As with the four-door sedan on which they are based, the Mercedes-Benz C-class coupe and cabriolet offer style that mimics that of the larger E- and S-class models. The svelte junior Benz two-doors serve as an entry point to the motoring high life, where sleek lines and luxurious cabins mean more than practical considerations such as interior space or luggage capacity. Driving either the rear wheels or all four is a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that provides adequate, if not exactly thrilling, power. Some rivals offer sportier handling, zippier acceleration, and smoother rides, but the C-class coupe and cabriolet are prettier and coddle occupants in one of the nicest interiors in the segment. Tech features pioneered on the brand’s more expensive offerings have trickled down as well, including available automated emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist. The C-class coupe and cabriolet are lovely, impressive pieces that are well suited for drivers who prefer relaxing in style.

HIGHS
Achingly pretty exterior design, high-style interior, smooth-shifting transmission.

LOWS
Expensive add-on features, relaxed driving dynamics, overly stiff ride with optional sport suspension.

VERDICT
In either form, this baby Benz is a style-over-function affair.

What’s New for 2018?
For 2018, the coupe model ditches its seven-speed automatic transmission for the nine-speed unit from the convertible. Coupe models now come standard with blind-spot monitoring, push-button start, and a new 18-inch wheel design. The droptop gains a semi-automatic trunk separator, new wood trim for the interior, and an analog clock on the dashboard. Both models now offer Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a heated steering wheel as options. A new color—Designo Selenite Grey Magno—freshens up the palette.

Trims and Options We’d Choose
We can’t decide between the coupe or the convertible, so we’ll leave that $8000 decision up to you. We would suggest a few upgrades to each of them, though, starting with the $1090 Advanced Lighting package, which provides LED headlamps with automatic high-beams, illuminated doorsills, and interior ambient lighting. Next, we’d add Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for $350, and finally, we’d select the Premium package ($1900 on the coupe, $1650 on the convertible), which, among other things, adds:

• Power-folding side-view mirrors
• SiriusXM satellite radio
• Premium Burmester audio system
• Pop-up wind deflector (convertible only)

As equipped, our chosen rear-wheel-drive coupe carries a list price of $47,185, while a similarly equipped convertible retails for $54,935.

Via: Car and Driver

 

Jamie Green, drive of a Mercedes AMG C-Coupé, finished the seventh race of the DTM Season at Zandvoort in fourth place and improved his position to second place championship standings The Zandvoort race was won by Edoardo Mortara fromAudi.

Overall championship leader Gary Paffett, driver of a THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé, finished the race in seventh place after a tough race. He was in grid position eight for the start of the race and had reached fourth place when, at the start of lap 27, Martin Tomczyk (BMW) caused him to spin and drop back down to eleventh place. During the remaining 16 laps, championship leader Paffett again moved up the field four positions to finish seventh.

Paffett heads the DTM drivers’ championship, having secured 109 points, and has a 16-point lead on team-mate Green in second position with 93 points. THOMAS SABO / Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG lead the team standings with 133 points. Mercedes AMG are second on 101 points. Mercedes-Benz on 256 points holds the top spot in the Manufacturers’ Championship.

Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) finished the seventh race at Zandvoort in tenth position. Roberto Mehri (Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) and Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) came home in P11 and 12 respectively. David Coulthard (DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé) and Robert Wickens (stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) did not finish.

Paffett posted a 1:34.054, the fastest time of the 43 laps. For the championship leader, this was the eighth fastest race lap in his DTM career and his second at Zandvoort. Since 1988, Mercedes-Benz drivers have secured a total of 166 fastest race laps, including six at Zandvoort and four this season.

The race at Zandvoort was the 350th DTM race for Mercedes-Benz. Since the first works entry in 1988, Mercedes-Benz drivers have achieved 168 victories, 111 pole positions and 166 fastest laps. With ten drivers’, thirteen team titles and nine manufacturers’ titles, Mercedes-Benz is the most successful manufacturer in DTM history.

A total of 37,000 spectators attended the DTM race weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun) at Zandvoort, an increase of 27.5% on the previous year (2011: 29,000).

