Author: ROBIN ROBERTS
Mercedes-Benz has adopted a new trim hierarchy for the revamped C-Class and incorporated a new engine to reduce company car tax (BIK) ratings and costs as it steps up its sales appeal to business users.
It’s part of Mercedes’dramatic overhaul of its ranges. The new C-Class is already in the showrooms; the GL-Class is getting ready to launch, and both follow the announcement of the stunning CLS shooting brake.
What’s changed?
The C-Class enhancements help to lower running costs and can reduce company car tax for business drivers by up to four per cent, giving the C-Class an even greater competitive advantage over premium compact rivals.
In addition, the revisions have immediately had a positive impact on the already-strong residual values of the C-Class, with CAP announcing a five per cent (£450) increase in values for the entry-level trim grade.
Entry level Executive SE
Executive SE is the new entry point to the revised range for the C 180, C 200 CDI and C 220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Saloons and Estates. It includes a sports grille, new 16-inch alloy wheels, Artico upholstery and LED daytime running lights at a price increase of only £35 over the previous SE grade.
A new Luxury Package is available for Executive SE models to replace the former Elegance trim option. Carrying a £2,000 premium, it includes the three louver grille with bonnet-mounted star, 17” alloy wheels with a seven twin-spoke design, automatically dimming rear view mirror and folding exterior door mirrors, chrome trim on the side, rear and shoulder line, a storage package and brown Ash wood trim with a matt finish.
New Sport packages cost less…
The Sport trim makes way in the 2013 C-Class for two new variants –AMG Sport and AMG Sport Plus. An AMG Mercedes is now well within reach of many company car drivers as we’ve previously reported.
The AMG Sport Saloon and Estate cost £960 less than the previous Sport models, and feature 17-inch AMG wheels and halogen headlights.
The AMG Sport Plus, priced £1,000 above AMG Sport and just £35 over the previous Sport line, includes 18-inch bi-colour AMG alloys, bi-Xenon front lights with Intelligent Light System and Adaptive High Beam Assist, AMG sports seats, Black Artico/Dinamica upholstery with contrast red stitching, red seat belts, AMG floor mats with red edging and silver gearshift paddles on the automatic transmission.
…and save on company car tax
There’s a tax saving on the new AMG Sport, thanks to a reduction in CO2 emissions. For example, the previous C 220 CDI Sport Saloon with manual transmission had CO2 emissions of 133g/km and fell into the 20% BIK bracket, giving a total over 36 months of £7,865 for a 40% tax payer.
By comparison, the new C 220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY AMG Sport Saloon with manual transmission emits 123g/km giving a BIK of 18% in 2012/13, and a total saving over 36 months of £968.
The Coupe
In the C-Class Coupé, the pricing and specification of the AMG Sport are unchanged, but an AMG Sport Plus version is now available for an additional £1,000.
The comprehensive list of trim additions includes 18-inch bi-colour AMG alloys, an AMG boot lip spoiler in body colour, AMG sports seats, Black Artico/Dynamica upholstery with the contrast red stitching on the seats and door panels, red seat belts, AMG floor mats with red edging and silver gearshift paddles (automatic transmission only).
A £530 AMG Handling Package is offered on the C-Class Coupé to uprate the steering, engine, exhaust and transmission response, as well as introducing unique styling touches. The Dynamic Handling Package continues to be available on selected Saloon and Estate models.
Those engines
The C 180 BlueEFFICIENCY is powered by a new ultra-efficient 1.6-litre direct-injection turbocharged petrol engine and is accompanied by electric power steering to further bolster economy. With an output of 154 hp at 5,000 rpm, the new engine is almost as powerful as its predecessor while developing an identical 250 Nm of torque across a wider rev range – 1,250 to 4,000 rpm.
The C 180 BlueEFFICIENCY Saloon returns 47.9 mpg and 138 g/km (the Estate for some reason has emissions of 139g/km), while the Coupe manages 44.1 mpg and 149 g/km.
While the 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine is no longer offered in the C-Class Saloon and Estate, it is still available in the C-Class Coupé. In addition, the C 63 AMG performance models remain unaffected by the 2013 model year revisions.
Pricing is from £25,915 for Saloon, £27,115 Estate and £30,090 for the Coupé.
Mercedes-Benz has always been a very popular brand for business car leasing and you see how they stack up in our company car case studies
