Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Unveiled: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe

Mercedes-Benz will expand the C-Class product line for the 2012 model year with the addition of a coupe, set to debut next month at the Geneva Motor Show. The coupe will be derived from the same platform as the C-Class sedan, sharing basic chassis elements, next-generation powertrains, and features.

A four-seater, the coupe will compete with BMW in another entry-level luxury segment; there's also a possibility of a future convertible model, as well. At 180.7 inches, it is within 1.5 inches of the sedan's length and about an inch shorter than a BMW 3 Series coupe.

Two new direct-injection engines are used in the Mercedes coupe—a 229-hp, 1.8-liter turbocharged four cylinder for the C250 and a 302-hp, 3.5-liter V6 in the C350. Each engine is paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission.

Mercedes estimates that the C250 will get 24 mpg combined, with a 30 mpg on the highway. Zero-to-60 mph is a claimed 7.1 seconds with the four-cylinder engine.

The C350 will return an estimated 22 mpg overall. A fair bit quicker, the V6 version will reportedly hit 60 mph in under six seconds.

Read More: http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2011/02/unveiled-2012-mercedes-benz-c-class-coupe.html