Race summary

The start: Gary Paffett moves up the field at the start from P8 to P5, Jamie Green sixth. The safety car is out after an accident on the first lap. Robert Wickens und Christian Vietoris retire after colliding. David Coulthard goes up from 22nd to P13.

Lap 4: The safety car turns off into the pits. Green overtakes Paffett on the re-start in a scrap for fifth place.

Lap 5: Green overtakes Filipe Albuquerque (Audi).

Lap 6: Timo Scheider (Audi) loses his bonnet on the start/finish straight. The safety car is back out on the track and leads the field into the pit lane to allow the track to be cleaned.

Lap 10 : After the second re-start: Green in fourth place, Paffett sixth.

Lap 11: The pit stop window is open. Paffett is the first C-Coupé driver to come in for a change of tyres.

Lap 12: First pit stop for Green.

Lap 13: Ralf Schumacher completes his first mandatory pit stop.

Lap 14: Paffett overtakes Mattias Ekström (Audi) in the battle for sixth place.

Lap 17: First pit stop for Coulthard.

Lap 20: After the first round of pit stops: Paffett in third place, Green seventh. Schumacher pits from tenth place to change tyres.

Lap 22: Second mandatory pit stop for Green.

Lap 23: Paffett in the lead comes in for second time. Coulthard retires in the pits.

Lap 26: Roberto Merhi completes second pit stop. It’s begun to drizzle with rain.

Lap 27: Paffett is put into a spin on turn one and drops down to P11.

Lap 28: Green overtakes Bruno Spengler (BMW) to move into fifth place.

Lap 29: Green overtakes Adrien Tambay (Audi) and moves into fourth place.

Lap 38: Paffett overtakes Dirk Werner (BMW) in the battle for ninth place.

Lap 39: Championship leader Paffett overtakes Augusto Farfus (BMW), moving into eighth place behind Schumacher.

Lap 40: Paffett moves up one position and is seventh.

Final lap (lap 43) : Jamie Green is fourth after 43 laps and a total distance of 185.201km. Gary Paffett finishes the 350th DTM race for Mercedes-Benz in seventh place.

Comments after the race:

Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Fourth:

“It was an eventful afternoon, which got better for me as rain began to fall during the race. Unfortunately, I was stuck in traffic after my two stops, otherwise I might have done more than fourth place. It’s time now to focus on the remaining races. We are in the top positions, P1 and 2, in the championship so Gary and I have a very good platform for the last three races of the season.”

Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Seventh:

“Seventh place is not the outcome I had planned for this weekend at Zandvoort. I was extremely disappointed after the contact with Martin Tomczyk and the subsequent incident when I spun, but at least we did a little catching up in the closing stages to limit the damage. Finishing ahead of Jamie in the drivers’ standings was one of the weekend’s more positive aspects, as was our good race pace.”

Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Tenth:

“The conditions were very difficult today. Anyone who avoided making a mistake in these conditions has done a great job. I was able to secure a point with tenth place, so I’m happy, even though I ended up losing a few places in the end.”

Roberto Merhi (Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Eleventh:

“Sunday was a disappointment for me. I gave it my all over 43 laps, and it was a close call, but unfortunately, it was not enough in the end to secure my first points-scoring finish. Still, eleventh is my best DTM result so far. That really gives me a boost to make sure I am in the points for the first time in the next race at Oschersleben.”

Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Twelve:

“I started well and began to feel hopeful for a good race thanks to the changing weather conditions. The steering on my C-Coupé was damaged after contact with another car. I gave it my all right up to the very end of the race, but the damage prevented me from doing more.”

David Coulthard (DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), retired:

“Today’s race was certainly action-packed thanks to the conditions. Using my many years of racing experience, I moved up the field at the start into P13. I lost a few places at the re-start, sure, but was still optimistic. After contact with another car, an Audi rear-ended my C-Coupé, bringing my race to an end.”

Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé), retired:

“Of course, I’m really disappointed with having to retire early, because a good result from grid position nine would have been possible, given the conditions. I got away well at the start, but the rear axle broke in the collision on turn three, and so my race was over all too soon.”

