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April 04 News |
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Revised
C-class
Mercedes has unveiled a revised version of its popular C-class,
which goes on sale in the UK from May. Four years after the current
line-up was launched, the German carmaker is to raise the C-class¹s
game and promote it as more of an involving drive, putting it on
a par with the likes of BMW¹s 3 Series and Audi¹s A4. Aside from
the car¹s revised nose, which sports a new grille, bumper and headlamps,
the car¹s interior has been subtly revamped with new seats, redesigned
switchgear and an improved choice of trim materials. On the mechanical
front, the C-class gains a wider track, larger wheels and revisions
to the chassis, suspension and steering. It¹s hoped these changes
will help the car shed its Œmature¹ image and attract additional
buyers. The existing car¹s generous range of engines will be carried
over largely unchanged. Two important exceptions will be inclusion
of the 230 Kompressor unit from the sports coupé in the saloon and
estate line-up, plus a tweaked version of the 220 CDI diesel. For
AMG fans there will be a new V8 powered version of the C-class,
the C 55 AMG to replace the existing C 32. Boasting 367 bhp, a full
AMG bodykit and 18-inch wheels, the range flagship comes with a
five-speed auto gearbox, complete with steering wheel-mounted gearchange
buttons. Elsewhere, all other C-class variants gain a new six-speed
manual Œbox. The C-class is now also available with a 320-watt sound
system with surround sound and voice control system, which operates
the car telephone and numerous audio functions by voice commands.
Mercedes is the first manufacturer to offer voice control for navigation
destinations in this vehicle class. |
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C-class
for DTM
This year, the three manufacturers involved in the German DTM series
enter race versions of their mass production four-door cars. The
AMG-Mercedes C-class is equipped with the same engine as the CLK,
which has been used since 2000. HWA technicians have improved the
driveability of the four-litre V8 engine and adjusted the chassis
to the dimensions of the four-door car. During a three-day test
session the racing saloons covered a distance of about 1,000 kilometres.
Commented Jean Alesi: ³Compared to the CLK, the C-Class is even
easier to drive. Its basic set-up is very good and I feel really
comfortable in this car.² |
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M-class
'final edition'
Mercedes is celebrating its M-class with a special model called
ŒFinal Edition¹, offering savings of up £1,000 to customers. Special
features include a bonnet with two attractive power domes, an aluminium
roof railing, 17-inch aluminium wheels with 275/55 R 17 wide-profile
tyres, soft leather and electrically adjustable sports seats for
the driver and front passenger. Other exclusive features are tinted
glass covering the taillights, chrome facing on the door handles,
the rear hatch and the special model emblems fixed to the driver¹s
and front passenger¹s doors. In addition to the standard colours,
this M-class special model is optionally available with the exclusive
Cubanite Silver metallic paint. |
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Car
wash
Women are twice as likely to wash their car as men according to
a new poll by internet discount dealer CarShock. The average woman
washes her car twice a month, but a man cleans it only once a month.
This is because women are happier to pay for an automatic carwash,
but tight-fisted blokes prefer to do it themselves with a bucket
and sponge. Men even prefer to use a manual jetwash to clean their
motor than an automatic wash because it is deemed Œmore macho¹. |
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New
in Geneva
Mercedes-Benz used the Geneva Motor Show to showcase the results
of its latest product initiative. Three new Mercedes models celebrated
their world premieres: the alluring four-door CLS Coupé, the sporty
SLK Roadster and the new generation of the C-class. Mercedes also
presented the new G 55 AMG, powered by a 350-kW/476-hp supercharged
V8 engine, and the further developed international emergency call
system TELEAID to the public for the first time. |
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In
da Benz
If you pay even casual attention to popular music, you are no doubt
aware that Top 40 radio is awash in brand names, not just during
the commercial breaks, but also within the actual songs. Research
now places Mercedes at the top of the charts for number of mentions.
Examples include 50 Cent¹s ŒIn Da Club¹ (³When I pull up front,
ya see the Benz on the dubs²), another 50 Cent tune called Œ21 Questions¹
(³If I went back to a hoopty from a Benz.²); Jay-Z's ŒExcuse Me
Miss¹ (³She sees more than the Benz wagon²), and Lil' Kim¹s brand-packed
ŒThe Jump Off¹ (³This is for my peeps with the Bentleys, the Hummers,
the Benz²). Other manufacturers, keen for publicity, want to know
how the hip-hop audience perceives their brands, why they aren¹t
mentioned in more songs, what it means when they are, and how they
can make it into the Top 20. Some marketers angle for mentions in
what is widely seen as the most authentic form of cultural expression
going. There is genuine brand endorsement, and then there's name-dropping
in the hope that a marketing director will come bearing free goods
or a cheque. But why Mercedes in particular? Experts suggest that
Mercedes is a classic example of a brand that broadcasts high-end
success and money to burn, a theme that rappers never seem to tire
of, and it also enjoys a syllabic advantage: Benz is a nice-sounding,
compact word. |
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