Test drive Mercedes Benz C-class W204 since 2007 sedan

On the planet t

In Stuttgart, another star of the new C-class station wagon rose. To explore the object flew by Maxim Sachkov. Photo by the author and Mercedes-Benz.
 
Indeed, I feel like a pioneer. After all, I have to travel by car at the same time as her presentation at the Frankfurt salon. So, forward through thorns to the stars.
Secrets of the new planet
As often happens, the sedan and the station wagon were developed at the same time. But a car with a three -bob body is absolutely justified by the first to give a green street (ZR, 2007, No. 5). The model T (as the company calls cargo -passenger versions) was not at all shaking, rather, on the contrary, they waited until the passions on the sedan subsided and the audience will be ready for another novelty.
Designers, led by Peter Pfeiffer, who is considered the founder of the appearance of new star cars, drawn several elegant side lines that laid the outlines of the station wagon. Of course, they looked back at their predecessors, weaving family features weaving into new forms. Simultaneously with the appearance, the filling was also updated. Say, the back wall was made closer to the vertical than the wagon of the past generation, which was added to the luggage compartment of 146 liters (in the option with laid out seats). The developers say that the new T-model with a 1500-liter cargo compartment (including niches under the floor) is a leader among expensive classmates-universals.
When I was going to arrange the luggage compartment, the designers were curious that they would be transported in the station wagon C-class. It turned out that everything was loaded: from children's strollers to household appliances, from suitcases to packaging boxes. Hundreds of objects were transferred to the computer in order to put in the virtual space in the trunk and understand where narrow (in the literal sense!) Place.
Speaking about safety, first of all, the body is usually mentioned by carefully calculated crushed zones, belts with pretense and limiters of efforts, pillows (there are already seven of a couple of frontal, lateral curtains and another that protects the driver in the basic configuration of the universal), but often forget about cargo in the trunk. And in the accident, he can cause even more harm than the car torpedoing you. For example, when impact on an incheduated obstacle at a speed of 50 km/h, any motionless object receives an acceleration of about 30G. That is, a 20-kilogram bag is heavier to about 600 kg! Therefore, fastening points and back locks, material and brackets of the shelf covering the trunk were subjected to separate Crash tests. In order for the back to withstand heavy loads, its halves are connected by a removable holder, and with a decomposed rear seat, a strong mesh separates the cargo compartment.
The tail is behind you
On the territory of a small airfield, at a distance from the pavilion, where the presentation was held, I noticed a station wagon with a attached house on wheels. I wonder what the organizers want to demonstrate? Maybe one more superiority over competitors, because the new T-model is ready to drag up to 1800 kg. Or trailer a device that floats out from under the body if you turn the toggle switch in the trunk? When ordering a station wagon with such a rubber, the ESP system is taught another important operation to stabilize the trajectory of the tractor with the trailer. The work of this electronic assistant was shown to us.
The instructor accelerates the car to 90100 km/h and smoothly shakes the steering wheel, imitating the detour of obstacles. The trailer begins to wag and pull the station wagon. Here, the stabilization system wakes up, first brakes one, then the other front wheel, eliminating dangerous fluctuations. The instructor explains that at higher speeds, ESP first tries to repay extra kilometers per hour, using the brakes and removing excess traction, and then grabs jewelry pulled wheels. Of course, the possibilities of the device are not limitless if the driver goes too fast, it will warn that he is not able to control the trailer.
Finally! I take a place behind the wheel. The first attempt was unsuccessful to successfully turned the steering wheel. The trailer wept slightly and immediately returned to the trajectory, and therefore ESP did not respond to its lunge. But the second time I did not miss the road train was curled with a heavy tail. There was a chatter from under the front wheels, and after a second a house on wheels and the car again drove directly did not even have to twist the steering wheel.
Let's switch to TE
The station wagon will be released in the same trim levels as the sedan, classic, eleganes and avant -garde. The last, most expensive performance is easy to distinguish by a large star on a radiator grille. It was the avant -garde that I got to meet.
Still, it is unusual, sitting behind the wheel of a Mercedes, not to see a three-beam sight in front of you. But even closing the emblem on the steering wheel, it is easy to guess the brand. Take at least a massive steering wheel switch, which alone controls both light and wipers. Immediately smaller lever, the head of the cruise control at first you mistakenly pull it in order to warn others about the turn. True, I still did not find other miscalculations in ergonomics.
You are even more convinced of this, making your way through the city streets. The smart 7-speed automatic is barely noticeable, the voice of a 3.5-liter motor is not heard, the revolutions of which do not rise above 2500. The suspension gently swallows unevenness, the climatic installation is inaudible (compared to its predecessor, its power has grown by about 10% compared to 10% , the noise was reduced by 3 dB). What else to dream of the owner of a family car?
Why certainly family? Marketers have hopes for wealthy and independent people of 30 40 years. A prestigious, comfortable and at the same time a roomy car, for example, is needed to load sports equipment or tourist accessories. Such customers often prefer an active driving style ...
Hand on the heart: in the role of family, this car looks more convincing. At 90 km/h the silence of the salon is violated by aerodynamic noises: most likely, they are published by large mirrors. In corners, the car is noticeably rolling, and too light the steering wheel does not allow you to accurately set the trajectory. Although on the turn, the station wagon behaves stably, and even if you overweight a little at speed, the electronics clearly and delicately return to the right road. The engine is quite possible to take it quickly, but ... the car seems to resist a kind, slightly aggressive style.
For two hundred kilometers passed, I almost akin to Mercedes. U a new station wagon with a star with all his strict, business appearance and interior is very flexible, homely. And you always miss the house, especially if it is far away.
Light to health
The new model T offers many transformation options for cargo transportation. With any layout, the 2007 car is more spacious than its predecessor. By the way, to turn the car into a double with a large cargo compartment, even a child, with one movement of the back, is laid almost flush with the trunk floor. In addition to excellent capacity, the station wagon has a considerable carrying capacity of up to 605 kg. By the way, if you are going to carry a lot, order a pneumatic suspension behind: it supports a constant road clearance regardless of loading.
 

 

Source: The magazine "Driving"