Automotive Trends

Competitor’s take note: Mercedes is getting really, really good at building luxury cars again. Oh sure they haven’t produced any junk in the last decade but a certain confidence that was embodied in every Mercedes of the 90s was dialed back as the obvious search for additional profits lead to something we hadn’t seen in any 3-pointed star before: cost cutting. But now the S-Class is the envy of the car world again and Mercedes is bringing that magic to the masses in the form of the new 2015 C-Class. The turbocharged four and six cylinder engines now power a nearly perfectly shrunken S-Class that even offers most of the flagship’s tech and luxury features. For the first time an air suspension is available as are luxuries like distronic cruise control plus steering assist, Burmester audio and even a climate control system that uses GPS to adjust before you enter a tunnel. In the hunt for efficiency engineers also reduced weight more than 200 pounds over the previous generation. Also of note is the 3-inch stretch in wheelbase that adds a bit more room to the previously tight rear seats. With an interior design drunk on details and finished as beautifully as anything costing twice as much the C-Class will find it almost easy to steal customers from the competition. Welcome back Mercedes and keep it coming.