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Mercedes may launch four-cylinder C-Class in U.S.

Mercedes may launch four-cylinder C-Class in U.S.

Ralph Hanson April 3rd, 2008 Ralph Hanson By Ralph Hanson Author April 3rd, 2008
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December 31st, 1969 While the rest of the world can opt for fuel-efficient petrol and diesel four-cylinder versions of the C-Class, the entry-level model in the U.S. sports a V6 powerplant. Given the current concerns about climate change and the increasing cost of fuel, officials at Mercedes-Benz are now considering adding a four-cylinder engine to its U.S. lineup and are already testing a new 1.4L supercharged version. But you can't just put a four-cylinder unit into a Mercedes-Benz and expect customers used to big and powerful engines to be happy. To overcome this engineers have said they will try to make the engine seem more powerful than it is through a louder exhaust note and sharper throttle response settings, reports Edmunds. The other major hurdle is that a four-cylinder version would have to be priced well under the current entry-level model, the C300, which carries a base price of $33,040, territory Mercedes may not wish to enter with its C-Class. Engine size hasn't been much of an issue for Mercedes in other markets, where it’s been selling a C180 for some time now. Mercedes’ reluctance to add the C180 to its U.S. lineup suggests the car could be replaced by a new 1.4L version, although there has been no official word on this.2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Mercedes may launch four-cylinder C-Class in U.S.

Mercedes may launch four-cylinder C-Class in U.S.

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While the rest of the world can opt for fuel-efficient petrol and diesel four-cylinder versions of the C-Class, the entry-level model in the U.S. sports a V6 powerplant. Given the current concerns about climate change and the increasing cost of fuel, officials at Mercedes-Benz are now considering adding a four-cylinder engine to its U.S. lineup and are already testing a new 1.4L supercharged version.

But you can't just put a four-cylinder unit into a Mercedes-Benz and expect customers used to big and powerful engines to be happy. To overcome this engineers have said they will try to make the engine seem more powerful than it is through a louder exhaust note and sharper throttle response settings, reports Edmunds. The other major hurdle is that a four-cylinder version would have to be priced well under the current entry-level model, the C300, which carries a base price of $33,040, territory Mercedes may not wish to enter with its C-Class.

Engine size hasn't been much of an issue for Mercedes in other markets, where it’s been selling a C180 for some time now. Mercedes’ reluctance to add the C180 to its U.S. lineup suggests the car could be replaced by a new 1.4L version, although there has been no official word on this.
2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
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Posted in: Mercedes Benz, News, Sedans


Comments (10 total)

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  1. By germandude #1, Posted: 4/3/2008

    I don't get it... in america they love huge engines although the official speed limit forbids them to drive fast anyway. And here in Germany, the country of Autobahn speeding, people buy cars with tiny diesel engines... strange world!

  2. By Jim #2, Posted: 4/3/2008

    With nearly 160k miles on a c-220 with a dreaded 4 cyl, I can't really say that I miss the 6. The 220 maintains any cruising speed that you find in the US and accelerates acceptably in urban-suburban driving.

    Some guys want big engines, some guy stick a sock in their pants.

  3. By Froggie #3, Posted: 4/3/2008

    I can't wait. Merc gives us fuel efficient model please.. At 26 mpg, the new C300 is thirsty, and there is really nothing in Merc current lineup is fuel efficient except the E bluetech. But diesel is at $4 a gallon. Who wants diesel?

  4. By Gus #4, Posted: 4/3/2008

    germandude, I have a Mustang GT with a 4.6 liter V8. It's not the speed I like, it's the torque. The acceleration without any noise or vibration. The feeling that the car doesn't have to work very hard at all.
    I've driven for years on the autobahn, in cars with 2 liter 4-cylinder engines, and 4.5 liter V8's (BMW 745). If the cost of gas isn't an issue (and in the US it is still 1/4 what it costs there) then a bigger engine is always nice.
    Believe me, those Europeans with tiny diesel engines would love a big V8 if the gas were cheaper and the emmisions were cleaner...
    But times are changing, I see smaller engines coming to the US very soon. Fuel economy is a big selling point now amongst the vast majority of auto buyers. People like me who don't have to drive very far and who love a fsat car will always buy sports cars, but we are the minority now...

