Mercedes C-Class has achieved tremendous success in the mid-segment catagory by delivering more than 300,000 models in its first sales year. The new C-Class model series has also been received various German and international awards since its premiere.

The Mercedes C-Class has already been a success story since its introduction on 31 March 2007. The German luxury automaker has sold more than 300,000 C-Class models comprising sedans and station wagon variants.

 ''The sedan got off to an excellent start, and since its premiere at dealerships at the end of last year, the new C-Class station wagon has also been enjoying high popularity,'' stated, Dr Klaus Maier, executive vice president sales and marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars.

 ''Both models, in fact, have posted growth rates of 70 per cent  on the corresponding periods from the prior year since their respective launches. As a result, the new C-Class has been the worldwide leader in its market segment since the beginning of 2008,'' he added.

German customers also are very enthusiastic about the new C-Class: according to Germany's Federal Motor Transport Authority, the model was once again the top-selling vehicle in the mid-range segment in April. The C-Class has accounted for 25 per cent of  total sales in Germany. The company has sold 290,000 C-Class sedans from the 204 Series worldwide since its debut in the spring of 2007, and 25,000 customers have taken delivery of a new C-Class station wagon since that model variant was introduced in December.

Salient feature of the new C-Class is the clear optical differentiation between the model's three equipment lines. Along with the new model's distinctive design, C-Class customers are also attracted by the vehicle's even more dynamic chassis, which features a selective damping system that also offers great comfort. Other major selling points include a further refined telematics system with Bluetooth, and a new Linguatronic voice-command system.

In addition, the station wagon takes the trademark strengths of the sedan that includes safety, agility, and comfort, which it combines with a significant increase in spaciousness and versatility. With maximum cargo capacity of 1,500 litres, the new station wagon offers more space than any other premium station wagon in its segment. Given all these attributes, it's not surprising that the C-Class station wagon was also the top-selling model in its segment in Germany in April.

Mercedes-Benz offers six four-cylinder and seven six-cylinder engine variants for the C-Class, as well as the C 63 AMG. About one-third of the sedan model's customers worldwide have opted for the C 220 CDI, while 20 per cent  have purchased a C 200 Kompressor. The C 220 CDI is also the vehicle of choice for around half of the station wagon model's customers. 75 per cent  of all C-Class station wagons sold around the world are diesel engine versions.

The Daimler company expanded the C-Class sedan line-up in the spring of 2008 by adding particularly fuel-efficient BlueEFFICIENCY models: fuel consumption in the C 180 Kompressor and C 200 CDI is 12 per cent  lower in the BlueEFFICIENCY versions, with no sacrifices in terms of the high level of comfort and outstanding safety features so typical of Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The C 200 CDI (100 kW/136 hp) consumes just 5.1 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers in the BlueEFFICIENCY version, while the C 180 Kompressor (115 kW/156 hp) requires 6.5 litres of premium gasoline to travel 100 kilometers. These consumption figures correspond to emissions of 135 and 156 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer, respectively.

''In the first year of sales, one out of every two C-Class customers in Germany chose the Avantgarde line and in other core markets the share of total sales sometimes is even higher,'' says Maier. ''The response of our customers to the sporty design of the C-Class Avantgarde even exceeded our expectations. This new product strategy makes the vehicle very attractive to the most diverse customers within the heterogeneous C-Class customer base, and it also enables us to win over new customers to the Mercedes-Benz brand.''

The new C-Class model series has won numerous German and international awards since its premiere. C-Class sedan easily beat out its competitors in Germany's largest survey for the most popular automobile in January 2008, winning this year's prestigious Gelbe Engel award presented by Germany's ADAC automobile association. In addition, readers of Auto Bild magazine voted the C-Class Germany's most attractive sedan, while the publication auto motor und sport crowned it the most attractive mid-range model. What's more, 350,000 participants in Europe's largest Internet vote chose the C-Class for the 2007 ''Carolina Internet Auto Award'' as the most popular car in Europe. Meanwhile in the UK, the C-Class was named ''Executive Car of the Year'' by Top Gear magazine.

Mercedes-Benz will also begin offering a third C-Class BlueEFFICIENCY model at the end of 2008: the C 350 CGI, featuring gasoline direct injection. This vehicle's six-cylinder engine will consume about ten per cent  less fuel than the conventional sedan with the current V6 engine. The C 350 CGI will thus offer a combination of responsive power, agility, safety, fuel economy, and environmental compatibility that is unique in its vehicle segment.

The new BlueEFFICIENCY models have been created by the Mercedes engineers, who used potential from all areas of development. The aim was not only to further decrease weight, drag, and rolling resistance, but also to more efficiently organize the new sedans' energy management system. As an added feature, BlueEFFICIENCY models are equipped with a brand-new cockpit shift display that informs the driver when to shift gears in order to achieve maximum fuel efficiency. Experience gained with the Mercedes-Benz ''ECO training'' program shows that an economical and energy-conscious driving style can result in fuel savings of as much as 15 per cent  - without giving up any driving pleasure.

The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan and station wagon are the first cars in their market segments to come with an environmental certificate. By issuing this certificate, the TÜV Süd Management Service GmbH technical inspectorate company has confirmed the environmentally responsible development of the sedan, which boasts further advances across the entire vehicle lifecycle in key areas including fuel consumption, exhaust gas emissions, and the materials used in its manufacture. Mercedes-Benz is the only automaker worldwide to have received this demanding environmental certificate.

C-Class sedans are manufactured at the Mercedes-Benz plants in Sindelfingen and Bremen in Germany. They are also built in East London, South Africa, and have been manufactured in Beijing, China, since March 2008 as well. The station wagon is produced exclusively in Bremen, and the new CLCis manufactured at Mercedes-Benz' Juiz de Fora plant in Brazil.

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