Hot on the heels of the widely acclaimed C-Class Saloon comes the new C-Class Estate range, combining the same exceptional qualities of safety, agility and comfort with a significant increase in spaciousness and versatility.

As well as a luggage capacity of up to 1500 litres, giving it one of the largest load compartments in the segment, it also offers a host of handy features for easy loading and safe transportation including as standard the Easy Pack automatic powered tailgate which opens and closes at the push of a button.  

There are eight engines to choose from, which have been extensively reworked to boost power output by a considerable margin and to improve fuel economy by as much as 12 per cent. The C 200 CDI for example is capable of 47.1 mpg (previously 41.5 mpg), enabling a single tank of fuel (66 litres) to last for over 600 miles on the combined cycle.

Like the Saloon, the C-Class Estate is the first car in its market segment to be awarded with an Environmental Certificate, which confirms its environmentally-focused development conforms to the international ISO standard.

It also blazes a trail in terms of safety, with innovations such as Pre-Safe® and the Adaptive Brake system, along with seven airbags and the crash-responsive Neck-Pro front head restraints all part of the standard specification.  The Saloon variant was recently awarded a five-star Euro NCAP rating.  Whilst the Estate has not yet been tested it shares the Saloon’s safety armoury.

On the road prices start from £24,630 for the C 180 KOMPRESSOR SE, rising to £37,205 for the C 350 Sport.

Eight engines offer greater power and substantially better economy

Five petrol engines and three diesel engines cater for any customer’s requirements and extensive development has brought wide-ranging improvements in their efficiency and performance.

The two 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engines feature revised engine management, new pistons and a more powerful supercharger which, in the entry-level C 180 KOMPRESSOR, contribute to a boost in power output from 143 to 156 hp, while maximum torque rises from 220 to 230 Nm and combined consumption is a frugal 39.8 mpg.

The results are even more impressive in the C 200 KOMPRESSOR and an extra 20 hp takes peak output to 184 hp, while maximum pulling power of 250 Nm is generated from 2800 rpm. That shaves 0.6 seconds off the 0-62 mph benchmark, but best of all, combined consumption improves from 35.3 to 38.7 mpg.

There’s a choice of three V6 petrol power units – 204 hp 2.5-litre (C 230), 231 hp 3.0-litre (C 280) and 272 hp 3.5-litre (C 350). Key technological highlights include variable camshaft adjustment on both intake and exhaust sides, a variable intake module and intake ports with tumble flaps, all of which help to enhance power and torque yield while improving fuel consumption. The C 350 can sprint to 62 mph in just 6.5 seconds, yet manages 28.5 mpg combined, for example.

Key data for the petrol engines at a glance:

Meanwhile, the 2.2-litre diesel engines of the C 200 CDI and C 220 CDI have been subjected to a thorough overhaul and now incorporate more than 90 new components, including most importantly third generation piezo-injectors and a new turbocharger and intercooler. The C200 CDI also gets a balancer shaft for the first time to give it the refinement levels of a six-cylinder engine.

Power output from the C 200 CDI rises from 122 to 136 hp and fuel consumption gets a boost from 41.5 to 47.1 mpg combined. Improvements to the C 220 CDI are even more striking: power output increased by 20 hp to 170 hp, peak torque now 400 Nm (was 340 Nm) and combined consumption improved by 5.4 mpg to an efficient 46.3 mpg.

The C 320 CDI’s 224 hp 3.0-litre V6 remains unchanged; with peak torque of 510 Nm available between 1600 and 2800 rpm it remains one of the most powerful engines in its class.

Key data for the CDI models at a glance:

C-Class Estate engines with the exception of the C 280, C 350 and C 320 CDI are coupled to a six-speed manual transmission with Hill Start Assist making manual hill starts extremely easy; the car is held on the brkaes for a second, to enable a smooth drive-off characteristic. The larger capacity engines are equipped with the 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic transmission.

The new C-Class Estate is available to order now, with deliveries starting on 1st  March 2008.