  5. By Adam #5, Posted: 4/3/2008

    That was the nice thing about the 190-class, it had decent fuel economy, no worse performance than any other small car, and much better build quality than anything else out there on the market in that size category, well, at least on par with the E30 3-series. I think this is what consumers are shifting toward- they'll pay a premium for quality and reliability (look at Lexus) and are becoming less concerned about performance.

    And speaking of the E30, I used to own a 325e, and the 121hp engine (though it was a 6cyl) was perfectly adequate. Who says we need 220+hp in a base model?

  6. By Gus #6, Posted: 4/3/2008

    See, there are a few things going on here.
    1.) People in the US see MB and BMW and Lexus as luxury brands only. They are not the bread and butter cars taxi drivers and blue collar workers drive in Europe.
    2.) People in the luxury car market aren't as concerned about mileage, those buyers are in the Camry, Accord, Altima, VW.
    3.) With these brands it's a numbers race. MB has a E320. BMW has to have a 330i. MB gets an E350. BMW has the 335i. Infinity has to have a G37, of course. Goofballs, the lot of them...

  7. By RB #7, Posted: 4/3/2008

    Froggie - Wow is Deisel only $4 a gallon - thats soooo cheap - in the UK its nearly $10 a gallon (over 1UKP a litre) - you have never had it so good!

    O and petrol is only a few pence cheaper...

    get real guys - yes a nice V6 or V8 would be great but thats history - its just too expensive!

    Your cars are sooooo cheap to buy as well! how much would you pay for a C300 - Il find out how much it is here!

    Gus - think you will find the 3 series out sold the mondeo in europe last year - everyone wants the badge

  8. By RB #8, Posted: 4/3/2008

    Ok here you are :C280 elegance 4 door auto is the nearest I can get to the C300 which is $33K in the US - the cheapest on the road UK price I can find after a quick look is:

    27200UKP - or to convert to USD approx $54400

    the cheapest C class is the C180K elegance - at 22500UKP - $45000

    not much more to add there!!

  9. By germandude #9, Posted: 4/4/2008

    Of course having a huge engine is nice, but is it worth the plus in ensurance, fuel, and emissions? Modern european engines can develope 170 bhp from 1.4 liters (I'm talking about the TSI) and that's more than anyone could ever need, especially if you have to keep to a national speed limit of 60 mph. On the Autobahn it's a different case, there's no denying that. But I was talking about America, they're the one's who love their V8s.

  10. By Greg #10, Posted: 4/5/2008

    Americans say they love torque, but they don't embrace diesel power. I don't get it and I'm an American!

    A 3.0 V-6 diesel can achieve nearly 400 lbs of torque, comporable to a Hemi V-8 gas guzzler and at a lower RPM and at an 80% improvement in fuel economy.

    Even at $.80 more per gallon (which is only a temporary premium for diesel fuel), my VW Jetta TDI still cost me $8 less to drive 400 miles than the standard Jetta gas guzzler (44 mpg versus 26 mpg). One must look at fuel economy as well as price per gallon before one concludes what it cost to drive a diesel! Last spring and summer, when diesel fuel prices were lower than regular unleaded, I was saving lots of bucks. Who is to say that diesel fuel will not become more comparable with the price of gasoline in the near future. It took only a few months to turn around the way it is now. In just a few months, spark plug drivers could be paying more per gallon.

    Additionally, every single diesel engine can accept any blend of three different renewable fuels* without modification, without losing fuel economy, and without paying more at the pump! Conversely, other drivers can opt for a flex-fuel vehicle to accept blends of ethanol above 10%, but the average fuel economy loss running E85 for flex-fuel vehicles is 27% (www.fueleconomy.gov--ffvs).

    * Biodiesel, renewable diesel, and green diesel. Known collectively as bio-based diesel fuels.

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