What's New for 2015

Introduction

The C-Class is Mercedes-Benz's North American bread winner. Other models may earn it more per sale, but the original Baby Benz keeps the lights on. A little longer and a lot lighter, the 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class looks to further its successful formula with four- and six-cylinder engines, all-wheel drive, world-class interior refinement and safety features that lead the segment.

In the U.S., the C-Class launches with C300 4Matic and C400 4Matic models. The C300 will use a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder rated at 235 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, while the C400 gets a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 generating 329 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are joined to a seven-speed automatic transmission routing power to a permanent all-wheel-drive system.

As crucial as the C-Class is to Mercedes-Benz's health, it no longer carries the burden of entry into the luxury brand. That job now falls to the CLA-Class which, at 3 inches shorter than the incoming C-Class, becomes the new Baby Benz. The new sedan is free to grow, and it does. The wheelbase extends 3 inches, while overall length grows by 3.7 inches. The C-Class is also 1.6 inches wider. Rear seat passengers and their legs and hips will be the primary beneficiaries of the growth spurt, as will their luggage allotment; trunk capacity balloons nearly 5 cubic feet, now up to 17 cubic feet.

Despite its growth, Mercedes says the C-Class is up to 220 pounds lighter than its predecessor, with a chassis and body that is nearly 50 percent aluminum (compared with 10 percent for the outgoing model). Offered with either a base or sport suspension design (the latter reduces ride height by 0.6 inch), the C-Class also uses a new four-link front suspension design intended for improved grip and sharper turning. An optional self-leveling air suspension with driver-adjustable modes, a rarity in this class, is also available.

As before, the C-Class gets a choice of two grilles: the traditional radiator grille with a three-pointed star hood ornament or the large-slatted grille with a centrally positioned star emblem. Mercedes typically calls these sub-trims "Luxury" and "Sport," although that hasn't been confirmed for the 2015 model.

Any new C-Class reminds us that Mercedes takes its safety and driver assistance tech very seriously, the sedan serving as a mainstream port for features developed up-model in the E- and S-Class. A new standard collision mitigation system can automatically brake the car at speeds of up to 124 mph if the driver fails to respond to an imminent collision. Optional systems can follow a vehicle ahead and provide steering assistance at speeds under 37 mph. Lane-keeping assist can also apply braking to whichever side of the car drifts out of its lane.

The 2015 C-Class will debut at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show and go on sale in the fall of 2014. It will be assembled on Mercedes' production line in Alabama. A coupe arrives in 2015, while hybrid models should come in 2016. A hatchback model, aimed squarely at BMW's 3 Series GranTurismo, is intended to be the sportiest of the lineup and should make it to the U.S. The wagon, however, is more doubtful for American buyers.

Check back for a full review of the 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, including specs, driving impressions and buying advice as it becomes available.