Robert Wickens (stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), retired:

“I had intended doing a lot today, but my race was soon over, unfortunately. I don’t know exactly what happened. I had a good start, but was rear-ended on the third turn. The impact was so great that it broke one of the wheels.”

Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:

“Gary was on course for a podium and faster than the drivers in front of him when he was pushed into a spin, which should never happen, of course, but it cost him points to the tune of double figures compared to his rivals.

His subsequent charge showed Gary’s class and his speed. He secured the best possible result under the worst of circumstances.

The same applies to Jamie. He had the speed to do more than fourth place but lost time in the pits.

After seven of ten races, Gary and Jamie are ranked first and second in the championship table, which is a good basis for the final three races of the season.

Congratulations on their victory and podium to Edoardo Mortara, Audi Sport and their teams.”

Pos	Driver	Make	Time
1.	Edoardo Mortara	Audi	1:16:17.679
2.	Mike Rockenfeller	Audi	+1,513
3.	Mattias Ekström	Audi	+8.417
4.	Jamie Green	Mercedes-Benz	+13,283
5.	Adrien Tambay	Audi	+21,313
6.	Bruno Spengler	BMW	+26,397
7.	Gary Paffett	Mercedes-Benz	+33,791
8.	Dirk Werner	BMW	+33,923
9.	Augusto Farfus	BMW	+34,706
10.	Ralf Schumacher	Mercedes-Benz	+36,380

Drivers’ Championship: Top Three

Pos	Driver	Make	Points
1.	Gary Paffett	Mercedes-Benz	109
2.	Jamie Green	Mercedes-Benz	93
3.	Bruno Spengler	BMW	91

Teams’ Championship: Top Three

Pos	Team	Points
1.	THOMAS SABO / Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG	133
2.	Mercedes AMG	101
3.	BMW Team Schnitzer	96

Manufacturers’ Championship

Pos	Manufacturer	Points
1.	Mercedes-Benz	256
2.	Audi	251
3.	BMW	200

Jamie Green, driver of the AMG Mercedes C-Class, won the 2011 DTM season finale at Hockenheim by 7.6 seconds from Martin Tomczyk (Audi) after starting from second place on the grid. It was Green’s seventh DTM victory and his second at Hockenheim. This was the 17th podium for the British driver, his sixth in a DTM race at Hockenheim and podium number 480 for a DTM driver at this track.

It was the fifth consecutive victory Mercedes-Benz at their home race in Hockenheim. Since 1988, Mercedes-Benz has won a total of 31 out of 64 DTM races at the Hockenheimring. In the ‘new DTM’ since 2000, a Mercedes driver has won nearly three-quarters of all races at the circuit (19 victories in 26 races).

The season finale was the last race for the AMG Mercedes C-Class, the most successful vehicle in DTM history (85 wins in 159 races). Since 1988, more than half (51%) of the 165 Mercedes-Benz wins have been secured with the C-Class.

To make a direct comparison with Audi, from 202 races, Mercedes-Benz has won 109 times and Audi 62.

Jamie Green set the fastest race lap in Hockenheim – 1:34.114 – for the fifth time at this track. In all, since 1988, Mercedes-Benz drivers have set the fastest lap in 35 of 64 DTM races at Hockenheim. Since the revival of the DTM in 2000, a Mercedes-Benz has set the fastest race lap in 76% of all races (20 of 26 races).

Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO AMG Mercedes C-Class) finished his 80th DTM

race in fifth position after starting from seventh on the grid. Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class) came home ninth. Ralf Schumacher (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class) and Renger van der Zande (stern AMG Mercedes C-Class) finished 11th and 12th. Maro Engel (GQ AMG Mercedes C-Class), Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class) and David Coulthard (Deutsche Post AMG Mercedes C-Class) crossed the line in 14th, 15th and 17th positions respectively. Christian Vietoris (Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Class) was forced to retire from the race.

A total of 120,000 spectators attended the DTM finale (Fri, Sat, Sun) in Hockenheim.

Race summary

The start: Jamie Green overtakes pole-sitter Miguel Molina (Audi) at the start of the race and goes into the lead. Gary Paffett moves up one position to sixth place.

Lap 4: Green extends his lead on Martin Tomczyk (Audi) to more than two seconds.

