By now you might have heard from Autoblog or Edmunds' Inside Line the shocking, incredible news that Mercedes is developing a blown 4-banger in the C-Class for sale here in the U.S. I say good. Apparently some "other" blogs have forgotten that Mercedes has, until this latest generation, always offered a 4-cylinder engine in the C-Class in the U.S. The last generation had a supercharged 1.8 and a supercharged 2.3 at different times. Before that there was the C230 Kompressor in the first-generation C, as well as the C220 and C230. And of course the original baby Benz, the 190E was named for its little 4 pot, as well as the 190E 2.3. So now that we've got the history out of the way, is this a smart business idea? Hell yes. Buyers of entry luxury cars tend to be wary of running costs — that include fuel consumption — and then there's the importance of appeasing the CAFE gods. Not to mention,there's something nice about a luxury car focused on ride, rather than keeping up with the Joneses (and the Hondas). If/when it debuts, expect the blown 1.4 liter to make 150-170 horses and to come with Benz's 7-speed auto.
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Yup, sounds good to me. A supercharged four means enough low-end torque for city driving while the 7-speed auto should keep highway fuel economy up. Despite the push towards ever-more-powerful entry luxury sport sedans, some of us just want a car to drive to work and back and on an occasional road trip, with decent fuel economy. If they bring it out, it goes on my shortlist for a few years from now, along with the forthcoming diesel TSX and A4.
This might work, but did you ever have the misfortune of driving a C230 coupe?
I have- It was actually the first German car I ever got to drive. My conclusion from it was that I would rather own an Avenger SXT than that down-market Benz.
If Mercedes cheaps out on it like the old C230’s then then it’s bad for the brand. If they build it good, but with too high a price, then what’s the point? They have a narrow target to hit.
“Down-sized” forced-induction four-bangers are the next big thing. They’re sweeping Europe, and are closing in on diesel-like efficiency, especially with direct injection. And they make even more sense here, with the higher cost of diesel fuel and “clean-diesel” technology. But I can’t see the Merc having less than 200hp in the US; 150-170 won’t cut it. The extra power doesn’t mean less economy either, since the higher boost only kicks in under full throttle, and not on the EPA testing cycle.
One of my favorite sedans…190E with the 16v Cosworth 2.3. Such a wonderful car.
How about a blown four-banger with a manual tranny option, minus a few unneeded electro-gizmos for well under $30k…now we’d be talking! One can only drive so fast here in the US to begin with. Offer something that is truly entertaining to drive (read suspension/handling upgrades) and I’d be so there…
I agree with threeer, but I’d like to see a Turbo-Diesel 4-banger as well.
threer – what was the going rate for the C230 Kompressor in the US a few years back? It was in the low 30s in Canada 5 years ago, so I would image high 20s would be doable in the States… I did take a 6MT for a test drive with my wife back then, and while it probably had the nicest “entry-level” luxury feel, the suspension/handling was absolutely atrocious. Of course, we were comparing it to a Mini Cooper at the time, so it probably had a bit much to live up to in comparison when it came to handling.
In Europe, you can even find 5-series and E-classes with 4-cyl engines….and they’ll often be on the fast lane of the autobahn, doing 100+mph.
The whole hrosepower thing in the US is a question of image, not need. Very, very few people need more than 150hp in their cars unless they tow or go to the track.
whenever i do get my hands on a car, it’s usually my parents’ 1996 C220 (148 hp), which is no rocket, but a it’s solid, capable and unpretentious car. no flash (it’s white with a gray tex interior), just competence. so i see nothing wrong with this move.
here is a nice review of the new C180 (manual transmission) from car magazine: http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Drives/Search-Results/First-drives/Mercedes-Benz-C180-SE/?&R=EPI-5380
Add This:
– manual 6 speed
– sport package
Remove This:
– Weight (currently this is at 3500+ lbs – so figure you gotta drop at least 300-400lbs)
Price:
– Start @ $25k, with sport package $27k (any higher and you would run into IS250, BMW 3 series)
That would be a better reincarnation of the 2002 than that bloated sow BMW calls the 1 series (even if it has a 4 doors).
I think it would sell incredibly well because the RWD sport sedan selection under $30k is:
– Grand Marquis/Corwn Vic.
– Dodge Charger
– Pontiac G8
None of those cars have much by way of handling (I should exclude the G8 as I have not driven it).
Definitely think it’s a good move. Canada has a C230, 201hp V6 which in itself is probably overkill, so a 4 cyl would fit in well provided that it’s priced right (can’t be too cheap, and can’t be too close to the C300’s pricing either).
Would be nice if they had a standard transmission available on it though, since a) many buyers looking for economy will choose a standard over automatic, b) younger buyers who might want to get into one of the new, sportier MB’s may prefer a standard vs. the auto in their parents’ E-class.
Merc may manage to eat some of Acura’s lunch with this.
The TSX is pretty much the only 4-banger among the entry-level luxury cars with a sensible price.
