German Klasse: 2013 Mercedes Benz C250 coupe
WHAT IS IT?
It's a two door coupe with the Mercedes BlueEfficiency tag. That means it is specially tailored to help save the ozone layer and baby seals by ensuring the least amount of fuel is wasted. But a coupe isn't for saving the world. It's for blazing trails and arriving at a destination in style. Seems Mercedes wants to hit two birds with one stone. But preferably without hitting any birds since that wouldn't be very earth-friendly.
THE MECHANICAL BITS
It's a 1.8 turbo delivering 201bhp @ 5500RPM and 229 ft-lbs of torque @ 2200 rpm. Those are good numbers for a car weighing under 1500kg. Just for the heck of comparison, a typical 'Premallion' we sadly see all over Bangladesh weighs in at just under 1200kg. It's a wonder this Benz has all that leather, electronics, motors, kit and size and yet weighs so little. The 7.2 sec 0-100kmph dash proves how optimised the entire package is.
DRIVING
The C250 we took out is the W204 meaning it's the last gen of C Class made till 2014. Right after that they launched the W205 which comes with plenty of aluminum to further reduce weight. But this, the coupe, drives like the way it looks. It's quick without being brash. The car isn't about jack rabbit starts where you burn tyres only to come to a stop because a Premallion crashed in front trying to race you. Plant your foot down, a little lag and then the car tries to disappear into the horizon. It's quick but where it excels is using the torque to effortlessly pull away from 90 kmph. The steering feel is obviously kept muted but you can still tell where the road conditions are changing. Which brings into play the damping controls standard on all Cs. The shocks automatically become more willing to cushion your buttocks as the roads become Martian landscape. In Dhaka, that's most of the time. But get it on a smooth road and take a turn and you can feel it stiffer than when you were puttering around earlier avoiding potholes more jagged than VWs diesel division. The suspension act like magic letting you enjoy those brief moments of open roads. It's one of those cars I would love to push through the winding tea estates of Sylhet.
WHAT'S INSIDE?
Leather. And more leather. It's big inside with plenty of space to yawn, stretch and look alive. The seats are fully adjustable and the controls are easy to reach with all the necessary just where you need it. I love the quality of the interior materials which are as good as the ones on the more upscale E Class. The panoramic sunroof creates an even more airy cabin. What's missing is a reverse camera for which I had to step out a couple of times to make sure I wasn't going to scratch that lovely paint job. It's easy to see out of the back despite having thick C pillars.
SAFETY
The car has a 5-star crash rating with multiple airbags to save most of your soft bits. There's traction/stability control and ABS with massive brakes that remained virtually fade free all through the day. It's all there. Just one little gripe: the seat belt doesn't come forward from the B pillar as in the E Coupe. That's a long door to reach back to.
DESIGN
What Mercedes has done is given the C Class a suavely aggressive facelift before they introduced the all new 2015 model. The coupe looks like what a stylised sleeper should be. It avoids the snarling, jutting chin of the E Coupe exercising more restraint while still bringing in style elements off the S Class to embody a subtle sense of purpose and power.
WHAT ELSE IS THERE?
Did you know these cars can also come with a 6 speed manual option? And the diesel variant which should be the absolute pick manages to pack a whopping amount of torque, so much so, your head will press into the soft leather headrest as you accelerate from any gear. So if you want to order, take a look at the extensive list of options.
VERDICT
Lightweight for the size, frugal to run, excellent handling and styling elements that will not become dated any time soon. The long, low profile and the swoopy front makes the car look fast while parked in a garage. You want more aggressive, just add black wheels. That's how clean and adaptive the styling is. So does Mercedes manage to save the world and get petrolheads excited at the same time? Pretty much.
SPECS
2013 Mercedes Benz C250 coupe
Engine: 1.8 litre 4 cylinder gasoline engine (201bhp @5500RPM and 229 ft-lbs of torque @2200 rpm).
Transmission: 7-speed automatic transmission, paddle shifters, manual and sport mode.
Brakes: Ventilated, cross drilled disc front, solid disc rear, ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, dual circuit system.
Suspension: Four-wheel independent suspension, MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear, stabiliser front and rear.
Features and options: 6 disc CD changer, Bluetooth, climate control air conditioning with rear ventilation ducts, leather upholstery, panoramic glass roof with slide and tilt, LED Daytime Running Lights, Cruise Control.
Price: 1,35,00,000 taka.
For details, contact Rancon Motors Limited.
Words : Ehsanur Raza Ronny
Photos: Rahin Sadman Islam