Mercedes-Benz C180 News

Tesla has issued a voluntary recall for its electric Model S sedan and Model X SUV after discovering a potential manufacturing issue that could stop the electric park brake from functioning properly.

The Toyota HiLux has claimed the number one spot for October ahead of its arch rival, the Ford Ranger.

Mercedes has given the coming C-Class a boost to a more upmarket level, drawing on styling and features from its flagship S-Class. The new C gets technology and cabin treatment that raise the bar against key rivals like the Audi A4 and the BMW 3 Series and 4 Series.Watch the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class video on our desktop site. 

There are exciting new releases planned across the board; from budget hatches to practical SUVs, to exotic supercars. We’ve broken them down into segments and likely price categories to help you. We've based our price estimations on the current market, but some estimations could change in the future, and some model ranges span across price categories, so be sure to check our other stories...New cars for 2014 | less than $20,000New cars for 2014 | $20,000-$40,000New cars for 2014 | $40,000-$59,000New cars for 2014 | over $100,000 LIGHT CARSBMW i3: BMW will bring the high tech i3 city car down under from September, with the pure-electric i3 BEV expected to start at about $60,000, and a range-extended i3 REX version with a 647cc petrol generator further up the price scale. (Approximately $60,000)SMALL CARSAudi A3 sedan: Audi will add a sedan version of its A3 small car to the existing Sportback hatch lineup from January, with the hot S3 version to follow in April, and the drop-top A3 Cabriolet (from about $57k) to complete the lineup in about September. (Approximately $65,000)BMW 2 Series: The discontinued 1 Series coupe will be replaced by the new 2 Series coupe in around May, and will likely mirror the petrol and diesel drivetrains of the existing 1 Series hatch. A soft-top convertible is also in the works, but its launch date is still up in the air. (Approximately $45,000-$85,000)FAMILY CARSInfiniti Q50: Infiniti models are set to become a more common sight on Australian roads before June, with the Mercedes C-Class and BMW 3 Series-rivalling Q50’s arrival, boasting fresh styling, rear-wheel drive, and a choice of diesel or hybrid drivetrains. (Approximately $51,900-$73,900)Mercedes-Benz C-Class: Mercedes' new C-Class sedan and wagon are due around mid-year, with a range of new engines and an 80mm wheelbase stretch to help combat the also enlarged BMW 3 Series and Lexus IS rivals. Drivetrain availability from launch will include the 115kW/250Nm 1.6-litre C180 and 135kW/300Nm 2.0-litre C200 petrols, and the 125kW/400Nm 2.1-litre turbodiesel C220. A smaller diesel, diesel-electric hybrid and more powerful petrol engines will come later. (Approximately from $60,000)Tesla Model S: The long-awaited Tesla Model S pure-electric passenger car is due to arrive locally in the second quarter, with the five door hatch balancing style, performance, and all-electric tech in equal measures. (Approximately $80,000)Volvo S60 and V60: Volvo will introduce the first of its new Drive-E engines to the S60 sedan and V60 wagon range in March, with power and efficiency gains promised, along with a new eight-speed auto. (Approximately $49,000-$78,000)LUXURY CARSLexus RC: Lexus’ new RC coupe should arrive before the end of 2014 to take on the BMW 4 Series and Audi A5, with a choice of petrol V6 and hybrid drivetrains likely to expand to include a high-performance 5.0-litre V8 RC-F soon after. (Approximately $70,000-$130,000)SUV/4WDAudi RS Q3: The company’s first RS-badged SUV will arrive in February, with the RS Q3 borrowing its 228kW/420Nm five-cylinder heart from the TTRS, and promising 0-100km/h in 5.5 seconds. (Approximately $81,900)BMW X1: The baby bimmer SUV is also in line for a refreshing in March, with styling and interior tweaks expected. (Approximately 46,000-63,000)BMW X5 sDrive 25d: BMW will add the first two-wheel drive X5 to the new 2014 lineup early in the year, with a price-leading $82,900 2.0-litre turbodiesel sDrive 25d undercutting the existing all-wheel drive xDrive 25d by $5000. (Approximately $82,900)Ford Territory: The Territory SUV will score SYNC-inclusive revisions by the end of the year, ahead of its 2016 fate. (Approximately $40,000-$63,000)Land Rover Range Rover Evoque: The stylish Range Rover Evoque is due for an update before June, with a new nine-speed auto delivering fuel economy gains of about 10 per cent, plus styling tweaks to bring it in line with the new full-size Range Rover and Sport models. (Approximately $50,000-$91,000)Porsche Macan: Porsche will add the new sub-Cayenne Macan SUV to its Australian lineup from June, with the cheapest diesel model forming a new entry point to Porsche ownership at $84,900. Twin-turbo 3.0 and 3.6-litre V6s will sit further up the price scale, with the 294kW top-spec capable of 0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds. (Approximately $84,900-$122,900)Volvo XC60: Volvo’s new Drive-E engines will also appear in the XC60 SUV in March, with power and efficiency gains promised, along with a new eight-speed auto. (Approximately $57,000-79,000)SPORTS/PERFORMANCEAlfa Romeo 4C: Alfa will bring a limited number of its limited-build 4C sports car to Australia in around June, with the mid-engined, carbon-chassised performance hero expected to lob for as little as $75,000.Peugeot RCZ-R: Building on the brand’s reignited performance cred thanks to the excellent 208 GTi, the French brand will also add the hot RCZ-R to the lineup in the second quarter, with a highly tuned 199kW version of the existing petrol version’s 1.6-litre turbo. (Approximately $70,000)CONVERTIBLESBMW 4 Series convertible: The folding hardtop version of BMW’s 4-Series coupe is expected by March, and echo its hardtop sibling with 420d, 428i, and 435i drivetrains. (Approximately $85,000-$120,000)  

