It was a fairly slow day for Mercedes news yesterday, but one article which was brought to our attention by several of you, our beloved readers, was Inside Line's 2008 Mercedes-Benz C350 Sport First Drive.

In their article, Inside Line shares the first impressions of what to expect from the U.S.-bound C350, highlighting many of its specifications and detailing how it stacks up against both the BMW M3 and the Audi A4.  For me, however, the main qualm that I have with the review is that I don't believe the C-Class is aimed directly at either. 

Obviously Mercedes wants to win converts from the BMW camp, there's no denying that, but I don't believe they want to do so by taking the 3-Series and making its engine more potent or its handling more aggressive.  If that was their intention, they would have accomplished it.  Rather, I think Mercedes' main goal in creating the new C-Class was to take select elements popular in the sport/entry-level luxury sedan category and incorporate them into the basic design concept held by all Mercedes... the concept of achieving the ideal blend of everything that makes driving so enjoyable.

It's this principle - the principle of creating the consummate all-around model in each of the many automotive classes they possess a vehicle in - that makes a Mercedes a Mercedes.  You'll never read a Mercedes review that states a Mercedes is overly anything - they're not overly luxurious; they're not overly sporty; they each possess the perfect synthesis of everything you desire from an automobile, regardless of whether it's a luxury sedan, SUV or roadster.  Looking at the 2008 C350, I believe the same holds true.  It's more dynamic than its predecessor without being overbearing; it's design is vastly superior to that of the BMW without sacrificing Mercedes' trademark stately appearnace; but the greatest strength of the new C-Class is the fact that it's a model not geared towards a specific genre - it can be driven and enjoyed by virtually anyone. 

In other words, it's everything a new Mercedes should be.

To learn more, head over to Inside Line where you can find their impressions of the 2008 C350 Sport.

And to Brad, Fawad and Jinx:  thanks for the tip my good sirs; we sincerely appreciate it.