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Text & Images: Prithvi Radhakrishna |
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Call it the perennial class act, or always just a notch above – Mercedes have done it yet again. Focussing on India with renewed vigour, the German manufacturer is keen to reinstate its leadership in the luxury car space in the country, and has therefore been introducing different models left, right, and centre – the latest among them, the SLS AMG notwithstanding, is the C200 CGI.
The C class specifically has never really taken the Indian market by storm. But the sleek design of the latest avatar, and its rev happy supercharged (Kompressor) engine won it many admirers – and new owners. And now Mercedes is aiming to take it a step further with the addition of some cutting edge technology under the bonnet. CGI (charged gasoline injection) has recently been introduced by Mercedes to new markets, and India is no exception – indicating the seriousness with which the manufacturer is taking on its compatriots, Audi and BMW, in the country. We got behind the wheel of this machine in the Financial Capital to take a stock of things, and see if this technology can really keep the C class at the top of its game.
From the Outside
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At first glance, the C200 looks impressive and makes its presence felt – especially the front end with a square jaw that features an oversized, grille-mounted, three-pointed star flanked by a trio of horizontal louvers. In typical Mercedes fashion, the additional use of chrome adds character and an upmarket look to the front end. Overall it’s a sporty look, accentuated by a front air dam with dual fog lamps, which will undoubtedly appeal to the younger target audience of this Mercedes.
The rear, however, tells a different story, as it has much cleaner lines and sports tail lights that reach into the rear fenders and add character to the overall design. If you take a closer look, you’ll spot small pockets of vents that help extract air from underneath the car at high speed in order to reduce drag and aerodynamic turbulence. In many ways, this particular feature looks cool as it enhances the rear stance.
The profile is traditional, but sharp, as the designers at Mercedes haven’t tried anything radical in terms of design – they’ve kept it simple and sleek. The side view mirrors, with integrated turn indicators, do grab some attention however.
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From the Inside
The no-nonsense interiors complement the exterior perfectly. In the cabin, you’re greeted by a black dashboard, and beige leather seats and door panels. The quality of plastics is supreme, and gives the intended impression of exclusivity and comfort. There are bits of silver and several chrome accents thrown in as well that add a bit of flavour to the interiors. The seats in the Avantgarde model we drove not only look great but were very comfortable as well. The driver’s seat also holds a nicely integrated fire extinguisher, which is a safety feature that other manufacturers should take note of.
Once in the driver’s seat, the four-spoke steering wheel with the Mercedes logo front and center feels surprisingly sporty to hold. It also offers stereo and phone controls on either side to ensure that the driver can control basic functions without removing his hands from the wheel. The instrument cluster consists of a trio of chrome ringed gauges that keep the driver well informed. The center console consists of a screen above the AC vents and a horde of buttons below, which control the 6 CD/MP3 player, and Bluetooth via which you can connect your cell phone. The individual temperature control dials, for the driver and passenger, are nicely detailed with a metallic bezel finish. The C200 CGI also has the signature Mercedes key, which has a chrome surround, and almost feels like a piece of jewellery.
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Under the Hood
The highlight of the C200 CGI is its engine – a 1,796cc, four cylinder turbocharged unit that produces 186bhp at 5,600rpm, along with 285Nm of torque between 2,400-4,000rpm. This is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission that does a pretty good job and provides smooth shifts.
As pointed out previously, CGI stands for Charged Gasoline Injection, which essentially means that it’s a direct injection engine. And this in turn means that fuel is sprayed directly into the cylinders – as opposed to into an inlet port – via high pressure injectors at 120 bar, which allows a compression ratio of 9.3:1. Consequently, the engine management system can more precisely determine the fuel feed and ignition timing, thereby increasing the overall efficiency of the engine. The end result is that CO2 emissions are reduced by around 10% and fuel efficiency is improved as well.
Bear in mind that the C200 CGI is turbocharged, in contrast to its supercharged predecessor – as denoted by the ‘Kompressor’ badge. Nevertheless, since it’s a direct injection motor, revs rise quickly and peak torque kicks in early at 2,400rpm, so you don’t really feel much turbo lag.
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On the Road
Now, just because we said it was fuel efficient and low on emissions, don’t for a minute assume that it’s a slouch on the road. On the contrary, this sedan is very impressive from behind the wheel. Like any Mercedes, its feels rock solid on the road – just because it’s a baby Benz, doesn’t mean it’s any different from behind the wheel. Where its compact size does help, however, is in manoeuvrability in and around the city. In addition to light steering, there’s also ample low end torque, which makes cruising in the city effortless. One point to note, however, is that the left hand, side-view mirror leaves a huge blind spot for the driver.
On the highway, the CGI feels composed and raring to go the moment you feather the throttle – another direct injection trademark. On the Mumbai-Pune expressway, it
seems to shed its city-slicker avatar, and quickly becomes a car that’s a joy to pilot. The steering suddenly feels responsive, and the car handles the curves beautifully at high speed. The suspension is composed, and the car glides over potholes – absorbing them with ease, and providing a hassle free ride. Achieving speeds of 200km/h in very possible – beyond that is difficult though because the revs rise slowly beyond 4000rpm.
In terms of safety, systems like the Agility Control
Package and PRE-SAFE ensure that the occupants have
the comfort of knowing that they’re protected by the
brand’s latest safety net.
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Verdict
At 29 lakhs, the C200 CGI is definitely a car to seriously consider. The direct injection unit is undoubtedly more powerful and cleaner than its predecessor – the C200 Kompressor. And that makes it an extremely strong contender against the entry level, petrol powered Audi and BMW. Turbocharged direct injection brings the C200 on a level playing field with the Audi A4 1.8 TFSI – leaving the BMW 320i far behind. This technology certainly makes the baby Benz cleaner and meaner – both attributes that buyers in this class rate very highly indeed. |
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| Engine |
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1796cc / in-line, 4-cylinder / 16 valves / direct injection / turbocharged |
| Fuel |
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Petrol |
| Transmission |
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5-speed Automatic / Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Power |
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186bhp @ 5600rpm |
| Torque |
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285Nm @ 2400-4000rpm
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| Price |
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29.6 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi) |
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