The official reveal is just days away.
It’s no secret the all-new 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class has been spotted a few times before, though they were test mules covered in various states of camouflage. But this is the big week because the official reveal will take place this Tuesday at 8:00 am EST. And in typical pre-reveal fashion, leaked images of the new C-Class sans camo have made their way online, made possible today by French website The Automobilist, via Facebook.
The new sedan very much looks like a shrunken S-Class and that’s certainly not a bad thing. But the exterior design is really not the most significant subject here, but rather that stunning interior. The 2022 C-Class includes the latest version of the German automaker’s MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system.
The Automobilist/Facebook
The Automobilist/Facebook
The Automobilist/Facebook
It’ll be displayed on that massive touchscreen which takes up a significant portion of the dashboard. It’s angled upwards sharply from the center console, another S-Class styling trait. Although these images are a bit grainy, the only apparent physical buttons are at the very bottom of the screen, one of which is the hazard light function. The three round vents directly above the screen (and one to the left the all-digital driver’s gauge cluster) are another familiar Mercedes design.
Under the hood, expect the new C-Class to have an all-four-cylinder engine lineup. All will have hybrid assist, such as the mild-hybrid 48-volt system expected in the base C300.
The Automobilist/Facebook
The Automobilist/Facebook
The Automobilist/Facebook
The decision to forgo a straight-six engine basically came down to vehicle size; the front end would have required an additional two inches in length. This also would have resulted in additional weight, a detriment to overall vehicle dynamics and handling. Keeping weight down was essential because the hybrid systems and their lithium-ion batteries are typically quite heavy. Whether or not Mercedes made the right call to drop the six-cylinder remains to be seen, though its longtime arch-rival, the BMW 3 Series, still employs an optional six.
It’s also important to point out a new C-Class coupe is not happening and the wagon body style will, once again, be overseas only. Stay tuned for complete details and official photos.
CarBuzz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz