2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class: official details, photos and specs

Mercedes-Benz released today the official details, photos and specs of the new 2012 C-Class, a restyled version of its popular car, which will make its official debut in January at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show. Set to hit the market in the summer of 2011, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class comes with the brand’s new design language. As expected, the central element of the car is the grille, enhanced by the new bumper design as well as by the new outboard air intakes now positioned very low down in order to provide a more muscular presence. Moreover, the car comes with a new aluminum hood which reduces the weight and improve the fuel consumption. As you can see from the photos, the car also features a new set of clear glass headlamps, delivering a more dynamic and determined look. Besides thee headlamps, the car also features a new set of horizontal daytime running LEDs located in the bumper.

At the rear end, the more dynamic and determined look. The improvements can also be seen at the interior, where the 2012 C-Class comes with a redesigned with the aim of creating a powerful, sporty and premium look-and-feel. The new center console now features rectangular silver keys and emphasizes the premium feel of the interior in combination with matte keys, high-gloss surfaces and a new knurled control knob. The new C250 Sport and C300 4MATIC Sport models come with standard brushed aluminum trim, while the C350 Sport has distinctive Black Ash.

The Luxury versions feature Burl Walnut trim. Under the hood, we find a new V6 gasoline engine in the C350 Sport Sedan, featuring the innovative and highly efficient BlueDIRECT process. The engine delivers 302 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque (previously 268 hp and 258 lb-ft), while fuel economy has been improved by 5 percent. The four-cylinder engine (new for the U.S. market) features direct injection and turbocharging and is also distinguished by outstanding combined fuel economy of 24 mpg. This marks an improvement of nearly 15 percent compared with the 2011MY C300. [via-4wheelsnews]   The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class Photos