New W206 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Caught!

New W206 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Caught!

Us Malaysians may have just received the facelifted W205 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, but Stuttgart is already preparing an all-new model to replace it. Set to be given the W206 codename, the next C-Class has been spotted by our spy photographers in the German city, so the car is well on its way to production to take on the also-new G20 BMW 3 Series. As you鈥檇 expect from an early prototype, there鈥檚 still plenty of camouflage applied, but there are a few things we can glean from these images. Firstly, the new car appears to be significantly larger than before, especially at the rear of the car - although that could just be the hard disguise on the bootlid fooling us. It鈥檚 also clear that the new C-Class will retain the curvaceous Sensual Purity design language that has been around since the W222 S-Class. The sweeping roofline and upswept lower character line along the sides are iterations of the current model, but there鈥檚 no longer a hard shoulder line and the headlights appear to be slimmer, just like the new A-Class and CLS. There are wider tail lights as well. There will likely be bigger changes under the skin, with the C-Class gaining all the new technologies from its younger siblings. As for engines, the C-Class should inherit the new engines already found on other models.

Mercedes-Benz produced nearly 100 different variations of cars and perhaps more than 100 when including its long history of building trucks, coaches and buses. Today, Mercedes produces at least 18 different car models in varying sizes marketed to specific buyers. Previous generations of Mercedes-Benz were manufactured for the wealthy, but today there is a car for every buyer. The current Mercedes-Benz SL-Class luxury roadster has been one of our editors' favorite vehicles of any sort. With a beautifully integrated retractable hardtop that requires just the touch of a button to raise or lower, the latest SL offers the fun of an open roadster along with the security and quiet comfort of a closed coupe. All current Mercedes-Benz SL-Class models are rear-drive. Even the least potent SL, the SL550, sports a 5.5-liter V8 with 382 horsepower. Next up is the SL63 AMG, which features a honking 6.2-liter V8 making 518 hp and 465 pound-feet of torque. Should these prove inadequate, there is the V12-powered SL65 AMG with its 604 hp and 738 lb-ft, enabling a 0-60-mph sprint of just 3.9 seconds. Handling is also a strong point, with Active Body Control (optional on some trims) keeping the SL eerily flat when ripping through a set of S turns. This athleticism doesn't come at the expense of ride comfort either, as the SL absorbs nasty bumps in the road without drama or excess body motion. With its effortless performance, adaptive suspension, fast-retracting hardtop and wealth of luxury and safety features, we've found it easy to fall in love with the latest SL. Our complaints are few, centering chiefly on the SL's older version of Mercedes' COMAND interface, which uses a dash-mounted multidirection button pad rather than the more ergonomic console-mounted knob of newer Benzes.

Those pesky Porsche engineers aren鈥檛 ones to rest on their laurels. They are restless souls, and their vehicles must always be improved. With that in mind it was time for a mid-cycle update for the entry-level Boxster and Cayman. As with the recently updated 911, this refresh is comprehensive in nature. The main addition is by subtraction鈥?two cylinders, to be precise. Now running on smaller 4-cylinder powerplants, the Boxster and soon to be revealed Cayman are quite frankly鈥?better. I鈥檓 talking lighter, faster, more drivable with greater torque available lower in the rpm range, and of course, more miserly with the petrol. The motor-head geek details are as follows: the entry Boxster will have a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with variable-vane turbocharging (high tech stuff) for an output of 300 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. The Boxster S gets a 2.5-liter motor rated at 350 horsepower and 309 lb-ft. All the other Porsche tech has been massaged as well, with suspension tuning updates to improve handling and comfort, depending on your mood. For transmissions, you can row your own gears with a 6-speed manual or opt for the brilliant PKD.

Updates to the interior and exterior are more of the nip and tuck variety. Improved electronics and navigation are present and accounted for in the cabin. Externally Porsche claims every panel is new except for the hood and decklid behind the driver. You will be able to spot the new Boxster by the aero strip between the taillights on the rear, as well as the "718" badging. 鈥?As Porsche is wont to do, this is a historical reference. In the late 50s and early 60s, the Porsche 718 race car prowled tracks the world over. This happened to be a 4-cylinder car, thus the reference. There you have it, the latest beauty from Porsche. 69,450. The hard-topped Cayman prices are not released yet, but in a change of pricing structure, they are reported to be lower than the convertible Boxster. Sure to be a hit, I like what I see.