2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Walkaround Review at Automotive.com
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2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Review: Exterior

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2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Review

The Benz for the rest of us.
Walkaround
The C-Class cars are a mix of design cues from other Mercedes-Benz cars. All C-Class models feature quad ovoid headlamp assemblies that are joined, very similar in design to that of the CLK and SL models. C-Class sedans wear the horizontal-bar grille topped with the traditional three-pointed star hood ornament, very similar to that of the S-Class and E-Class sedans, but the much smaller C-Class sedans nonetheless have a tight look all their own. Aerodynamically, they're among the slickest cars in the Mercedes-Benz family. The C-Class sedans boast a drag coefficient of 0.27, lowering wind noise, improving fuel efficiency, and theoretically increasing their top speed.

C-Class coupes feature unique styling, with a radical roofline, a shortened rear end, and an aggressive front end and. In fact, not a single exterior panel is shared between the sedan and the coupe. Up front, the Mercedes star-grille is used in place of the sedan's bar-grille, with the tri-star badge ensconced in the grille work, similar to that of the SL, CLK, and CL models. The coupe's double-elliptical headlights are similar to those of the C-Class sedan. The swooping roofline incorporates a smoked Plexiglas panel. A rear spoiler adds aerodynamic downforce to the rear tires, good for high-speed curves in the rain, and a glass panel between the tail lights contributes to rearward visibility and gives it a distinctive appearance. The coupe is 7 inches shorter than the sedan in overall length, but all C-Class cars ride on the same 106.9-inch wheelbase. The coupe's long doors make for easy ingress and egress. Nice touches include sporty wheels and turn signal repeaters built into the outside mirrors.

Some consider the wagon the neatest of all C-Class models. The sedan provides the foundation for an elegant wagon. The wagon's roof sweeps almost teardrop style into the rear gate. This gives it a sleek profile, and minimizes the stodginess inherent in a station wagon's utilitarian design. Next Page



2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  
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