Mercedes C-Class Coupe and Cabriolet: prices, specs, trims

Pricing has been announced for the updated Mercedes C-Class Coupe and Cabriolet, which cost from £37,620 and £41,439 each in C 200 AMG Line trim. Go for the range-topping C 43 4MATIC version and you’ll need £51,965 for the Coupe and £55,784 for the drop-top.

The cars are on sale now, first UK deliveries are expected in July and the line-up couldn’t be simpler, with just one AMG Line trim level available. It’s well equipped, with even Airscarf coming as standard on the Cabriolet to keep you warm when the roof is down in winter.

The Coupe and Convertible get the same mild styling revisions inside and out as the facelifted saloon and Estate, as well as the uprated infotainment system and improved safety equipment. The Cabriolet will be offered with three engines from launch: the C 200 has a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol, the C 220d gets a 2.0-litre diesel and the sporty Mercedes-AMG C 43 version boasts a 385bhp, 3.0-litre V6. The Coupe is additionally available with a 2.0-litre C 300 turbo petrol engine with 251bhp that can get it from 0-62mph in six seconds flat. Mercedes’ 4MATIC four-wheel drive is offered as an option on the C200 Coupe, while the C 43 gets the system as standard.

115

The entry-level C 220d includes a ‘mild-hybrid’ system called EQ Boost that helps improve performance and economy, giving the Coupe 14bhp extra, fuel-efficiency figures of 46.3mpg and CO2 emissions of 140g/km for a 29% Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) band. Adding 4MATIC four-wheel drive increases running costs to 42.8mpg and 150g/km.

With a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol, the C 300 Coupe returns up to 44.1mpg and emits 147g/km, putting it in the 30% BiK band.

The Coupe and Cabriolet C-Class get small changes in specification compared to the other body styles – both get LED lights as standard, along with a bespoke chrome grille.

Mercedes-AMG C 43

The Mercedes-AMG C 43 is a high-performance version of Mercedes' freshly facelifted C-Class saloon, estate coupe and cabriolet.

The new car is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine that produces 385bhp. This power is put to the road through a nine-speed automatic gearbox and AMG’s Performance 4MATIC all-wheel drive system, which sends more power to the rear wheels than the fronts in normal conditions to give a sportier driving experience.

115

Mercedes claims a 0-62mph time of 4.7 seconds for the Coupe and 4.8 for the Cabriolet, both with limited 155mph top speeds; the C 43 is the fastest facelifted AMG C-Class until the expected C 63 model arrives in due course.

The C 43 gets a new grille and sportier treatments front and rear; there’s a more aggressive front splitter and a sporty rear diffuser with cutouts for quad exhaust outlets. There's a small spoiler on the bootlid and – if the optional AMG styling package is selected – the touches get even more aggressive, including broader side skirts and high-gloss trim pieces. Even the car’s multi-spoke alloy wheels have been designed to improve air flow and aerodynamics.

115

Inside, the familiar C-Class interior gets a sporty lift, with plenty of aluminium and carbon-fibre trim (or a choice of open-grain wood options) along with microfibre and ARTICO man-made leather upholstery. Optional leather is also available in a range of colour combinations.

AMG’s latest steering wheel also features, boasting a flat bottom and a choice of trim options. Built-in touch-sensitive buttons can be used to control the infotainment system and instrument cluster.

As with other AMG models, the C 43 features a number of driving modes to tailor its performance and ride to your preference. These are sorted into Comfort, Sport, and Sport+, each of which makes the car progressively more focused for sportier driving by making changes to the engine, gearbox, suspension and steering systems. A fully customisable Individual mode features, along with an ‘M’ button, which puts the car’s gearbox into manual mode, where you can change gear using paddles behind the steering wheel.

To add to the car’s sporty intent, the infotainment system can be specified with ‘AMG TRACK PACE’, an on-board data logger that can display information specifically for track driving. Acceleration and deceleration figures can be measured, while sat nav and information from other sensors is used to track the car’s progress on a circuit. There’s even a facility to share data with other AMG drivers on social media.

