UNVEILING THE NEW MERCEDES C CLASS 2014 / 2014 Mercedes-Benz C Class

The new C-Class 2014 ( 2014 Mercedes-Benz C-Class ) will be the most efficient, refined and dynamic model in its class.

Codenamed W205, the latest 2014 Mercedes-Benz C-Class sits on the new modular rear-drive chassis architecture (MRA) that will underpin every large Mercedes for the next five years. This has the capacity for hybrid and electric power, four-wheel drive and a wide range of different vehicle shapes and sizes all built into its structural DNA.

The key to the new chassis is its light weight ( 2014 Mercedes-Benz C-Class ), and this theme continues throughout the car -- 50 per cent of the body is now made from aluminium, so even though the new C-Class is 95mm longer and 40mm wider than before, it's up to 100kg lighter. The new A-Class was a game-changer for us, but it's a Marmite car. People seem to love it or hate it," he said. "The C-Class is a three-box saloon, one of the industry's oldest shapes, so of course it has to be more traditional."

The new C220 BlueTEC diesel has a drag coefficient of 0.24Cd -- better than most coupés -- and when combined with the lighter body, Mercedes claims to have cut fuel consumption by 20 per cent. This means the 168bhp saloon, which can cover 0-62mph in 8.1 seconds, also emits 103g/km of CO2 -- easily beating BMW's most frugal 320d EfficientDynamics (which emits 109g/km).

Joining the C220 at launch will be C180 and C200 petrol models. The C180 uses a 154bhp 1.6-litre engine that emits just 116g/km of CO2, while the C200 features a 184bhp 2.0-litre, does 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds but still emits less CO2 than a VW Golf 1.4 TSI.