New 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Introduced

Mercedes didn’t wait for a car show to introduce its all-new C-Class to the world. Nope, it used this new technology called the Internet to allow journalists all over the world to get the first glimpse of the company’s bread and butter model. 

Besides an entirely new body and interior we just have to point out that the C-Class now has two different grilles to represent two all-new models. Yep, you can go with the new “Big Honking Mercedes Emblem” grille of the Sports sedan, or the “Rolls-Royce Wannabe” grille of the Luxury sedan shown here. We prefer the less-subtle but cooler “Big-Honking” edition and will post photos of it as soon as they become available.

Oh, you wanted to hear about engines and transmissions and all that stuff? OK. The new C-Class comes in varieties for the world, but the U.S. will most likely retain the C230, C280 and C350 models. There’s no word on what engines they’ll have…yet. Again, we’ll keep you posted.

Overall, the new C-Class looks a lot more stylish than before and uses pronounced fender flares up front, like the new S- and CL-Class, but it certainly isn’t over-the-top and probably won’t garner head-turning of any kind, like the CLS. 

The interior looks extremely refined and adds more legroom, hip room and shoulder room compared to its predecessor.

Updated: More on the New Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Pricing and availability information will come later. For now, keep reading for more photos.

Comments

An open letter to Mercedes-Benz:

If your marketing department is seeking an inital-reaction opinion, here's mine: "No. No. Nooooo. God, no."

I thought we had all decided that Chris Bangle's acid-slasher creases-and-highlights vandalism over at BMW was a bad thing; why is everyone cloning it as fast as possible? Why must every high-line automobile be a rolling modern art experiment?

Having lived through a number of fashion cycles here in NYC, I've concluded that "stylish" is often anything but attractive. That's doubly true here.

Progress may be inevitable, but I am REALLY going to miss the current C-class.

Styling is subjective......but I agree with the previous post. This is very conservative. Almost like an S-class light. The current C-class looks much better.....

I like the profile, but I HATE the wheels. I thought mercedes was heading in the direction of a smoother body, like the CLS but this edgy choppy look only works for cadillac, not MB. That isn't the best looking grill but you have to admit it matches the lines in a way. That last interior picture of the dash kinda reminded me of the inside of a cobalt, maybe it was the AC vent that reminded me of that...anyone else see it?

I think the person who designed the new Sebring also had a hand in the C class. That hand should be chopped off. The wheels are just plain bad but they did a great job on the rear of the car.
I've owned two C class (240 & 280) and wouldn't wish them on my worst enemy. The cars are solid, just don't expect the dealer to fix the strange electrical problems that you'll incure over the years. The worst was when my trans leaked with just 2,000 miles on the 280. The dealer said this stuff happens. I've been a Lexus buyer ever since. My last one I drove to 164k without 1 single problem. If MB gets their reliability in-line with Lexus maybe I'll consider them again.

lmao lopez. you've gotta get this American car crap outta your head. It's getting old. So ur saying M-B stole it's interior from the COBALT!?

dee dee dee.

And this Benz far out does ANY Cadillac cus that design does NOT work for them. It seriously looks like it was forgotten at the sanding stage. This Benz is overall pretty damn sleek and sensual. The only thing I don't quite "love" is the grille. But that's only cause of my love for BMW and their twin kidneys =] but still this car will sell well all over the world and make plenty of people with deep pockets happy.

alright tom quit being a jerk, we all know you're just after me.

But if you insist, would you please READ what I wrote. The interior REMINDED me of a cobalt, not copied. Had nothing to do with anything "american"

So you don't like cadillac, great! thanks for sharing!

Say what ever you like about Cadillac, but if you park this thing next to a 2008 CTS it looks like a 10 year old car.

The new c class is surely an acquired taste, it's a combo of the new s class and a 3 series. i'm not a big fan of the car right now but maybe if I see it on the road i'll change my mind.

Lopez, I;m not out to get anyone. It seems as though you're the one attacking the foreign cars, never once have anything worthwhile to say.

I understand this whole "American Power" craze. I know too many people that do. I admitted the CTS interior was nice. I "loved" (notice the past tense) the original Equinox design. I'm not anti-anything by any means. But I still don't see how you can compare a Cadillac and a Benz. Two completely different kind of people buy the two different cars. The thing about this Benz is that the people who own M-B's will come back for this one. And more people, most likely people who already own a german brand like VW or Audi will go check this car out. This car is stunning. Except for that non-sport grille as i said. But this car is still a step up from the previous C-Class. In my eyes at least. I'm really not out to get you. But I've also noticed you don't tend to comment on American car blogs. Just bashing foreign ones. But i could just not notice because I'm never really thrilled with american conservative design.

BTW, I see high-quality materials in the Benz interior, def not a Cobalt mimic.

my favorite car is Mercedes C class. I have 1995 C-180. ın my opinion the w204 is absolutely wonderfull. I congratulate people who designed it.

any one noticed that the new s class is very simmilar to the 7 series bmw?

take a look at this c and the new 3 series bmw what do you notice?

I drive a 2003 C240, and I'm so happy to see that Mercedes addressed the cheap-looking interior. Other than that, I've really enjoyed my C-Class, and look forward to buying an '08!

