Daimler Chrysler just gave a mild facelift to its introductory C-Class sedan. It has been launched in the American market within the last six months. Auto World was invited for a test drive.
In the last four years since its launch, the C-Class has sold over 1.26 million, and has become the most popular choice among M-Benz selections.
In the face of challenges from its counterparts, the C-class has had a complete makeover, including power, performance, interior and exterior. It also adopts nano-particle technology for the body paint offering a brand new texture. It comes with a wide range of accessories, comparable to those offered on a large size car.
代號W203的C-Class，改款圍繞在動感與精緻部分，Sport外觀主要是保桿、水箱罩造型，降低車身的運動化懸吊、Sport版輪圈加大到五輻17吋等，並採用所謂的奈米漆料（nano-particle），防止外界的磨損與刮傷。
內裝更動幅度更大，中控台類似E系列格局，音響面板加大、控鍵改平面化增添幾分質感。三輻式方向盤、防滑鋁質踏板、鋁飾板內裝、鍍鉻雙環金屬儀錶等，另配備12只揚聲器的Harman/kardon Logic7環繞音響、10向電動皮椅，在保有高級感前提下塑造運動氣息。
這次本刊試駕37,350美元的C320 Sport房車版，採用的是一具3.2升18汽門V6引擎，最大馬力215hp、最大扭力229lb-ft。搭配六速手排和五速自手排Touch Shift系統，零到60mph僅需6.8秒（自排6.9秒）。新車種採用同步噴射供油和線傳油門控制，因此在油門反應上比過去更為銳利，原廠安排261、241轉133付費公路，車流量少我們得以盡情嘗試，這具引擎扭力峰值介於3,000至4,600rpm間，平均約在100至120mph間的加速輕鬆，換檔震動被抑制得不錯，有趣的是原廠為營造跑車錯覺，改良的排氣系統高速聲浪還頗為悅耳，而高級感依舊維持，不慍不火值得稱許。
全程多半為公路區段，筆者並沒太多機會嘗試彎道表現，根據Sport規格描述，C320擁有運動版懸吊和17吋鋁圈，按常理推論應當不差！實際公路試乘中感覺比Luxury版硬朗，彈跳震動均較為明顯，高速狀態我們緊急變換車道，車子側傾還是頗為明顯但反應不錯，看來14.5：1的比例修改使轉向獲得改善，C320反應敏捷到令人有點訝異，不太像是過去的遲緩，可以感受到原廠進行各項改良後的性能表現。
短暫的相處，真要體驗出箇中精髓並非易事，筆者曾經接觸過一系列C-Class，實際試駕後感受到精緻度尤其是操控提升，由這點可以瞭解，M-BENZ觀察到市場消費年齡向下延伸，駕駛C-Class的年輕族群不在少數，對於車輛性能著墨顯然比配備加持實際，而筆者相信，C-Class的一連串蛻變，將使未來BMW和M-BENZ間的盟主之爭更為激烈。
The C-Class’s performance, power and design have obviously met the criteria for a luxury sedan, and the performance is surprisingly impressive. The good news is the price, which for C-Class models, remains the same in spite of the upgrades.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get the chance to test the other newly launched, C55 AMG. Although it is a small sedan, it is powered by a large V8 engine.
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