THE NEW Mercedes-Benz C220 replaces the srnailer 190 as Mercedes’ entry-level car. A new 148-horsepower 2.2-lltre four-c ‘automatic tranemission, anti-lock brakes, and dual airbags are all standard equipment. Base price is $34,350. IT’S NOT often that you see the words “Mercedes-Benz” and “affordable” in the same sentence, but depending on whe you talk to, the new Mercedes-Benz C220 could be described as excellent value for the money in the compact luxury car Class, The C220 Special Edition, avail- able in Canada only, is priced at. $34,350. ; That's about $1,300 more than last year's 190E 2.3 SE, but certain- ly a very reasonable price for an all- new Mercedes with so many stan- dard features and Mercedes-Benz's reputation for safety and quality. The better-equipped C220 starts at $40,350. Critics will point out that there are other luxury cars with bigger engines and more features for less money than the new C-class. And that must be included in the value- for-money equation. ‘The C-class sedans replace the 190 series and are.5.6 centimetres (2.2 in.) longer and three centime- tres (1.2 in.) wider, with a wheel- base that is 2.5 cm (.9 in.) longer. The extra length and width con- tribute to a larger cabin and bigger trunk. Whereas the 190 was definitely a small sedan, the C-class offers adequate cabin and luggage space for four or five adults, and looks like a bigger car. Unlike tie 190, which had the appearance of a toy Mercedes, the C-class sedans have a presence common to larger Mercedes-Benz motor cars, surely a good selling point. By the way, Mercedes-Benz’s new nomenclature uses a letter to designate the model line and a number to indicate the engine's size. Thus, C220 stands for C-class with a 2.2-litre four-cylinder engine. The new 2.2-litre dual overhead cam four-cylinder engine with 148 horsepower replaces the 190°s 2.3- litre single overhead cam four- cylinder engine with 130 horsepow- er. Though more powerful, the 2.2. MEI Aa? litre four-cylinder engine doesn’t provide outstanding acceleration. If you're in a hurry, the C220 is rather slow off the mark. However, the sporty-sounding engine will rev willingly to 6,200 tpm when the accelerator is pressed flat to the floor before changing gears. Zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) takes about 11 seconds. Mid-range passing acceleration is more immediate, and overall this engine is very smooth, though a tad noisy at idle. The standard four-speed auto- matic transmission is unobtrusive and well-matched to the engine. A manual transmission is not offered on thc C-class as it was on the 190. The C280 offers a smoother, quieter, more powerful 2.8-litre in- line six-cylinder engine with 194 horsepower, replacing the 190E’s optional 2.6-litre 158 horsepower six. The C280 also offers consider- ably more performance and stan- dard equipment than the C220 but the base price is higher, at $47,650 (about $1,600 more than the 190E 2.6). 1 will be testing the C280 sepa- rately in the future. Crash safety is an important part of the C-class cars, as it is with other Mercedes cars. Apart from the standard dual airbags, knee bolsters, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, and indepen- dent suspension, the C-class has a body designed to absorb crash ener- gy and minimize the impact on the day, Decernb aed passenger cell. . For example, in the event of an offset frontal collision, threc- pronged forked longitudinal struc- tural members are designed to direct the force of the crash around the passenger compartment. The C- class also offers exceptional roll- over and side-impact protection. Another example of Mercedes’ attention to safety is the way under- hood components are staggered to prevent their “stacking” and intrud- ing into the passenger compartment in a severe collision. Even the shape of the car’s nose was designed to roll a pedestrian up and over the car rather than force him under it. ’ The hood and fenders are now more compliant to reduce the risk of injury should a pedestrian be struck. Standard equipment on the C220 Special Edition includes cloth upholstery, power steering, four- speed automatic transmission, ABS, power windows and locks, heated outside power mirrors, climate con- trol, AM/FM cassette stereo, first- aid kit, height adjustable driver's seat, adjustable seatbelts with emer- gency retractors, and rear head-. restraints. Some features, such as tilt steer- ing wheel, fotd-down rear seat, and interior wood trim are not available on the C220 Special Edition. Neither are traction control or a limited slip differential. Both are available on the C220 ($40,350) and the C280 ($47,650). 1993 - North Shore News - 15 Si ba Ei ghaty biv aR et) 0 4 d NEWS photo Cindy Goodman ylinder engine, standard four-speed The C-class is certainly a more attractive car than the 190, particu- larly considering the price. it may be more expensive than some other luxury cars, but unlike others, the C-class feels and Icoks like it’s worth every penny. Price as tested: $40,125 Base Price: $34,350 Type: four-door, five passen- ger sedan : Layout: longitudinal front engine/rear-whee!l-drive Engine: 2.2-litre, four cylin- der, 16 valves, DOHC, sequential multi-point fuel injection Horsepower: 148 @ 5,500 1pm Torque: 155 fi-lbs @ 4,000 rpm Tires: 195/65R-15 all season Curb weight: 1,430 kg (3,152 Ibs) Wheelbase: 2,690 mm (105.9 in.) Length: 4,507 mm (177.4 in.) Width: 1,720 mm (67.7 in.) Height: 1,424 mm (56.0 in.) Trunk capacity: 331 litres (11.7 cu. ft.) Fuel consumption: City 10.6 L/L00 km (27 mpg) Hwy. 7.7 L/100 km (37 mpg) Warranty: four years/80.000 kms .