Spies hit the mother lode-The ULTIMATE 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class photo coverage

Very elegant looking, MB has definitely hit a home run with this C class. Can't wait to see how the new E class will look.

I give the new C-class a ground rule double. Why no home run? Because as great of a job as they did on the exterior of the car (sport model front view = excellent) I am shocked at how nasty the interior looks. That's way too much cheap grain plastic around the top of the dash and around the center stack, and the center stack itself is plain untextured black pastic. It looks like the CTS inside, and not the new CTS which actually has a really nice interior, but the old CTS that didn't.

Rememebr, that's the European model...USA will be nicer

001

Agree about the interior, which looks surprisingly cheap. The exterior is nicely done on the other hand. Though it may not age well.

001, and you know this, how?

Are those interior pictures not of a C350 or C280?

I haven't seen any other Mercedes model having a cheaper interior in Europe, besides the low-end versions (C180, S350, E280), so how do you expect the C to be different?

i have to agree about the interior. Ive always love the C class, and the outside does look great, but the inside looks cheap without even having felt it yet.

Also, this is a prime example why people buy lexus over Mercs. Even the IS has push button start and smart access standard. this is a big disapointment. However, i think it will be my next car.

third thing to mention, why on earth does it need a cover for the navigation...looks like the old nissan altima.

People buy Lexus because it is the most reliable luxury car out in the market. Mercedes in the past few years has had major reliability control problems.That's why Lexus is such a force today. It offers similar luxury without the headaches of ownership. In addition when Lexus started they could offer luxury for quite a bit less money.

in this class I'd take a 335i still. But it would be a tough call after that between the new C350 and IS350, with the A4 and G35 pulling up the rear.

Well, the overall proportions of this car doesn't look right to me. Though, the front end looks nice, but thats about it. The interior is lacking something....maybe luxury. The IS350 interior looks way beyond this. The center console looks really cheap and opens up in a weird way. Reminds me of an Altima interior. I'm very disappointed.

Cheapest? I heard BMW offer fake leather for a 30K+ car. Obviously, you don't know shit. Just a Lexus hater. I like all cars equally, whether its a Lexus or not. Arrogant ass.

Love the exterior. Hate the interior. I would take the ES350's interior anyday over this one! YUCK!

not enough picture, i may need a little more picture to acuttaly see if this car is even desent, lol.

It's a lode alright.

I'm not the biggest Lexus fan, but both the ES and IS model have superior cabin design to this iteration of the C-class.

Does the "C" denote cheapness or commonplace?

The quackery continues, but never gets old.

I agree, the design is truly amazing and remarkable....in that this class is such a backstep compared to the last generation C.

I give the C-Class interior an A+.

Way to go MB.

Numero Uno, once again.

Are you joking?

The IS and A4 interiors are superior. This looks like a futile attempt by Mercedes.

That wasn't pretentious at all...

how fking stupid do you think i am? i know that mercs have their own little transmitter infared beam. But you still have to turn the damn key. Im saying mercs dont have it standard, nor do they have the unlocking the doors once you touch the handles.

Just because Toyota makes commercials for the misinformed and gullible like yourself, doesn't mean they actually invented anything.
FYI Mercedes had Keyless Go (touch the door handles and start engine with a push of a button) back in 99-00 on the W220 S-class...and the power assist doors that Lexus recently started using on the LS is something that MB had back in 91-92. Do you even remember the early 90s? Back then Lexus was a Toyota Cressida with leather.

Ben55

my comment was not saying that lexus invented it. Im saying they make it standard on the IS when you have to pay, or maybe not even get, on the new C class

Lovely car, the new C.

It has a classy elegance that punches way above its segment, where others are trying to go overly sporty.

The great thing about the new C-Class design is that is covers all grounds, a S-Class grille for the understated, elegance version, and a CL-esque nose version which shouts menace and power.

The interior is not aided by the harsh lighting of the building showing up even dust on the dashboard (all interiors look somewhat cheap under harsh light) but the design is harmonious and not distracting.

I feel that the interior IS of a high quality, and is ahead of the IS350 and A4 in terms of style. The IS350 has a ugly big silver plastic slab for a centre console for crying out loud.

Good job Mercedes, and the nay-sayers, just wait until you see this car in natural light. Whoa.

