Photo: SB-Medien
There used to be a time when buying a Mercedes convertible limited you to the CLK or a large and expensive SL-Class Roadster. Not any more though, as Mercedes has convertibles on the brain. They're even working on a really big one that's part of the S-Class family, but unless you're super-wealthy, we believe the C-Class Cabrio is all you need to thing about.
These are the latest photos of the first-ever C-Class with a folding roof, taken as various prototypes were exiting a Mercedes research facility. The model is based on the same platform as the W205 sedan, wagon and soon-to-launch coupe. Besides having lots of siblings, this gives it access to every type of powertrain imaginable, from small diesels to hybrids and even a new AMG V8.
Our photographers arrived just in time to see the engineers loading a number of different C-Class Cabrio prototypes on a transporter truck. We believe this indicates at least three powertrains are being developed and will be available together at launch.
One of the most interesting is a 3-liter V6 with twin turbos developed for the C 400 Cabrio. With 333 hp on offer, this will make this more than a match for the F33 BMW 435i and maybe even the Audi S5. Two 2-liter turbo engines will also pop into the range, one producing 211 PS for the C 250 and another making 256 hp in the C 300. These compete directly with BMW's 420i and 428i models.
As for diesel engines, there should be at least two of them, the 170 hp version of the 2.2-liter in the C220 and the 204 hp version of that in the C250 BlueTEC. A hybrid model is also possible, as is the yet untested C 63 AMG convertible to battle the M4 and RS5 equivalents. The crazy convertible will pack AMG's new 4-liter twin-turbo V8 and could be the hottest model in its class with up to 500 horsepower.
Our photographers arrived just in time to see the engineers loading a number of different C-Class Cabrio prototypes on a transporter truck. We believe this indicates at least three powertrains are being developed and will be available together at launch.
One of the most interesting is a 3-liter V6 with twin turbos developed for the C 400 Cabrio. With 333 hp on offer, this will make this more than a match for the F33 BMW 435i and maybe even the Audi S5. Two 2-liter turbo engines will also pop into the range, one producing 211 PS for the C 250 and another making 256 hp in the C 300. These compete directly with BMW's 420i and 428i models.
As for diesel engines, there should be at least two of them, the 170 hp version of the 2.2-liter in the C220 and the 204 hp version of that in the C250 BlueTEC. A hybrid model is also possible, as is the yet untested C 63 AMG convertible to battle the M4 and RS5 equivalents. The crazy convertible will pack AMG's new 4-liter twin-turbo V8 and could be the hottest model in its class with up to 500 horsepower.
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