"Farewell to Cambridge Again" is my deepest memory of the middle school Chinese textbook, it's very quiet, very beautiful, and very soft. After many years, it is still the only poem that I have memorized completely. Even when I sat in the brand-new Mercedes-Benz C200, the familiar feeling made me think of it unconsciously.
Launch time: July 16, 2011
Price: 308,000 yuan to 463,000 yuan
Strengths: A completely new design with a grand appearance, smooth power output, and excellent fuel economy.
Weaknesses: The rear horizontal space is slightly cramped.
The all-new front design allowed me to recognize it at a glance among many familiar faces. The new C200 quietly parked in the Mercedes-Benz parking lot exuded a bit of shyness. The speckled dust on its body seemed to be used to disguise its identity, but occasionally it would use a bewitching gaze to show its existence.
To say that it is bewitching is no exaggeration. At first glance from the front, the most obvious difference from the old model lies in the "eyes". The newly designed headlights integrate "angel eyes" and LED light strips, and the shape of the light strip resembles a teardrop hanging at the corner of the eye, melancholy and inviting pity. But when the headlights are fully turned on, the entire front of the car changes dramatically, glaring disdainfully at everything in front of it, proudly showing off.
Corresponding to the prominent headlights are the adjustments in the details of the front face, which play a role in air disturbance. The lower bumper has a hint of AMG style, and the fog lights embedded within are simplified into one-line LED light groups. The more exaggerated Mercedes-Benz emblem is embedded on the three-bar grille, boasting of its lineage.
At our first meeting, I was not accustomed to this kind of "facelift." The classic styling of the old model became the most beautiful Mercedes-Benz in my aesthetic view. The all-new design clearly came to challenge my existing aesthetics. I do not reject it, but I need time to adapt.
Holding the familiar key and opening the door, everything in front of me is trying to confirm the image in my memory, but it seems that every detail is not entirely the same. Until I sit in the comfortable seat, my buttocks tell me, it's still it. Looking around, the changes are thorough. You will find that almost every place has changed. Even the digital keys on the dashboard of Mercedes-Benz, which never change, have been slightly adjusted and displayed. The row of aluminum buttons below feel good, and they also embellish the slightly heavy central control panel with vitality.
My gaze lingers on the instrument panel through the steering wheel. The three-cylinder type of the all-new instrument is filled with dynamism. The originally ugly aluminum decorative panels surrounding the instruments are gone. In the center, there is a liquid crystal display screen inside the speedometer, providing rich driving computer data, transmitting softly through a gentle glow.
The four-spoke steering wheel is also an all-new design. The extensive use of matte chrome pieces enhances the quality feeling, and the rich buttons facilitate basic operations during driving. In addition, the multimedia display screen on the right has changed from the original flip-up style to being embedded on the central control panel, looking more dignified and generous.
Turning the key, the silence inside the car is as expected. Switching the gear lever to D gear, the power output in the low-speed range is very lively. The Mercedes-Benz C series always hides potential waiting for you to explore. As your right foot gradually presses down, the 1.8L mechanical supercharged engine gradually reveals its potential. An invisible hand behind continuously pushes you faster. The all-new seven-speed transmission provides smooth power connection. If you don't deliberately observe the speed change, you almost can't feel the work of the transmission. Just maintain the depth of the throttle, and the power will keep surging up endlessly.
I once tried to make the engine roar to listen to the sound of the engine reaching high speeds, but it was difficult. Even when the backrest reminded me that the engine's performance was already enough fiery, the noise transmitted to the ears was still minimal. When the faint and regular mid-frequency engine sound entered the cockpit, I realized that I had been speeding for a long time. Clearly, it has plenty of power, but all originates from elegance. Unlike the aggressiveness and ruthlessness of BMW 3, it is the kind of guy that allows you to wear a suit and attack corners on mountain roads. First ensuring graceful demeanor, and then showing off.
The front-wheel-drive layout makes it lose some rear legroom, but in return, it gains excellent dynamic handling. Since the power is not brutal, during sudden acceleration and high-speed cornering, the rear end will not exhibit unruly agitation. The limit in corners is high, and it is very easy to control. As long as you possess basic vehicle control skills, making the rear wheels screech while passing through each corner will surely be exhilarating. The feeling of the chassis is very solid. Even during intense driving, there won't be any abnormal movements. The suspension filters stability while slightly preserving some road feel. The relatively light steering is easy to control, and the assist force increases with speed, giving a sense of security.
The new C200 still uses the same mechanical supercharged engine as the old model. The maximum power reaches 135 kW at 5200 r/min, and the peak torque of 270 N·m appears in the wide speed range of 1800~4600 r/min. The automatic transmission has been upgraded from five gears to seven gears, not only making the power transmission smoother but also greatly improving the overall fuel economy. The 0-100 km/h acceleration time has been shortened from 8.3 seconds to 7.8 seconds.
A day's experience may not be long, but it's time to return the keys. Gently closing the door, I look back at the unfamiliar yet familiar face. What I see before me is no longer strange, like a child who matures overnight, making me feel a little reluctant to part. Quietly, I leave, just as I quietly arrived; I wave my sleeve, not taking a single cloud with me...