Mercedes C-Class Comes with Standard 41 Liter or 10.8 Gallon Fuel Tank in Europe, is it Enough?

The all-new Mercedes-Benz C-Class is up to 100 kg (220 lbs) lighter than the model it replaces and one of the elements contributing to the weight saving is the smaller fuel tank. StandardC-Class models are offered with a 41-liter (10.8-US gallon) fuel tank, similar in size or even smaller than what superminis are offering nowadays.

The C-Class’ relatively tiny fuel tank is said to contribute to as much as 16 percent of the average 75 kg saved by the new W205 generation.

By shrinking the standard fuel tank by 18 liters (4.75 gallons), Mercedes-Benz has reduced the official curb weight of the C-Class by 12 kg (26.4 lbs). In the EU, a car’s official curb weight is calculated using a fuel tank filled to 90 percent of its capacity, as well as an additional 75 kg (165 lbs) for the driver.

While weight saving is great news for fuel economy and handling, is it really a good idea to offer a smaller fuel tank? Apparently, Mercedes-Benz believes it is. “We have reduced the fuel tank capacity of the new C-class roughly in line with the fuel savings it offers over its predecessor. For those customers who place a priority on range, we offer an optional 66-liter tank,” a company spokesman was quoted as saying by Autocar.

In Germany, Mercedes-Benz charges €59.50 ($81) for the optional 66-liter (17.4-gallon) tank. In the UK, however, the C-Class will be offered as standard with the larger tank, although official figures will be quoted from the European standard and the 41-liter tank.

The most economical C-Class currently on offer in Europe, the C 220 BlueTec, has a declared average fuel consumption of 4 l/100 km (58.8 mpg US), which means it ideally has a driving range of 1,025 km (637 miles) with the 41-liter fuel tank. However, official fuel economy figures are always more optimistic than real ones. Choose the C 200 petrol model that averages 5.3 l/100 km and driving range drops significantly to 773 km (480 miles). And that’s still a fuel-efficient model we’re talking about...

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Mercedes-Benz Shares UK Pricing on All-New C-Class Saloon

The new generation of Mercedes' C-Class compact executive sedan will arrive on British shores this June. On-the-road (OTR) prices start from £26,855 and rise to £34,355 for the launch range, which includes two engine options, the C200 with an 181hp (184PS) 2.0-liter turbo'd petrol, and the C220 BlueTEC featuring a 168hp (170PS) 2.2-liter diesel.

Both units are available with a choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic gearboxes.

During the course of the year, Benz will expand the range of available engines with the addition of three more model variants, the C 200 BlueTEC, C 250 BlueTEC and C 300 BlueTEC HYBRID.

Once you have chosen the engine, you can pick from three trim grades named SE, Sport and AMG Line.

Standard equipment fitted to all models include a centrally-mounted 7-inch touchscreen display for the infotainment system, two-zone air conditioning, reversing camera, rain sensing wipers, Attention Assist, Speedtronic cruise control, heated windscreen wiper washers, a tyre pressure monitoring system and Collision Prevention Assist Plus.

Among other equipment highlights, the Sport model eschews the SE's 16-inch rims for 17-inch alloys, and adds LED headlamps, lowered comfort suspension, chrome exterior trim and a Garmin Map Pilot Navigation, while the AMG Line gains 18-inch wheels, an exterior aero package, sports steering wheel and suspension, and an Artico finish to the upper dashboard.

If you want to go on a spending spree, Mercedes offers many optional features, such as the Executive Pack (£995) for the SE with Garmin Map Pilot navigation, heated front seats and split folding rear seats; AIRMATIC Agility Package (£895) that brings a variable, self-leveling air suspension; a head-up display (£825), and the Air Balance Package (£350) with a choice of four fragrances and air filtering.

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New Mercedes-Benz C-Class Showcases AMG Package in Leaked Photos

If the styling of the all-new Mercedes-Benz C-Class isn’t considered sporty or exclusive enough by some customers, they will be able to opt for an AMG Line exterior kit.

As the leaked official photos show, the AMG package features a front apron with large air inlets with wire mesh and chrome trim elements, side skirts and rear apron with built-in diffuser. The package appears to be the same one that we saw on the C-Class photographed in Germany.

The AMG Line also includes 18-inch light-alloy wheels in 5-spoke design, painted in high-sheen titanium gray, as well as the sportier radiator grille with integrated Mercedes-Benz star and two louvers in matt iridium silver with chrome inserts.

Also included in the AMG Line Exterior Pack are a lowered sports suspension (by 15mm or 0.6in), perforated front brake discs, large chrome exhaust tips, window surround in polished aluminum and others.

The AMG Line for the C-Class is expected to debut at the Detroit Auto Show.

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2015 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Sedan with 4.0L Bi-Turbo V8 Rendered

To the delight of photo manipulators, all three major German premium carmakers, including Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, are very predictable (to the point of tediousness sometimes) when it comes to the appearance of high-performance versions of their regular models.

As such, imagining the styling of upcoming cars like the next Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG sports saloon is a pretty straightforward process – change the grille, lower the ride height, add model-specific front and rear bumpers, side skirts, bigger alloy wheels and trim details, and you're all set.

Before we leave you to take a closer look atVirtuel Car's digital-made photos of the car, let us tell you that, unlike the latest BMW M3 and M4 that swapped their predecessors' naturally aspirated V8 for a force-fed inline six, Mercedes will continue to offer a V8, but instead of being naturally aspirated, the new 4.0-liter unit is reported to employ the use of twin-turbochargers for close to 500-horses.

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Mercedes Releases U.S. Prices for 2014 SLS AMG Black Series and C63 AMG Edition 507s

Coming soon to a Mercedes-Benz store next to you, are three brand-new and special AMG models: the 2014 SLS AMG Black Series coupeand the 2014 C63 AMG Edition 507 sedan and coupe, all of which have more power, more features, and as you would expect, a higher price tag.

To get into the specifics, the 2014 SLS AMG Black Series will set you back $275,000 plus $1,800 for destination and delivery, or $75,100 more than your run-of-the mill 583hp SLS AMG Coupe.

We've covered the Black Series in the past, but if for whatever reason you don't want to read our previous posts, in a nutshell, it gains a 622hp version of the V8 engine for a 3.5 second run to 60mph (96km/h), chassis revisions including suspension and brakes, a faster transmission, styling and aero improvements, plus new wheels and a re-trimmed interior.

The other special models are the C63 AMG 507 Edition Sedan, priced from $70,000 plus $925 for destination and delivery, and the C63 Edition 507 Coupe that starts at $72,500, excluding $925 for destination and delivery.

The short story on the 507 Edition (the long story can be found here) is that it replaces the optional AMG Development Package adding 56 hp to the output of the 6.3-liter V8 for a total of 507hp with 450 lb.-ft. of torque

According to the Germans, the coupe 507 Edition accelerates from 0-60mph (96km/h) in 4.1 seconds, or 0.3 seconds faster than the existing 451hp C63 AMG and also beats the former optional AMG Development Package which produced 481hp by 0.2 seconds. In addition, maximum speed has been electronically raised to 174 mph (280km/h), up from the standard 155mph (250km/h), while Mercedes has also tweaked the styling and added carbon ceramic brake discs.

Sales of the C63 AMG 507 Edition begin this month.

2014 MERCEDES C63 AMG 507 EDITION

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