After studying the 2008 c class , as a buyer of m.b. & coming from an area where everyone drives mercedes ,bmw etc,Im slightly impressed ,however they could have made the car look a little sleeker ,maybe with a touch of cls ,combined with the s.IT JUST DOES NOT CUT IT.Looks `like a 3 seies which is ok not great ,the rear is nice ,the front boxy,& with all that lexus competition ,im not sure if the interior is luxurious enough.Bottom line,professional designers should help these guys at m.b.& dont cut corners on luxury if they want the buyer to remain with mercedes.On a scale of 1-10 I give it a 6 ,still better than average ,by just a little.

WOW!!! Nice Chrysler Sebring. Google the Sebring...you'll see awful truth.

It's about time they change it up, it's been practically the same since circa 1980!

2006 C Class is a better looking car. NO not just because I have one it's just the new MB it to choppy, edgy and the wheels suck. It took MB a few years to get the 5 spoke wheels on the new/old body style right, I bet it takes then 3 more years to get this right. PS: I am selling my 2006 ASAP before the freekin bottom drops out before it is $10K back of book instead of the $5K it is now!

To the guy who mentioned the likeness of the S Class and the & series and then the C class and the 3 series. Well that would probably be because they are RIVAL models. They are in competition hence the similarity. You do not rival a sports coupe with a 4x4 Hummer that wouldn't make much sense now would it buddy?

I drove the sport version of the new 2008 C Class. In my opinion, it is a fantastic machine. Admitedly, the 2006 C Class is sleek. However, the 2008 has many good attributes also. Mercedes builds wonderful cars. Other car makers are doing well too. I do not engage in comparison. However, I forgot about every other make the day I drove a Mercedes. That was long ago, and I have driven Mercedes since.

Someone here is very smart! A Sebring clone on a Calibre platform. BMW is rolling on the floor with laughter!
Nice try MB. Did you really think those in the know would be fooled?

I just purchased the new C350 on 9-15-07 for my wife. She previoulsy drove a 2005 Chevy Tahoe which she and I loved. Both of my boys are now driving their own vehicles so my wife had began to look for something a little smaller now. We actually went to look at the ML350 SUV. Once we saw the new C350, we fell hard. We test drove it and we both fell in love immediately. I purchased it and drove it home this same day. This is our first mercedes, but I will honestly say, mercedes is the only vehicle I will ever own again! This car is smooth and handles so well. The take off has some real power. This car really goes. We absolutley love every feature on this car. We got the C class with the rear spoiler because I thought it had a more sporty look. It still has that classy, sleek look as well. Oh and we love the new grille. I am so HAPPY that mercedes finally took that standing emblem off the hood and put the huge circle emblem right in the middle of the grille. WELL DONE AND ABOUT TIME! You can for sure tell now who is driving an older one. I have one son left at home and he is 6 foot 2 and 205 pounds and he was very comfortable in every seat of the car. For anyone thinking of purchasing this new '08 C350 - GO FOR IT! You will not regret it.

I love c class.I have owned two of the very first shape.I love the second shape when it coame out but this one is the most unique (the only one of it kind).It's top of the range .Either you love it or hate it fellars.
The car is great.Hoping some one can offer me one for free.

Well I'm sorry for your poor judgement. You could have saved a ton of money and be driving the same car(Chrysler Sebring). Obviously you did not test drive the BMW 5 series.
There is a whole world of difference if you are concerned with overall reliability and performance. The C class can't light a candle to the BMW. Mercedes is one of the worst cars on the market when it comes to reliability issues. I hope you have plenty of time to sit around at your MB svc. center and deep pockets to maintain your BMW wannabe.

Oh and buy the way, my condolences.
Remember MB is no longer an independent company as is BMW and they don't offer free maint. for the first 4 yrs. or 50,000 mi. Gee I wonder why. MB does not give a hoot about there customers. Trust me! Former engineer colleagues of mine can vouch for that. You also would have been better off with another C clone/Sebring - The new Honda Accord.
This is a much better car than your unfortunate pseudo-Benz C/Sebring.
BMW answers to no one except BMW!
Your resale value is nowhere near the BMW so I hope your new "car" won't go the usual route of becoming a worthless ride in 5 or 6 years. You will never recover it's value if you trade it in. I'm afraid that you have made a terrible mistake buying and financing this "automobile". I hope next time you do some much needed research before wasting your money.

I purchased a 2002 c240 from a dealer in Barrie.The car had only 48000 kms. I asked if it was a one onwer car and was told yes.When I returned home a started going through the manuals I was shocked to find there were two owner before. about five weeks later I had a problem with air flow going through the top and floor vents. I went two the mb dealer and he could not tell me if it was covered under the new mb warranty I just purchased with my car. Then to make things worse after finding and contacting the last owner I found out the rear wheel seals needed to be changed.To make this story short I traded the car for a nissan and lost eleven thousand on trade. On one wanted the car. Ps I also called mb consumer don't care about my vent problem and they would mot talk to me, said they were there only for dealers.I'll never buy an mb again

I'm looking at the MB site and have the Chrysler site open in another window.

I am happy to see they do not have the same engine displacements!

But the the lines of these two cars are very similiar...actually nearly identical.

I do not like the design so much for a mercedes, but to bad chrysler could not modify the serbrings roof line to that of the mercedes...it ruins the look of that car.

The interiors even have the same placement of gauges, I know these two broke ties...but are we sure they are not comming out of the same factory?

Overall..I say the C-class would have made a great chrysler model...but not a great mercedes.

The sebring has a 3.5L V6 with 235HP with a 6 speed. The MB has a 3.5L V6 with 268HP and a 7 speed.

They were married the two...good thing they got a divorce...they began to look like each others,not sure if MB customers would be happy to know that, Jaguar's were not happy to find out they were a Taurus.