New-look Mercedes-Benz to be here within months
New-look Mercedes-Benz to be here within months
By John Aglionby
LUXURY German carmaker Mercedes-Benz is planning to launch a
revised C-class range late this year.
Introduced last month in Germany, the new-look Classic,
Elegance, Esprit and Sport are expected to arrive in Indonesia
some time later this year.
Lela Pello, corporate communications manager for PT Star
Motors Indonesia, Mercedes agent here, said: "It all depends on
our production process."
"We will introduce the facelift as soon as we can guarantee
the cars will be of the same quality as they are in Germany. It
should be by the end of this year but might not be until early
next year."
She stressed that there would be no price increase despite the
additional new features.
"Any increase will only be because of inflation, not because
of the facelift."
The facelift covers three areas -- body design, safety and
security -- and a choice of seven engines, including two V6s.
For style-conscious Indonesians the most important area will
probably be the one most visible to other road users, namely body
design.
The new models will have new front and rear bumpers with
integrated spoilers, body-colored side skirt panels with a sport
design, changed colors for the rear lights of the saloon and a
modified radiator grille.
People more concerned about interior comforts will be able to
rest their arms on fabric-covered armrests, and each model will
have its own individual seat covers and patterns.
Car safety will be enhanced with side air bags in the front
doors, high-performance seat belt tensioners with belt-force
limiters on the front seats and an electronic Brake Assist
System.
Mercedes claims its antitheft protection will be "perfected"
with its new drive authorization system, which is operated using
an electronic door and ignition key.
As far as the engines go, two new V6 engines with 2.4-liter
and 2.8-liter displacement will be standard. The 125 kW C240
supersedes the current C230 four-cylinder model and is an
inexpensive way for C-class aficionados to graduate to six
cylinders.
The C280 top model will be capable of an even superior
performance thanks to a 145 kW V6 engine. In addition to these,
five other engines will be on offer -- three petrol and two
diesel -- with a performance spectrum ranging from 70 kW to 142
kW.
Whichever engine you choose, it should also require less
maintenance, thanks to the installation of the Active Service
System which Mercedes says will increase maintenance intervals
from every 15,000 kilometers to 20,000 kilometers.