Mercedes-Benz launches first cabriolet based on the C-Class

Unlimited opening times

Mercedes-Benz is launching into the open-air season with the first cabriolet based on the       C-Class, thereby rounding off its range of cabriolets with a classic fabric soft top. The new cabriolet’s design interprets modern luxury with a youthful touch. Featuring plenty of high-quality details, its distinctive character is most apparent when the top is down. The cabriolet features as standard, the AIRCAP automatic draught stop system and optional AIRSCARF neck-level heating – for exceptional comfort during open-top driving 365 days a year. Efficient, powerful engines delivering between 125 and 270 kW and a suspension designed for dynamics (with optional AIRMATIC air suspension) ensure sportily agile handling. The new 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission is available for all engine variants. Also on board: proven assistance systems and state-of-the-art infotainment.

“Our new C-Class Cabriolet is the entry into the world of premium cabriolets from   Mercedes-Benz. Sporty and youthful in character and styling, it offers unadulterated open-air driving enjoyment all year round,” says Florian Seidler, Co-CEO Mercedes-Benz South Africa and Executive Director, Mercedes-Benz Cars.

Sporty and youthful

As the new youngest member in the cabriolet world of Mercedes-Benz, the C-Class Cabriolet is also a consistent embodiment of the Mercedes-Benz design philosophy: sensual purity as the definition of contemporary luxury. It exhibits an independence of character with a visibly sporty expression and youthfully fresh appeal.

With its top up, the profile of the new two-door cabriolet resembles that of the C-Class Coupé with virtually identical basic dimensions: with a striking front end featuring a diamond radiator grille, LED High Performance headlamps, long bonnet and high beltline. Its tightly stretched soft top with glass window transitions harmoniously into the distinctly styled rear end, which has a highly sporty look with its wide shoulders and flat LED tail lights. With a capacity of 360 litres (285 litres with the roof open), the boot is capable of holding an exceptional amount of luggage for a cabriolet, thus offering high everyday practicality. At the sides, an elongated dropping line extending over the rear wheel arch lends an emphasis typical of Mercedes-Benz design. Thanks to its 15 millimetre lower suspension as standard compared with the sedan, the vehicle already gives a sporty impression with its 17-inch standard tyres, underlining the sporty character of the Cabriolet, which excels aerodynamically with a c_d value of 0.28.

AMG version with distinct looks

The same dropping line is taken up by the new Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC Cabriolet which, however, has an even sportier look with its distinct AMG design and specific light-alloy wheels. It thus underscores the progressive nature and performance of the brand.

Exterior and interior from the same mould

With the roof open, the meticulously coordinated harmony between exterior and interior design becomes apparent. High-grade details include chrome trim on A-pillar and windscreen as well as a beltline moulding, which extends as far as the soft-top compartment, which it borders with a broad chrome trim.

Premium-class fabric soft-top

The fully automatic classic cabriolet fabric soft top comes in black in the basic variant or is optionally available with a multi-layer acoustic soft top in dark brown, dark blue, dark red or black. It significantly reduces the wind/driving noise. This is quite noticeable in the form of improved speech intelligibility, including at high speeds, and better insulation from disruptive ambient noise. The acoustic soft top thus offers optimal climate comfort and quiet-running characteristics.

Based on the S-Class Cabriolet, the soft top also meets high quality standards in terms of durability and function. This soft top roof can be opened and closed in less than 20 seconds and up to a speed of 50 km/h. After opening, it folds down quietly and carefully and is stored in the soft-top compartment in the boot. In terms of its shape and colour, the cover of the soft-top compartment is an integral part of the interior and is made of the same material as the beltline.

Interior – modernity and lifestyle

The occupants enjoy an ambience that, while based on the interior of the C-Class sedan, offers a fresh interpretation with typical cabriolet features. Especially high-grade materials and build quality give the interior a modern feel of sportiness and lifestyle. The equipment includes heat-reflecting leather in a variety of colour shades (optional) as well as a curved switch in matt silver chrome in the centre console for opening and closing the fully automatic cabriolet soft top. Based on the Coupé, the sport seats feature an integral look with muscular side bolsters and organically integrated head restraints as well as optional AIRSCARF neck-level heating. Automatic belt extenders as standard help the occupants with buckling up.

