Conceived specifically for the Chinese market, the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class Long appropriately made its world at the Beijing Auto Show and will soon go on sale in the Middle Kingdom to fight the LWB versions of the Audi A4 and BMW 3-Series.

Stuttgart’s designers seem to have done a good job hiding the car’s 80mm (3.15 inches) longer wheelbase (2,920mm or 115 inches) that extends the new C-Class’ overall length to 4,766 mm (187.7 inches), with all additional space benefitting passengers siting in the rear.

Mercedes says that since the C-Class Long will be used “largely as a chauffeured limousine,” the front seat can be adjusted electrically from the rear passenger area.

The China market-only C-Class Long will be offered with a number of engines ranging in output from 154hp (156PS) to 362hp (367PS) and in two trim grades, ‘Sedan’ and ‘Sport Sedan’, with the former bearing the classic grille with the Mercedes star on the hood and the latter featuring a grille with the central star and an AMG aerodynamic styling package.

By John Halas

PHOTO GALLERY

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