Nice front, bad back, cheap inside... better a 3 series which also got a bad back but better with blackline lights.

Some of you wouldn't know quality if it bit you on the bottom, so I suggest you sit in the new C-Class before making a fool of youselves anylonger.

Without having seen either in person, I would say that I like the new CTS better, exterior and interior. The center stack on the Mer looks waaayyyy to Japanese...not that that is necessarily bad, but its a Benz, at least try not to look like an Acura.

AMAZING...A winner..For sure, a winner..

I am going to get unboosted for this but O'well....

The door controls look like they were pulled from a Ford Five hundred. Really people, stop using old parts.

And I am disappointed on the interior...too dull and plain for me. The center stack just looks out of place. No screen but some pop up thingy?

It looks cheap to me....except that blue one with the tan/brownish interior with the wood. It's better.

Daimler Chrysler must have walked by and tripped and spilled it cheapness onto the C class interior.

With that thought Benz has been making very sexy cars.

That center stack is really bad, no screen to see what radio station you are on (unless you open the upper door?), flat black plastic, non-descript buttons (and lots of them)...you know what this means...in a few years the model refresh will have a great interior, much of what you see will be wood, less busy, some glossy black pieces...but until then..too bottom of the line..

001, you know for a fact this is not what we will get stateside?

BTW, I especially like that there are an extra 500 photos of people, wine glasses, people on skis, statues of animals, food, meun, singers, people eating food...more people, the same people, more menues..come on guys, is ALL that really necessary? It took forever to download and who here really gives a fcuk?

And thaks 001 for the photos of the car, great work.

"Also, do you folks really think people will buy this car just for the interior? As long as the interior is nice, people will be happy. This interior is pretty nice in my opinion," said Gogo.

"While many offer cutting-edge exteriors, it's their interiors that will seal the deal when consumers make their purchases, mostly because of the parity in quality these days among manufacturers," Said Mike Jackson, chief executive officer of AutoNation Inc., the nation's largest automotive dealer group.

Further comments are welcome.

Here's the link to the source article:

http://hollandsentinel.com/stories/011007/local_20070110002.shtml

S4cabriofoxone -
"The IS and A4 interiors are superior. This looks like a futile attempt by Mercedes."

I very much agree with you on this.

Of all the entry-level luxury car interiors, the A4 is the one I like most, followed by the Acura TL, and the Lexus IS (not the ES, because of its weird looking centre console).

This might anger some, but I have to say that the 3er and C's interiors are not on par (to be fair, I haven't seen the C in person. But based on the picture, it really looks cheap). BMW and MB must roll up the sleves and work harder on this aspect.

Terrible interior.Very cheap looking.Look at the zoomed pictures.The plastic si totally junk.The steering wheel is crap and i don't really like the taillights.I bought a C-Klasse in 2005 and i can say it really looks better( at least the interior).The 2004 interior was cheap looking too but the facelift,in my opinion was a real succes.

The A4's interior??? Maybe it's fine finished but the design is totally outdated.It's the only reason i didn't choose it back in '05.It's suitable for a '98 model.

I think that, compared to the W203 C-Class's and last-gen G35's especially, the A4's interior has stood the test of time and still looks quite stylish.

But wait for the next-gen B8 if you want to be blown away.

Gogo...not here please. Save that stuff for the other websites that you pay for.

New C looks very nice from all angles. It appears they have solved the knee/footwell room problem - last C was too restrictive for my preference. Interior is okay, but the real story is the rear drive/suspension setup in the C. Won't find this in a Camry/Accord/Aura. A work of art IMO. Still have an original 84 190-e in the family. Always amazed how it could soak up the bumps and still hug the curves. I hope this one carries that same tradition. Nice graphics of the suspension, would like to see actual pics of the suspension and articles on it. Looks well done - get it to this side of the big pond soon.

LexisisPOS-

If the A4, IS and G35 have the cheapest interiors, exactly what vehicles have the best?

The 3 Series? LOL!

The new C-Class? Yawn...

Well poop! It looks like Mercedes just adopted Asian styling cues. They remind me if Mistubishi from the previous decade.

Is there any reason to get a Mercedes C class over a Lexus, now that the Merc can be so easily mistaken for an Asian car?