The rear seats are in the form of individual seats. Their backrests offer a through-loading feature, can be split 50:50 for high everyday practicality and can be completely folded down.

AMG with special details

The interior of the Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC Cabriolet reinforces the consistently dynamic bias of the performance brand with numerous specially designed details. Ideal for a committed driving style, the multifunction sports steering wheel in black leather features a flattened bottom section and red contrasting topstitching, and sits perfectly in the hand.

Individual highlights

The Cabriolet already comes as standard with a high equipment specification, which is augmented by a wide range of individualisation options (some examples: upholstery variants, such as designo Bengal red / black, seven trim variants, four soft-top colours, twelve paint finishes – including a matt finish, leather-covered instrument panel). The roof liner of the soft top is available in black, porcelain and crystal grey. Numerous trim elements in sporty aluminium, carbon fibre or glass fibre are complemented by authentic open-pore wood species in shades of brown and black.

The AMG Line is available as an alternative to underline the dynamism of the Cabriolet. It differs by virtue of exterior features such as special bumpers and sills with AMG bodystyling, a diamond radiator grille with pins in chrome and 18-inch AMG light-alloy wheels. In the interior, the AMG Line comes with sporty, exclusive highlights, including a multifunction sports steering wheel with flattened bottom section as well as AMG sports pedals.

At the market launch an Edition 1 will be available for a limited time. With a host of perfectly com-ordinated equipment lines, it combines sportiness with lifestyle, thus perfectly fitting with the sporty-modern look of the new cabriolet.

Summer is included

Customers opting for a cabriolet like to drive as often as possible with the top down. With the     C-Class Cabriolet – as in the E- and S-Class Cabriolets – the occupants can enjoy maximum open-air comfort, made possible by AIRCAP and AIRSCARF.

Inconspicuously integrated into the roof frame, the electric AIRCAP draught stop system was specially developed for Mercedes-Benz cabriolets and is coupled to an electric draught stop behind the rear seats, which reduces the interior turbulence also for the rear passengers at the press of a button. AIRCAP is part of the Cabriolet Comfort package, which also includes AIRSCARF neck-level heating for the driver and front passenger. The combination of these two systems extends the open-top season to the entire year.

Suspension: sportily agile and comfortable

The suspension offers a high level of comfort with low road roar and tyre vibration characteristics while ensuring agile driving dynamics – the basis for driving enjoyment. The suspension on the Cabriolet, which is 15 millimetres lower in comparison with the Saloon, comes as standard with steel springs with a selective damping system. An optional sports suspension with firmer springing and damping, including the Sports Direct-Steer system, makes for even more agile handling.

Riding on air

The Cabriolet is optionally available with AIRMATIC air suspension. Its electronically controlled, continuously adjustable damping on the front and rear axles ensures low road roar and tyre vibration characteristics in every situation.

DYNAMIC SELECT – standard with AIRMATIC and optionally available with a steel suspension – allows the driver to choose their desired setting: sporty, comfortable or fuel-efficient. To this end, the driver can select one of five transmission modes using the DYNAMIC SELECT switch: “ECO”, “Comfort”, “Sport”, “Sport Plus” and “Individual”. Selecting “Individual” allows the driver to customise the vehicle settings to suit their personal preferences.

Dynamic: 4 and 6-cylinder engines and, for the first time, 4MATIC

Powerful and efficient petrol and diesel engines with ECO start/stop function and an extensive 4MATIC range make for sporty performance and driving pleasure all year round.

Three petrol engines are available for the Cabriolet. The range of outputs extends from the  2-litre four-cylinder unit in the C 200 rated at 135 kW to the 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine in the Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC Cabriolet.

The diesel model is powered by a four-cylinder engine delivering 125 kW in the C 220 d and is equipped with eco-friendly SCR technology (Selective Catalytic Reduction) for exhaust aftertreatment.

The new 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission is standard on all engine variants (optional on the C 200).  The model line-up at a glance:

All data provisional; *combined    (NB:Mercedes-AMG C 63 and C 63 S see separate release)

Light and safe bodyshell

In a cabriolet, the lack of a roof often results in reduced body stiffness. The engineers adapted the bodyshell at the front end and on the floor to meet the particular needs of the Cabriolet. Consequently, this model, features an exemplary stiff design of the kind required for high driving dynamics.

