Upper class Merc

The latest Merc invites drivers of rival vehicles to "experience the revolution," and ALASTAIR SLOANE believes there'll be plenty of takers

Mercedes-Benz has mailed 2700 brochures on the new C-Class sedan to New Zealanders who fall into its target audience.

The brochures say Mercedes-Benz is no stranger to revolutionising the automotive world and has again broken new ground with the C-Class.

"As a driver who appreciates high-quality motorcars, we wanted you to be among the first to share in celebrating its New Zealand debut," writes the managing director of DaimlerChrysler New Zealand, Ernie Ward.

About 700 of the flyers went to Mercedes-Benz owners. The other 2000 ask people who drive rival models to "experience the revolution" and swap sides.

The brochure contains all the superlatives heaped upon the new model by European motoring scribes.

Such as: "Beautifully sculptured, an exciting piece of design" ... "sky-high equipment levels" ... "best aerodynamics of any sedan in its class" ... "taking driver control and comfort into a new dimension"... "a brilliant newcomer" ...

The new C-Class sedan is longer, has more interior room and a bigger boot. It bristles with electronic gadgets and safety equipment.

Five sedan models, all with manual/automatic Touchshift transmission, will be available in New Zealand from December. The hatchback and station- wagon will arrive next year.

The sedan lineup:

* C320 V6.

* C240 V6 (2.6 litres).

* C200 Kompressor, a supercharged four-cylinder.

* C180, the entry-level 2-litre.

* 270CDi, the latest technology turbocharged diesel.

The carmaker is also looking at a less powerful diesel, the 220CDi. "It's an important member of the C-Class family and we are tossing it up at the moment," says Ward.

He is also tossing up the price, sharpening pencils with the factory in Germany. Nothing has been set in stone yet but he says buyers will be "pleasantly surprised."

Bear in mind in New Zealand that new technology and improved production efficiencies mean the C-Class costs less to build than the previous model, which appeared in 1994.

The current entry-level C180 starts at $66,000. The new one, with improved equipment, room, power and dynamics, might not be a whole lot more.

"The C-Class, on looks and equipment alone, will attract a lot of people," says Ward. "But the bonus for them will be the price."

He wants to sell 200 C-Class cars next year out of a total of 840 Mercedes-Benzes.

"Our target of 200 will represent an increase of 65 per cent over C-Class sales this year. But with the increased sales across our model range, the C-Class segment will still represent 22-23 per cent overall. That's the way we want it. We don't want one particular model to dominate."

Ten years ago Mercedes-Benz had three models available here - the 190 Compact, E-Class and S-Class. Now it has 10 with 70 derivatives.

In 1998 it sold 440 cars. In 2002, Ward wants to sell 1000, more than doubling the numbers in four years. He says he can do this by setting up new outlets in the North and South Islands and making Mercedes-Benz ownership more appealing.

"Mercedes-Benz has always stood for engineering integrity and safety. But the cars have more of a dynamic edge now, something that more and more younger buyers are starting to realise."

The C-Class has occupied plenty of newspaper columns overseas. One of the first writers to drive it was German George Kacher, who told Sydney Morning Herald scribe Joshua Dowling:

"Mercedes-Benz may have done too good a job on the C-Class. It not only looks like an S-Class but it possess the flagship's composure. Benz owners, as soon as they sit inside, will be surprised by the improvement in refinement and quality.

"The new C-Class is more fun to drive than the model it replaces. It begs to be pushed harder, has higher limits and, if you choose, goes significantly faster. It is whisper-quiet at cruising speeds and has a magic carpet ride at any speed. The car is not easily irritated by imperfections in the road. You feel as if you've been pampered."