You’ll notice if you take a good glance atthe new C Class CDI Blue EfficiencySport, it now has a rather aggressivelook to the front styling. Don’t bealarmed folks. Mercedes-Benz haven’tgone ‘modifying mad,’ it’s solely duedown to some AMG refinements they’veadded to increase its level of appeal to aslightly younger crowd. Adding anyAMG adjustments or body kits to any ofthe Mercedes-Benz range can, in mymind, be no bad thing.Mercedes-Benz have indeed on this

occasion taken out the sharpening toolsand honed up its profile and I have tosay the slight look of menace it nowoffers may appeal to the sportier of youout there. However, don’t panic becauseif you prefer something more traditional,steadfast and warming, then the SE andElegance models still prevail.The exterior styling has evolved just a

tad with this new sportier version andthe front now stares out at you with thefamous three-pointed star so evocativeof the marque. It really does look thepart. Overall it’s a more pleasing gazethat holds your attention.The interior is all about functionality

and slickness. The driving position issuperb and all the dials are clear and inthe right position. By that I mean youcan actually see all of them when you’redriving... which helps. There’s plenty ofhead and legroom in the front. In fact,they’ve upped all the available room,even in the back. So, enough room fortransporting five reasonably-sized adults.Cruising on motorways is as smooth

and silky as you would expect, providingan effortless way of getting from A tothe other side of B in a comfortingblink. This is a car that you can gotravelling in. It’ll easily gobble up themiles on a long-distance driving holidayand is equally at home gliding around theleafy back lanes of the Cotswolds.Under the new stylish package this

C Class turbodiesel retains its frontengine rear wheel drive layout producing170 bhp, with 0-62 reached in a fairlyrespectable 8.5 seconds. And it returnsan impressive 46.3 mpg which is superbfor a car of this solidity.This Sport version comes with an

Advanced Agility package which, at thetouch of a button sharpens the dampingcontrol, tightens the steering feel and

increases throttle response. It does in areal sense make cornering a bit more funas you’ll be able to go deeper andquicker whilst still enjoying a certainsense of security. Some of the newadd-ons include lowered suspension forthat meaner look. This new Sportversion does really offer the best of bothworlds... nicely serene in normal mode,with the dampers robbing the bumps oftheir worst efforts... or let loose thenuclear bomb and have some fun.This new C Class 220 CDI sport diesel

will undoubtedly please the existingMercedes-Benz customers, together withattracting a whole new host of admirers.So if you want to be sporty but not

too flashy, then this new Mercedes-BenzC Class 220 CDI Sport is for you. Andat just under £31K for the automaticversion it’s a brilliant price for a wholelot of car.

SEPTEMBER 2010 COTSWOLD STYLE � 121

motoring

Eric Barton test drives the new Mercedes - Benz C Class 220 CDI Sport.

CS

For more details go towww.mercedes-benzofgloucester.co.ukTel: 01452 854700.

sporty with abit of front

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