Mercedes C- and E-Class come with more powerful power trains

Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Sentul, West Java

With higher fuel prices, many motorists are looking for cars with better fuel efficiency while at the some time expecting the same level of performance or even better.

In this vein, PT DaimlerChrysler Indonesia announced last Thursday that it was using a new power train: the M272 V6 engine equipped with seven-speed 7G-TRONIC transmission for its C and E class sedans.

"The use of the M272 engine is part of our efforts to save fuel without sacrificing performance," deputy director of marketing planning and communications Yuniadi H. Hartono said at the Sentul International Circuit when introducing the new power train.

In the C Class, the engine replaces the old double-ignition 2,597 cc engine used for the C 240. Now there are two engines for the C Class: the 2,496 cc for the C 230 -- which replaces the C 240 as the entry level engine -- and the 2,996 cc for the C 280.

The new double twin-cam, single ignition engine for the C 230 has more power and torque compared with the older engine, as well as better fuel consumption.

Drivers can get a maximum power of 204 horsepower (hp) at 6,100 revolutions per minute (rpm) and plenty torque at 245 Newton meter (Nm), which can achieved from 2,900 rpm to 5,500 rpm.

"This is a typical signature of Mercedes Benz engines where drivers can get maximum torque early on and maintain it at all rpm levels," marketing and sales training manager Dwi Parileksono said at the Sentul International Circuit.

"This powerful engine, however, comes with better fuel consumption of 10.4 kilometers per liter compared to 9.7 kilometers per liter for the older engine," he said.

The engine for the C 280 produces maximum power of 231 hp at 6,000 rpm and full torque of 300 Nm at 2,500 rpm to 5,000 rpm.

The C 230 comes in two variants, Sport and Elegance, while the C 280 comes in the Elegance variant only. The price tag for the C 230 Sport is Rp 513 million, Rp 564 million for the C 230 Elegance and Rp 614 million for the C 280 Elegance.

In the E Class, the M272 engine replaces the 2,597 cc M271 Kompressor engine, coming in five-speed automatic transmission.

The old engine produced a top power of 174 hp at 5,700 rpm and a maximum torque of 240 Nm at 4,500 rpm. The new M272 produces 230 hp at 6,000 rpm and 300 Nm at 2400 rpm to 5,000 rpm.

And fuel efficiency has improved from 9.6 kilometers per liter to 10.3 kilometers per liter.

"The improvement in fuel efficiency is not that significant but we must not forget that we are getting more power," said Dwi.

Yuniadi said with the new engine, the E 280 Elegance would be the flagship of the E Class replacing the E 260 Elegance.

Apart from the new power train, the E 280 Elegance -- priced at Rp 829 million -- also comes with the additional feature of the active light system (ALS). This allows the Bi-Xenon headlights to turn according to the movements of the steering wheel when driven at over 40 kilometers per hour.

During the launch at the circuit, reporters were given the chance to drive and ride in all of the new variants, plus the Rp 990 million ML350 sports utility vehicle that was introduced at the Gaikindo Auto Expo in July.

Organizers set up the circuit so reporters could test the cars' handling during sudden lane changes, zigzag driving and sudden braking.

However, the real treat for reporters was the chance to drive and ride in three high-performance sports car from Mercedes-AMG: the CL 65 AMG, SL 55 AMG and C 55 AMG.

The performances of these Mercedes' were improved by the AMG tune-up team. The CL 65 AMG has a top power of 612 hp, the SL 55 AMG of 500 hp and the C 55 AMG of 367 hp.

Yuniadi said interested customers could specially order the cars from Germany.

In Germany, the CL 65 AMG has a price tag of 204,050 euros, the SL 55 of 131,700 euros and the C 55 is priced at 63,400 euros.

"A customer must multiply that by two or three for the taxes if they want to buy one of these cars," said Yuniadi.