particulate filter system for the C 200 CDI, C 220 CDI and C 320 CDI diesel models has brought the restyled car to the Euro 4 emission standards, which has been used in Europe only since 2005.
Two million W203s
In the fall of 2006, Mercedes-Benz summed up the sales of the W203. As it turned out, two million cars were sold in three body styles.
The main factor behind the fabulous sales success was the W203 sedan, with more than 1.4 million units sold, making the W203 range the best-selling passenger car from Mercedes-Benz.
The production of the second generation Mercedes C-Class (W203) completely ceased on March 1, 2007. But this is not the end of the story, as it had another restyling ahead of it.
