The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a line of compact executive cars produced by Daimler AG. Introduced in 1993 as a replacement for the 190 range, the C-Class was the smallest model in the marque's lineup until the arrival of the A-Class in 1997. The C-Class is built at Mercedes-Benz factories in Sindelfingen and Bremen, Germany as well as numerous satellite factories in other countries. The first C-Class sedan was produced on 1 June 1993, and the first of the second generation rolled off the assembly line on July 18, 2000. The most recent third generation was launched in 2007.
Although originally sold as sedan and station wagon, the W203 series in 2000 debuted a fastback/hatchback coupe version that, when facelifted, became the Mercedes-Benz CLC-Class. The CLC-Class remained in production until 2011 when it was replaced by a new W204-based C-Class coupe for the 2012 model year. All three generations of C-Class have also formed the basis of Mercedes-Benz's larger mid-size coupes, the Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class and Mercedes-Benz W212 coupes.
On its debut, the C-Class was the only Mercedes model with a complete lineup of multi-valve engines. The new family of four-cylinder petrol units, called M111, debuted in the C 180, C 200 2.0 L, 136 PS and C 220. In 1997 the C 220 was replaced by the C 230, enlarged to 2.3 L displacement but with the same output, although with torque increased to 220 N·m. The C 280 was the high end model of the class, with a four-valve-per-cylinder straight-6 engine, capable of reaching 193 PS.
Four-cylinder diesel models were equipped with the same OM601 engine of the 190, in the 2.0 L and 2.2 L versions. Many of these diesel variants were sold as taxis, due to their low fuel consumption and strong reliability. There were also more powerful OM605 five-cylinder engines which were available in naturally aspired and turbocharged forms. The turbodiesel was introduced in 1995 and is one of the novelties in the engine range available from this year. The most important was a supercharged version of the M111 straight four, the C 230 Kompressor, using a Roots-type supercharger to generate 193 PS at 5300 rpm, Mercedes-Benz reused supercharger technology after 50 years. Due to the tax law in Italy and Portugal, models in those countries featured a supercharged version of the smaller 2.0 L, which had a similar output of the C 230 Kompressor.
The 1997 diesel models featured the OM611, equipped with a common rail direct injection system. The new model was named C 220 CDI, and had an improved output of 30 PS compared with the C 220 Diesel, better fuel average and lower emissions. Also, the inline six engines were replaced by a family of V6, the M112. The new engines featured SOHC heads instead of the previous DOHC, three valves per cylinder instead of four, and twin sparkplugs. The four-cylinder C 230 was replaced by the C 240 and the I6 C 280 by the V6 C 280. These changes reduced emissions and improved fuel consumption, without sacrificing power.
In the last four years of production, the W202 received a few changes in the choices of engine. In 1998, a less powerful version of the 2.2 L turbodiesel was added, called C 200 CDI, which replaced the C 220 Diesel. In 2000, the C 200 Kompressor's output was cut to 163 PS, the C 240 displacement was enlarged from 2.4 L to 2.6 L, but output remained at 170 PS and the C 180 got a 2.0 L engine.
The original W201 "Baby Benz" came standard in Germany with a five-speed manual transmission, automatic transmissions were optional. In the United States automatic transmissions were standard, but individuals had the option of a manual transmission although few chose the option. At the launch of the "official" C-Class, all W202 variants were equipped with a five-speed manual gearbox. The 722.4 four-speed automatic transmission, also called 4G-TRONIC, was available as extra cost, which US dealers chose to mainly offer on sales lots. In 1996 this old transmission - which was on sale since 1981 - was replaced by a five-speed automatic gearbox, which received the manual shifting in 1999. In 2000 the T-Modell, the only still on sale, was equipped with the G56 6-speed manual transmission.
At the launch the C-Class had a standard driver airbag, ABS and integrated side-impact protection; the front passenger airbag became standard from 1995 onwards, and from the same period Traction control was available as extra cost. In 1997 ASR became standard in the C 280s equipped with the automatic transmission and in the C 36 AMG, as ETS in the 4-cylinder models, except for the C 180 and the C 220 Diesel.
With the 1997 restyling ASR became standard in all the models, except in the C 180 and C 220 Diesel. This last model continued to offer ETS available as extra cost. Moreover front side airbags and Brake assist came in the list of standard safety features. The two basic models finally joined ASR in 1998, and, in 1999, the W202 was the first mid-size sedan to offer ESP as standard in all the range.
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