New Mercedes C-Class interior

Inside, changes are focused on optimising rather than reinventing one of the best interiors in the business. Unlike other models, including the forthcoming new A-Class, the C-Class doesn't offer the choice of neighbouring display screens in a single-piece housing. Instead, the wide, high-definition infotainment screen remains in place atop the centre console, and an all-new digital instrument panel can be specified.

115

Providing similar functionality to Audi's 'virtual cockpit' cluster, the 12.3-inch screen follows a concept first seen in the range-topping Mercedes S-Class and allows navigation and fuel-economy information to be displayed in the driver's eyeline. The infotainment screen measures 10.25 inches.

Touch-sensitive controls have been added to the steering wheel; they respond to smartphone-like swipe gestures and can navigate information displayed on the instrument panel and infotainment screen alike. The latter can also be operated using a central touchpad and rotary controller, which now offers haptic feedback for the first time to confirm on-screen selections with a click or vibration.

Vehicle functions such as heated seats have been added to the linguatronic voice-recognition system and cruise control is now activated by steering-wheel buttons, in place of the previous column-mounted stalk.

Elsewhere, new open-pore walnut and oak are added to a long list of interior finishes, as are Saddle Brown, Magma Grey and black upholstery colours. An optional multicontour seat package has been introduced, too. Once the preserve of more expensive models, it brings extra adjustment to the side bolsters and lumbar region, as well as offering pulse and wave massage modes, which can be activated through the infotainment system.

115

Adding further to your relaxation, energising comfort control can provide combinations of lighting, sound and climate, as well as fragrance, to suit the mood of driver or passenger. Wireless phone charging is now optional, as is a 225-watt, nine-speaker sound system that sits below the flagship Burmester hi-fi in the options list.

Technology

The C-Class has received a considerable boost in driver-assistance technology, and now offers semi-autonomous features previously reserved for the more expensive Mercedes E-Class and S-Class. Using radar to scan up to 250 metres ahead, 40 metres to each side and 80 metres to the rear, the C-Class can assume control of speed and steering under driver supervision.

Using the map data that powers its navigation system, the C-Class can also vary its speed when approaching known bends, roundabouts and other hazards when in semi-autonomous driving mode. This is claimed to contribute to safety, as well as convenience, alongside technology such as active lane-changing assistance.

Mercedes C-Class Coupe and Cabriolet trim levels and options

Just one AMG Line trim level is offered, coming with a 10.25-inch infotainment screen, 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, LED headlights and DAB radio. The Cabriolet also has Airscarf fitted to blow warm air onto the driver and front passenger’s neck to keep them warm with the roof down, while an Aircap aerodynamic device helps air flow over the interior with less buffeting.

Going for the AMG C 43 brings additional performance kit including a sports exhaust, unique wheels, AMG Ride Control suspension and aerodynamic exterior trim.

Some key options are offered, too, like the Premium Package (£2,795), which adds a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, ambient lighting, connected services, wireless smartphone charging, and uprated stereo and intelligent LED headlights. Premium Plus (£4,995 Coupe, £3,595 Cabriolet) includes these features along with a 360-degree camera view, Burmester stereo and a panoramic sunroof in the hard-top.

A Driving Assistance pack (£1,695) adds active safety features and adaptive cruise control, while the Airmatic Dynamic Handling pack (£895, not available for AMG C 43) brings air suspension with different modes to adjust ride comfort and handling.

Price and availability

The updated Mercedes C-Class is available to order now, with the first cars reaching showrooms in July 2018. The entry-level C 200 AMG Line costs from £37,620 or £41,439 for the Coupe and Cabriolet respectively. Adding 4MATIC to the Coupe ups the cost by around £1,600.

The C 300 Coupe is priced at £40,380 and the C 43 4MATIC costs from £51,965, increasing to £55,784 for the Cabriolet. The only diesel option is the C 220d AMG Line, setting you back either £40,130 or £43,949.