If they refuse to offer a manual tranny on it though, well, I ain’t buying one.
I hope the engine is silky. I may not need more power, but I’ll take power if thats the way to get a silky smooth engine ie.I’ll look for a used one.
it works here. people dont care that much about power. the badge is what they care about. people would gladly get a 4 cylinder Benz over a V6 Camry. its happened before, so it’ll happen again.
i’ve had the misfortune of driving a C230. its usually the loaner car i get when i drop my cars off for service. the car is absolutely gutless!! i couldn’t live with it. as free transportation home and back, I’ll take it… but i usually drive my other cars once I’m home.
this sounds pretty great, but the problem is i still don’t want a benz.
i don’t really understand the whole luxury car thing.
i spend three hours a day in the car, so i think if anyone needs one, it would be me. as it is, though, i’m perfectly sassified with four speakers, cloth seats, a knob that goes from blue to red and a fan that goes from 1-4, etc.
i would love a four-cylinder RWD something, but i certainly don’t want it to *start* in the high $20s.
i would love to see the celica come back as a 4-cyl RWD 2-door hatch. coupes look “sleek,” but to me they seem very 1990s. impractical and dated. and they don’t fool anyone–we all know your eclipse isn’t a porsche or a ferarri.
and, you know, if they could make it howl like a Triumph Speed Triple, i’d be happy with a 3-cyl celica.
Of course the current model C is offered with a supercharged 4 cylinder engine already in Europe in the C180 ‘Kompressor’ (1.8 156HP 6MT) as well as the C200 ‘Kompressor’ (1.8 184HP 5MT).
So…
expect the blown 1.4 liter to make 150-170 horses and to come with Benz’s 7-speed auto.
…I doubt that they will design a new 1.4 with a very similar HP output, I think Mercedes will take the easy option and just make the 1.8 available for the US as well.
Also, @commenter above about 4 cylinder E-classes and 5-Series.
That’s mostly true, Mercedes has offered the 184HP 1.8 engine in the E-class for years but the 5 series hasn’t been offered with a 4 cylinder petrol engine anymore since the E34 518i (1995/6) till only very recently when they introduced the 520i again. It has been offered as a 520i before, but that was a 2.0 I6 and later 2.2 I6. It’s also offered as 523 with a downtuned 2.5 that was originally in the 525, which (the 525) in the US has always been sold with a downtuned 3.0 I6 from the 530i (and now in Europe as well).
On a side note, the 535i still isn’t for sale in Europe, but instead we get a 540i with a 4.0 V8 that has the exact same European HP rating of 306HP, that is not related to the one in the M3 and is the only 5-series that is only available as a sedan for some reason.
Confusion all around…
Anyway… a diesel 4 cylinder has been offered in both the E39 and still is in the E60/61.
The 2.3l Kompressor engine as seen in the C230SC is not one of MB’s better engines. It made decent power and fuel mileage, but would do better serving duty in a tractor. Not in an entry level near luxury car.
I do like the idea of the new C230 as offered in Canada though.
By offering a 4 cyl. with improved fuel economy it will assist in meeting CAFE, and not pay fines as they are at present.
Sorry, but I will wait and see on this one. I have learned a lot about resale value by listening to older cars drive by. Small engined Merc’s have never sounded right after year 3. With their parts prices, that’s just scary.
@Paul Niedermeyer
The extra power doesn’t mean less economy either, since the higher boost only kicks in under full throttle, and not on the EPA testing cycle.
It doesn’t mean less economy in the EPA testing cycle… however it does mean less economy in reality… whoever cares for reality.
honestly for fuel economy a direct-injection turbo engine makes a lot more sense. Even when you’re cruising on the highway in 7th gear at super-low RPMS, that supercharger is creating drag and sucking up power and fuel.
@NICKNICK
i would love a (four-cylinder) RWD something…
…and, you know, if they could make it howl like a Triumph Speed Triple, i’d be happy with a 3-cyl celica.
I think you would like a Smart Roadster. Small, light, RWD, and with a nice three-cylinder howl. Excellent seats, too. Mileage in the mid-40s with a heavy foot.
@JJ
…I doubt that they will design a new 1.4 with a very similar HP output, I think Mercedes will take the easy option and just make the 1.8 available for the US as well.
I also doubt that. They have a newly designed 156hp 1.6 they call the “C180 BlueEfficiency”. That’s the one my money would be on.
Anyway… a diesel 4 cylinder has been offered in both the E39 and still is in the E60/61.
That’s a sweet engine btw, and increasingly popular. 8 seconds 0-60 and a 46 mpg European rating is not too shabby in a 5er.
’91-’94 I regularly travelled the Italian Autostrada at speeds 100 mph to 125 mph with a bone stock SOHC VW 1.8L 90HP engine. This was a US spec engine, not some German-spec black magic special.
Don’t need a 4.0L V-6 or some V-8 to run around America unless I’m towing (I still do that with a 150HP Honda 4-cylinder).