C-Class (W206) [Spy Shots] 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class W206 spied pics & info thread

[Levi68]

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You forgot the Corolla GTS and Altezza 2000 RS.

 

[BMW3GT]

While the new dashboard is indeed a sweet spot, I am not sure about the exterior. The new design is just too soft and looking awkward and unbalanced in many places. I am not sure if I change my opinion after seeing HD res pics. The rear end looks particularly small and confined, like it came straight from the low-end A-Class Limousine. In what the front end is concerned, itsimply has no personality at all - the W 205 or even W 204 are eons better. The AMG Line is a must, though it is a far cry from what it should be.

Anyway, I guess it will sell quite well, enough to justify its existence, but likely “no cigar” when it comes to properly battling the 3 Series class benchmark.

The 3 Series is dead in Germany. Especially when the 206 is available. It's gonna get outsold in the next month, usually whenever the new C-Class arrives. Even close to the EOP the W205 was still on par with the new 3-Series probably better.

 

[Merc1]

WOW it does look good.

M

 

[Mick Briesgau]

Very nice wheels

 

[Carmaker1]

The W206 entered development in 2015, so the choice to not include I6 had to have been made by the time W205 facelift appeared. Final Design Approval was already ironed out as of mid-2017 and Design Freeze was completed by Q1 of 2018. All these decisions were made under the famed Dr. Dieter Zetsche years ago.

I knew I was right, when I pointed out back in 2018, that this car was 2.5 years away and derided/debunked dumbass publications and media espousing it would somehow be a 2020 model. They have the attention span of a gerbil and are pathetic forgetful.

As soon as I knew the S-Class wouldn't arrive until late 2020 (January 2021 in reality), there was no way MB were going launch them in parallel. W201 and W126 were spaced out by under 3 years (1980 vs 12/1982), W140-W202 and W220-W203 by 2 years (1991 vs 1993; 1998 vs 2000), W221 & W204 by 16 months (Q4 2005 vs 03/2007), and W222-W205 by a short 9 months. The latest car is 6-7 months (W223 vs W206).

As for those deriding the I4 only lineup, remember this car's roots.

Between in 1983 - October 1985, if you wanted a smaller 4dr Benz with a 6 over here in the USA. Your local dealer didn't even offer one. This was your ONLY choice:

1984 280 E I6 AMG Euro-Spec Import (300D was highest level in USA and I5)

190 was not even officially offered with a 6 until April 1986 with 2.6L and even then, the performance versions were mostly I4.

1984MY 190 E 2.3 USA-spec; 1986.5 190 E 2.6

Only rare stuff like 3.2L AMG launched in 1992, had an I6.

The first C36 AMG was I6 in 1994, followed by V8 C43 in 1997, and return of 6 cyl halo in 2001 with C32 AMG and C320 below it (from 2000).

In 2004, V8 returned with C55 AMG and C63 surfaced in 2007. After a last hurrah in W205, like with S65 M3 (E90x), the party has apparently ended at MB.

I own two E90/2 M3s I bought secondhand, in addition to my F82 I bought out of lease. This is definitely a sore spot, but not shocking. I4 is where they started in 1982.

Back in 1984, at highest it was:

Kompact - 4 Cyl Fuel Injected
Mittelklasse - 6 Cyl Fuel Injected
Sonderklasse - 8 Cyl Fuel Injected.

I think W214, which was frozen several months ago I hear, will top out at I6 I imagine with ICE.

W223 will be the only sedan range offered with V8.
Yes, the cars might be much heavier and complex, but they're deliberately going back to basics.

As for this interior though, MB designed this new interior up until being signed off in 2017.

Ironically, Toyota did this for the XV70 Camry 010B Program back in 2014. Familiar anyone?

 

[Serpens]

That Camry dash looks more like the W205 minus the "floating" screen to me. Especially given the hard crease on the dashboard.

Shame the next E-class may not have the V8.

 

[Rolf]

Wow the interior looks alot better than I initially thought after seeing the crap plastic interiors of the mules. It looks even nicer than the S-class with the roundish air vents instead of the small rectangular ones in the S.

The exterior will look great in AMG spec, the standard bumper air intake looks very plain in all black

 

[Carmaker1]

That Camry dash looks more like the W205 minus the "floating" screen to me. Especially given the hard crease on the dashboard.

Shame the next E-class may not have the V8.

It's likely, but yet to be fully known about V8 in W214. But reading the writing on the wall, they're going back to the Pre-1985 approach of I4 = entry, I6 = Mid, and Flagship/Halo Perf. Class = V8.

As for the Camry proposal from 2014 against W213, are you sure?

Advanced knowledge of incoming W205 interior might also be a bigger reason for that proposal looking so similar (see 2013-14 photos of AMG Line W205 interiors).

 

[klier]

In defense of smaller displacement 4 cylinder engines:

The progress of research and development in the fields and metallurgy, ceramics , lubricants and electronic mapping have made the application of smaller 4 cylinders in larger, premium automobiles far more viable. Of course, the charm of a formidable il 6 or V8 is not to be diminished. Yet still, I can undestand the "wisdom" of offering cars such as the C-Class in "4 cylinder only" specification. This holds especially true on the threshold of a new era in which BEVs will eventually dominate.

I wish it's just the charm. A high strung 4 pot with 300 hp + simply lacks smoothness and refined characteristics. It changes the whole car.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

It's likely, but yet to be fully known about V8 in W214. But reading the writing on the wall, they're going back to the Pre-1985 approach of I4 = entry, I6 = Mid, and Flagship/Halo Perf. Class = V8.

As for the Camry proposal from 2014 against W213, are you sure?

View attachment 536439View attachment 536437View attachment 536438

Advanced knowledge of incoming W205 interior might also be a bigger reason for that proposal looking so similar (see 2013-14 photos of AMG Line W205 interiors).

The Camry looks 'heavily inspired' by the W205.

 

[BorkLaser]

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Advanced knowledge of incoming W205 interior might also be a bigger reason for that proposal looking so similar (see 2013-14 photos of AMG Line W205 interiors).

I see this for the layout aspect

and this for the driver focused center(but bigger) screen aspect.

 

[Merc1]

How many more hours before we see this car in full?

M

 

[BorkLaser]

How many more hours before we see this car in full?

M

13 hours and 24 minutes.

2:00 PM CET(UTC+01:00)


is the begin of the livestream

 

[Carmaker1]

The Camry looks 'heavily inspired' by the W205.

Considering the date, I had hinted towards that. Problem is, evolve an existing design that someone else did too, no wonder there are similarities. Ultimately it was rejected, but evolved into the final 2018 Camry (XV70) interior by the end of 2014 (launched Summer 2017).

I see this for the layout aspectView attachment 536440
and this for the driver focused center(but bigger) screen aspect.
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For MB or Toyota? I found it funny they tried to propose a near replica of MB's own design and rejected it due to cost and complexity of manufacture, plus brand positioning (against Lexus).

It got simplified instead into the production design, while MB followed the Tesla-inspired W223 layout and married it to the layout in W205.

 

[Merc1]

1984 280 E I6 AMG Euro-Spec Import (300D was highest level in USA and I5)
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That W123 looks great.


M

 

[Shellshock]

7 more hours

 

[Shellshock]

 

[Merc1]

Any chance we get a full leak?

M

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Any chance we get a full leak?

M

If the AMG kitted vehicle is as good as I'm hoping, then yes I might get a full leak.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Is there a link to the live reveal?