Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

Bigger, lighter, and younger: Details of the 2015 Mercedes C-Class begin to emerge

By

 Mercedes C-Class

Some actual details of the all-new Mercedes-Benz C-Class are trickling in, according to Autocar. In a story published this morning, the website revealed intimate details regarding the 2015 C-Class, which is said to take its bow at the 2014 Geneva Auto Show.

Recommended Videos

Autocar’s secret sources say that Mercedes is keen on ridding the C-Class of all of the old man smell. Like we’ve said in the past, this new version is all about attracting younger buyers. This will not be grandpa’s C-Class. Allegedly, there will be no carryovers from the current model, breathing new life into the brand.

Related

First off, it appears the body is longer and wider, with an extended wheelbase. Although it’s dimensions have increased, thanks to new steel technology and an all-new rear suspension setup, the new version will be significantly lighter. What exactly is this new rear suspension? It’s called Modular Rear-wheel-drive Architecture or MRA. It will also be featured on the new E- and S-Class models as well. Up front, Mercedes has done away with the MacPhearson struts and opted for the tighter-handling double wishbone system.

Mercedes C-Class
Image used with permission by copyright holder

As we had reported earlier, there will be an entry-level CLA with a transversely mounted engine and front-wheel drive. Putting this new offering at the bottom of the Mercedes U.S. lineup allows the German automaker to skew the new C-Class a bit higher, meaning a higher asking price.

Unlike the little CLA, the C-Class will have longitudinally mounted engines and offer rear or all-wheel drive. Common engine options are said to be inline four-cylinders and V6 ranging from a 186-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter to a 330-horsepower twin turbocharged V6. We expect diesel variants to make their way stateside as well, but what those will entail is still unknown. Excitingly, there is rumor of a plug-in hybrid version for 2015.

Mercedes will include stop/start technology for increased fuel economy and also a brake energy recuperating system, much like that in Formula One racecars, which is known as Kinetic Energy Recovery System or KERS.

Upon first impression, we absolutely love the new look and features of the upcoming C-Class, and we’re expecting it to be a strong competitor against the new 3 Series and the A4. We wouldn’t be surprised, however, if Audi has an entirely new A4 by then as well.

In truth, things are beginning to look pretty heated across the entry-level luxury segment between the German brands, and we couldn’t be more excited.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Nick Jaynes
Nick Jaynes
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…
Don’t let the gimmicks fool you. The Ioniq 5 N is a serious track car
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N drifting.

We’re finally getting to the fun part of automakers’ methodical quest to replicate their lineups with electric cars.

Performance versions of ordinary cars have been a staple of the auto industry for decades. But while we’ve already seen some variants of EVs boasting more power and more impressive stats — think Tesla Model S Plaid or Lucid Air Sapphire — the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is the first to truly apply that format to an EV.

Read more
The Maserati GranCabrio Folgore is one of the best-looking EVs yet
Front of the Maserati GranCabrio Folgore

Maserati is adopting electrified vehicles with open arms, and while that could potentially signal an identity crisis for the luxury Italian brand, that’s probably a good thing in the long run.

The company recently took the wraps off of the new Maserati GranCabrio Folgore, which is essentially a convertible version of its already released GranTurismo Folgore electric car. The new EV is its third go at electrified vehicles so far, and it flew us out to Rimini, Italy, to witness the big reveal in person.

Read more
EV warranties aren’t like those for non-electric cars. Here’s what you should know
Close up of the Hybrid car electric charger station with power supply plugged into an electric car being charged.

EVs are on the rise. With awesome new models finally rolling out and charging networks rapidly expanding, it feels like we're at the tipping point of electric cars being as mainstream as non-electric vehicles. But with a whole new type of vehicle come new challenges. One challenge is adapting to charging times. Another is paying closer to attention to range. And another, as some drivers are finding out, has to do with electric car warranties.

Turns out, the warranty that comes with electric cars isn't necessarily quite the same as the one that you might get with your non-electric car. If you really think about it, that's probably not all that surprising -- after all, while they can look the same, electric cars have a completely different makeup under the hood compared to their gas-powered cousins. But understanding an EV warranty could be the difference between winding up having to pay thousands for a battery replacement, or getting one repaired on the house.
It's not all new
Before diving into things like battery warranties, it's worth doing a quick primer on car warranties in general. EVs and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles usually come with two different warranties -- at least when they're bought new. First, there's the basic warranty (also known as bumper-to-bumper warranty), which covers every part of a car except for basic maintenance, usually for up to three years or 36,000 miles.

Read more