2008 Mercedes CLC-Class

Mercedes yesterday launched the latest addition to its line-up - the CLC-Class. Naming it the Sports Coupe, Merc has declared it an entry level coupe in the three-pointed star’s local offerings.

In an insight into the demographic this car is aimed at, Mercedes say that this car satisfies the “discerning requirements of young drivers looking for an athletic car.” Proudly boasting that there are greater than 1100 improvements over the last Sports Coupe we saw in Australia, Mercedes is pushing the economy barrow, with a claimed seven percent reduction in fuel consumption from its supercharged four-cylinder - combined cycle is 8.4-litres/100km for the automatic. But it also says that power is now up, to a healthy 135kW from the 1.8-litre engine.

There’s also a new direct-steer system, which it’s claimed offers more agile cornering. Curiously, though, an automatic transmission is standard. If it’s supposed to be more sporty, wouldn’t the no-cost option manual have been a better fit? Not according to the company, who has gone with paddle shifters on the steering wheel, to maintain the sporty character.

Three models will comprise the line-up - the C200K Kompressor, C200K Kompressor Evolution, and C200K Kompressor Evolution +.

© Source: caradvice
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Mercedes CLC

Now we've got that pesky Padberg woman out the way, we can have a proper look at the new  Mercedes CLC. We saw a couple of teaser shots of the baby coupe, but now the two-door C-Class has been revealed in all its voguish glory.

When we say C-Class, we're talking about the old one: like its predecessor, which launched in 2001, the CLC is based on the previous-gen C. But Merc engineers say they have revised more than 1,100 components to bring it bang into fashion.

Most obviously, the CLC's front end has been completely overhauled, giving it a similar face to the current C-Class. It's a similar story round the back, with a LED brakelight strip stolen straight off the C. Following the SLK and the SL, the CLC gets Merc's new direct steering system, which should provide more tactile, sporty handling and do away with the traditional lazy Mercedes cornering manners.

There are no surprises under the bonnet: the CLC comes with the same choice of engines as the current C-Class, minus the 6.2-litre V8 out the C63 AMG. Opt for one of the bigger V6s and you've got the choice of a seven-speed auto with flappy paddles, or a six-speed manual.

No word on prices yet, but the new Merc CLC will go on sale in Europe from May this year.

© Source: topgear
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