Photo Gallery: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C350

Calabogie Ontario - Calabogie Motorsport Park is the first new motorsport race-track facility to be built in Canada in more than 25 years, according to its owners. The facility opened in September, 2006 making this year the first full year of operation. Situated only one hour northwest of Ottawa, the circuit features 5.05 kilometres of track and two large paved paddock areas. Mercedes-Benz invited approximately 30 journalists to this wonderful facility to get a taste of their all new for 2008 C350 sport sedan (starting at $47,900).

With the rising popularity of performance sedans, and particularly sport sedans with large power, Mercedes has decided to enter the game, to battle it out with the likes of the BMW 335i, Lexus IS 350 and the Infiniti G37. The Calabogie Motorsport Park facility provided us with the venue to push the C350 to its limits in a safe and controlled environment, and thus get a full understanding the engineering involved in this all new vehicle.

Unlike its competitors, Mercedes-Benz has chosen not to throw the largest, most powerful engine they could into their sports sedan. Instead, a 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 268 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque powers the C350, and it's mated to Mercedes' "7G-Tronic" seven- speed automatic transmission. In standard trim the rear wheels are driven while the optional fourth generation 4MATIC all-wheel drive system is available for an extra $2,200.

2008 Mercedes-Benz C350. Click image to enlarge

Transport Canada rates the C350 with a combined average fuel consumption of 10.3 L/100 km (12.2/8.0 city/highway) for the rear wheel drive version, and I observed 10.5 during my day with the vehicle (all-wheel drive ratings were not yet available).

With the C350's competitors all boasting over 300 ponies, perhaps Mercedes was a little too conservative for this segment. With a bold new look and a target to grab the attention of the younger demographic, Mercedes could have come to the table with something that really made a statement. However, we were reassured that the new C63 AMG model built on the same chassis will be "crazy" - if you are into that sort of thing.

What Mercedes did do well with the new C350 is provide a well-balanced set of features at a reasonable price point. Starting at $47,900 the C350 comes standard with 10-way power adjustable seats, three-zone climate control, LOGIC 7 surround sound with CD-changer and Sirius satellite radio, bi-xenon headlamps with washers, adaptive brakes and six airbags.

2008 Mercedes-Benz C350. Click image to enlarge

As with the C300 base model, the C350 is available with the optional sport package at no-charge. On the C350, this package equips the vehicle with 17-inch AMG wheels (18-inch wheels are available for $1,500), a rear spoiler, active suspension, AMG styled body-kit, upgraded brakes, aluminum pedals and a three-spoke sport steering wheel. A few other very notable options are the panoramic roof for $1,200 and the COMAND navigation package for $2,500.

The optional navigation system is one of the best I have ever used. With a screen that is incredibly bright and vibrant in any light, it offers an easy-to-use interface that uses an electronic controller on the console.

2008 Mercedes-Benz C350. Click image to enlarge

This system works like a computer mouse to provide easy, quick operation of many functions that used to require scores of separate buttons and switches. This system will also allow you to play DVD movies when the vehicle is in park with full 5.1 surround sound support and uses a PCMCIA slot for compatibility with various memory cards for MP3 music playback.

The new C350 is packed with technology that may not be obvious at first glance. The use of stronger and lighter steel and alloys has allowed Mercedes to grow the vehicle without increasing the weight. With a body that's 99 mm (3.9 inches) longer and 43 mm (1.7 inches) wider than the previous model, the new C-Class boasts a noticeably roomier cabin in both the front and rear seating areas, and an increased wheelbase of 46 mm (1.8 inches). The new car has more luggage room too with a trunk capacity of 475 litres (16.8 cubic feet) - four percent more than the outgoing model.

The taillights on the new C-Class are vented: this allows the air to circle back through the lights to create downforce acting like a rear spoiler. The C-Class boasts best in class aerodynamics with a drag coefficient of .29g.

2008 Mercedes-Benz C350. Click image to enlarge

As modern all-wheel-drive systems become even more refined, they are becoming increasingly popular, especially in the luxury car market. With negligible weight and fuel-efficiency trade-offs, full-time four-wheel-drive systems provide year-round traction and stability benefits on both wet and dry roads. The extra gears and shafts that drive the front wheels of the 4MATIC system, now weigh only 66 kilograms (145 pounds) more than the rear-wheel-drive model. As a result, fuel efficiency is negligibly affected with the new 4MATIC system - power is split 45/55 (front/rear).

On the road the C350 is quiet, quick and comfortable. Even equipped with 40-series tires in the front and 35-series tires in the rear, the active suspension soaks up road imperfections seamlessly. The chassis is incredibly stiff with very little to no harshness being transferred to the driver. The steering is very direct and turn-in response is excellent, although the steering is a little on the light side for my tastes. Although not laden with power the 3.5-litre engine does get you moving fairly quickly, the 7G-Tronic transmission provides quick and smooth shifts and the ability for the driver to shift through the gears themselves - but unfortunately, no paddles are available on the wheel and the transmission will up-shift when redline is achieved.

2008 Mercedes-Benz C350. Click image to enlarge

In terms of engaging driving feel and capabilities, the Mercedes C350 is right in the middle of the pack. Going from memory it feels as though the Lexus IS 350 is without a doubt faster but the C350 is more nimble and agile, while the BMW 335i has the edge in all categories with an obscene amount of power and excellent driving dynamics.

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