If there was ever a gentlemen’s agreement between the three German luxury car makers, well, somehow they have stuck to it for decades. Mercedes-Benz is all about comfort, BMW stands for driving pleasure and Audi is somewhere in between with some high-tech thrown in. Sometimes, the lines get slightly blurred. Like now, for instance. The new C-Class is a better driver’s car without losing on the core Mercedes focus of comfort… and it is no less high-tech. Star, propeller badge, four rings, all rolled into one? Well, almost.
I am in the cockpit of the C 220 CDI and revelling in the sheer joy of driving an all-new Merc. Driving fresh stock from Stuttgart is a very special experience for someone like me who’s passionate about the Star. Funny qualification for a motoring journalist who’s supposed to be unbiased, but what to do? I am a big Mercedes-Benz buff. So There!
As I was saying, the lines are getting blurred, the ones on the road, I mean. I am driving over some of the finest stretches of highway tarmac – NH17, that goes from Mumbai to Goa and beyond – smooth, broad and very curvy. But to get to the empty sections of the road, you have to pass through congested areas. The C 220 CDI comes with a five-speed automatic transmission that makes quick work of such zones. Power gets transferred to the rear wheels without fuss and you are not left waiting for the turbo lag to get over with to make progress. Though the car is bigger than the one it replaces, it is small enough to thread your way easily between other cars, people and trucks. The steering wheel is good to hold and is effortless to manoeuvre in such situations. Do I see any heads turn? Well, some. More than the looks of the car, I think it has more to do with the Star’s appeal. Behind me was Rohin in the C 200 K and I noticed that he was having trouble keeping up with the diesel sibling. When I got behind the wheel later I knew why.
|