Lap 10: The pit stop window is now open. Paffett is the first C-Class driver to pit. David Coulthard and Christian Vietoris also come in.

Lap 11: Bruno Spengler and Renger van der Zande complete their first mandatory pit stop. Vietoris retires.

Lap 12: Ralf Schumacher and Susie Wolff pit for the first time.

Lap 13: Green comes in for his first stop with a five-second lead.

Lap 18: Second mandatory pit stop for Paffett.

Lap 19: Schumacher and Wolff come in for the second time.

Lap 20: Green has a six-second lead after the first round of pit stops. Van der Zande comes in for the second time.

Lap 21: Coulthard pits for the second time.

Lap 22 : Final mandatory pit stop for Engel.

Lap 24: Spengler pits lying in sixth position.

Lap 26: Green comes in for his final pit stop in the lead.

Lap 29: The pit stop window has now closed. Green leads by 8.6 seconds.

Final lap (Lap 38): Jamie Green wins the 2011 DTM season finale at Hockenheim after 38 laps and a total race distance of 173.812 km. Gary Paffett climbs two positions from seventh place on the grid to finish P5.

Comments after the race:

Jamie Green (AMG Mercedes C-Class) – Winner:

“I feel very proud to have won this race which is also the final outing for the AMG Mercedes C-Class, the most successful car in DTM history. My car was perfect and I’m so pleased to have won here at Hockenheim for the second time. Now I can start the winter break on a high as a race winner this year. Many thanks to my team for all their work today and throughout the season. I’m looking forward to the new DTM era which starts in 2012. I’m sure it will be just as exciting as the old one, if not more so…!”

Gary Paffett (AMG Mercedes C THOMAS SABO-Class) – Fifth:

“That was a good race – I started from seventh place, and moved up two positions to fifth. My C-Class ran really well and I would like to have got past Mike Rockenfeller, but unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be. Nevertheless, it was a good finish to a difficult season. I’m already looking forward to 2012.”

Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class) – Ninth:

“Unfortunately, my bid to end the season as runner-up in the championship didn’t quite come off, but all the same, I take satisfaction from having won two races and having started from pole position in four. That’s much more important than finishing second in the standings. So all in all, this has been a good year for us. The team worked really hard and, right up to the final lap, we gave it everything. I was faster than Oliver Jarvis and Timo Scheider today, but they proved too difficult to overtake.”

Ralf Schumacher (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class) – Eleventh:

“Congratulations to Jamie on his victory in our home round of the championship – he drove a great race. Unfortunately, I couldn’t manage a points finish today because I started from too far back on the grid. I’m satisfied with the way my season has gone, and from now on, I’ll be focusing all my attention on developing and testing the new DTM AMG Mercedes C-Coupé that we’ll be driving in 2012. You can be sure that we’ll be back on the attack then.” Renger van der Zande (stern AMG Mercedes C-Class) – Twelfth:

“Twelfth place is a decent result for me. I was running really well today and was able to keep up with Ralf. The atmosphere in the stands was terrific – especially in the Motodrom and at the Mercedes grandstand. Overall, I’m pleased with my first DTM season, particularly since my form improved significantly towards the end of season.”

Maro Engel (GQ AMG Mercedes C-Class) – 14th:

“I had obviously been hoping for better than P14 in the last race of the season, but I was boxed in by a lot of other cars on the first couple of laps, which cost me several positions. That was just bad luck. I’m very pleased for Jamie. It’s nice to have given the C-Class a fitting send-off in its last race.”

Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class) – 15th:

“I had, of course, hoped to do better than 15th place in my first race as Susie Wolff, but it was tough to move up the field more than a couple of places from P17 on the grid. Like all the team, I’m pleased for Jamie and his victory – the 85th for the C-Class – I love this car!”

David Coulthard (Deutsche Post AMG Mercedes C-Class) – 17th:

“This was an unlucky race for me – my first pit stop wasn’t brilliant, unfortunately. After that my race was more or less over, since I had no chance to move up the field. I would of course have wished for a better result for the end of the season.”