The Coupé’s intelligent lightweight construction with a high proportion of aluminium was retained – among others, the wings, bonnet and boot lid are made of light alloy. The Cabriolet not only meets all current national and international laws, but also all rating requirements as well as the more stringent internal Mercedes-Benz safety requirements, which are based on what actually happens in a real-world accident.

Safe semi-autonomous driving to reduce stress

There are many safety and assistance systems based on the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive concept to choose from ATTENTION ASSIST with adjustable sensitivity, which can warn the driver of inattentiveness and drowsiness, is included as standard. Further standard equipment includes COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS. In addition to a visual proximity warning and an additional audible collision warning, it includes Adaptive Brake Assist, which can help prevent collisions by boosting the brake pressure to suit the situation. When a danger of collision persists and the driver fails to respond, the system is able to carry out autonomous braking at speeds of up to 200 km/h, thereby reducing the severity of collisions with slower or stationary vehicles or, in the best-case scenario, even avoiding a collision altogether. At speeds of up to 50 km/h, the system also brakes in response to stationary vehicles and is thus able to help prevent rear-end collisions at up to 40 km/h.

The optionally available Driving Assistance package includes additional assistance systems that have been significantly extended in terms of their functions. As part of the Intelligent Drive concept, these merge data from various sensor technologies, such as radar sensors and stereo camera, and thus make for significantly enhanced safety and comfort. These functions include for example DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot or the PRE-SAFE^® Brake with pedestrian detection plus the Brake Assist BAS PLUS, which also offers situation-adaptive brake boosting if there is a risk of collision from crossing traffic. A further function of the Driving Assistance package is Active Lane Keeping Assist, which is capable of preventing unintentional lane departure by means of one-sided, lane-correcting application of the brakes. The system intervenes if the driver crosses a solid lane marking and can assist even in the case of discontinuous lane markings if there is a risk of collision with a vehicle in the adjacent lane.

The multiplicity of assistance systems also includes a Parking Assist for semi-automated parking; a 360° camera for assistance during parking and manoeuvring; a camera and as well as Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus, which allows continuous high beam by selectively blanking out other vehicles from the high-beam light cone.

Safe protection

In an accident, optimal protection is afforded by the high structural safety of the body as well as by the restraint systems, especially the comprehensive complement of airbags. These include:

• adaptive front airbags for driver and front passenger
• a kneebag on the driver’s side
• thorax/pelvis bags for driver and front passenger
• windowbags integrated in the top edges of the front door panels

The roll-over protection system is specific to the Cabriolet. It consists of two cartridges that are fully retracted behind the rear seats and therefore invisible. If a roll-over is imminent, these cartridges are pyrotechnically fired, whereupon they shoot out to provide a survival space together with the A-pillar.

Sensitive climate control for open-air driving

Specially developed for cabriolets, the climate control system responds to whether the vehicle is being driven with the roof up or down. With the roof closed, the system performs in the same way as in the Coupé. With the soft top down, the climate control system adapts by, for example, blowing warmer air onto the driver’s hands on the steering wheel and deactivating the air recirculation function. The special adjustments for open-top driving make allowance for whether cooling or heating is required and respond sensitively to the transition zones in between.

Vibrant infotainment experience

Intuitive operation with animations and visual effects is offered by the infotainment system. Frontbass ensures a listening experience almost on a par with a concert hall – especially if the optionally available Burmester^® sound system has been specified. The Frontbass system uses the space within the cross-member and side member in the body structure as a resonance chamber for the bass speakers.

Extensive networking even in the basic version

A Bluetooth^®-compatible mobile phone with data option is all it takes to give the Audio 20 system internet capability. This allows internet surfing without restriction when the vehicle is stationary. Mercedes-Benz apps can be used while driving. Audio and video playback is possible from various sources.

The alternatively available COMAND Online system provides not only a larger display with a resolution of 960 x 540 pixels, but it also optionally allows digital TV/radio reception, for example, while offering fast hard-drive navigation, integral WiFi hotspot functionality and LINGUATRONIC voice control as well as many other features.

As with all Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars, the C-Class Cabriolet range comes standard with the class-leading 6-years/100 000 PremiumDrive maintenance plan.

C-Class Cabriolet C 220 d                  R774 900

C-Class Cabriolet C 200                     R699 900

C-Class Cabriolet C 300                     R805 900

Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC          R1 039 900