Christian Vietoris (Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Class) – retired:

“Unfortunately, this wasn’t the end to the season that I had hoped for. My pit stop didn’t go as intended: the right front wheel wasn’t on properly, which can happen. Up until that point, I had been very satisfied with the way the race was going. I was the best driver of an old-model Mercedes-Benz and had good pace. Too bad that I didn’t finish the final race of the season.”

Norbert Haug, Vice-President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:

“That was the final race to be contested under the current DTM regulations, and for Jamie Green to have won it in such a convincing manner today is a tremendous achievement. Well done to everyone who played their part in making it happen. This is a victory that will go down in the record books and Jamie showed his true calibre today. With our C-Class, we have now won 85 out of 159 races – more than half, in fact – which makes this car the most successful and victorious in DTM history. Since the DTM was revived in 2000, Mercedes-Benz has won 19 races out of 26 at Hockenheim – a fabulous win rate for our home race. Next year, the DTM will welcome a third competitor, BMW, and that affirms the good work done over the last six years by Audi, Mercedes-Benz, the ITR, the DMSB and all our sponsors and TV partners, who always believed in the success of this remarkable championship. At the end of an era, thank you to everybody who has made the third generation of the DTM possible from the start of 2012.”

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS Formula One drivers Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg unveiled the new DTM AMG Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupé for the 2012 DTM season at the Frankfurt International Motor Show, alongside Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management at Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars Division, and Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport.

The new car is based on the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupé, which was launched worldwide in the summer of 2011, and is the first DTM car from Mercedes-Benz to be built around a new, improved safety concept, developed in collaboration with the ITR e.V, the DMSB (Germany’s motor racing governing body) and the DTM manufacturers. The new car incorporates a state-of-the-art carbon fibre monocoque with a roll cage made ​​of high-strength steel. Moreover, each vehicle is equipped with six energy-absorbing crash structures, giving the driver additional protection to the front, rear and sides.

The DTM AMG Mercedes C-Coupé will succeed the AMG Mercedes C-Class, which is the most successful vehicle in the 27-year history of the DTM, having scored 84 victories in 156 races and five driver’s titles.

Development, design and manufacture of the new car began in June 2010 at HWA headquarters in Affalterbach, near Stuttgart, Germany. HWA is responsible for production of the cars, including engines.

Michael Schumacher: “The new 2012 Mercedes-Benz DTM car looks fantastic, but what I find even more impressive than the car’s visual appearance is the new safety concept with its innovative safety cell and more advanced carbon-fibre crash structures. This safety standard is exemplary and constitutes, in my opinion, the benchmark for touring car racing. I’m looking forward to seeing the new C-Class Coupé in action and hopefully winning lots of races. I’ve got my fingers crossed for everyone in the Mercedes-Benz DTM team.”

Nico Rosberg: “I was pleased to take part in unveiling the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupé for the 2012 DTM season at its Frankfurt Motor Show world premiere. It looks really cool and I particularly like the chrome finish. The car is certainly an important step forward for the DTM, which is a great series – I began my career racing on the same weekends as the DTM, and it will attract even more fans in 2012 when the third manufacturer arrives. Whenever possible, I still follow the races on TV, and always enjoy going to local DTM events. I will of course keep my fingers crossed next year for my Mercedes-Benz DTM colleagues and hope they can bring the title home to Stuttgart with the new C-Class Coupé.”

Gary Paffett: “The first test of a new car is always an exciting moment. After getting a feel for the handling and performance of the DTM AMG Mercedes C-Coupé around the Lausitzring, I can say I’m very pleased with it. Of course, we still have a lot of development work ahead of us before the 2012 season opener at Hockenheim. The driving experience is quite different to that of previous DTM cars. The new Hankook tyres for 2012 are wider and have taller sidewalls, providing more mechanical grip. Also, the gear lever has disappeared for 2012 – we will change gear using paddles on the steering wheel instead – and that’s something I’m already used to from Formula One.”

Norbert Haug, Vice-President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: “This new-generation vehicle, based on our Mercedes-Benz C- Coupé, signals the introduction of an even more spectacular racing car from the start of 2012. I am certain that the spectators will get their money’s worth from the three-way fight between Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz in the DTM next year.”