Mercedes has given the coming C-Class a boost to a more upmarket level, drawing on styling and features from its flagship S-Class. The new C gets technology and cabin treatment that raise the bar against key rivals like the Audi A4 and the BMW 3 Series and 4 Series.Arriving in the second half of next year, the C-Class is aimed at trying to draw younger buyers than its traditional fan base, so has been given fresher styling and more up-to-date infotainment, including hand-stitched leather upholstery, 7-in touchscreen that can be optioned up to 8.3-in with scrawlable touchpad control, high-end Burmester audio, heads-up display option, and internet connectivity and apps.The initial engine line-up kicks off with the entry level C180's turbo 115kW/250Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol, promising 0-100km/h in 8.2 seconds fuel economy of 5.0L/100km. The C200 carries a 135kW/300Nm turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol with official 0-100km/h of 7.5 seconds and 5.3L/100km economy.The C220 Bluetec is powered by a 125kW/400Nm 2.1-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel with an urea injection system to reduce emissions to the tighter coming EU6 standards, and claims a 0-100km time of 8.1 seconds  and 4.0L/100km economy.Transmission choices for the launch models are a six-speed manual and seven-speed auto, with all models getting stop-start and brake energy recovery systems to improve economy. The first roll-out will be rear-wheel drive, but an optional all-wheel drive is on the plan for later in 2014, along with more engines -- including a petrol-electric hybrid and a new handbuilt twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 for the AMG version.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

Mercedes-Benz is expected to officially reveal a full set of images for the new C-Class later today, but have been beaten to the punch by the photos leaking online, courtesy of Czech site Autoforum.Following on from the official interior images we've seen previously and a subsequent set of shots that showed the car in its entirety and in an AMG Sport version, the leaked photos show the influence and styling cues adapted from the Mercedes flagship S-Class. This will move the C further upmarket and better arm it against the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series and 4 Series when it arrives in Australia in the second half of 2014.It will also get an uprated features list, including a heads-up display, a 7-inch infotainment screen that can be optioned up to 21.3cm, with a new 6.5x4.5cm touchpad control, GPS-linked airconditioning, optional four-mode air suspension, vehicle surround monitoring systems and more advanced active braking systems.Mercedes says the new C-Class will be up to 100kg lighter than the current model -- largely through extensive use of aluminium body panels. While engine details haven't been confirmed, expect to see choices include an entry-level turbocharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder, petrol V6 and turbodiesels -- with a petrol-electric hybrid on the cards for some markets -- and a new handbuilt twin-turbo 4.0-lire V8 for the AMG variant.This repoter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

A new Mercedes-Benz C-Class is on the way, and tipped to get a global debut at the Detroit motor show in January -- although some think it might be unveiled even earlier, at next month's LA show.The German carmaker has already started the drip feed of teases, and -- while the Mercedes S-Class CoupeThat all suggests what we're seeing is their mainstay model in sedan version, which will be followed in short order by a coupe, wagon, sporty liftback coupe and convertible, plus a high-performance AMG variant.The accompany statement talks about "an interior with high-class ambience, a new touchpad control surface and a lightweight bodyshell" but gives no further information. However the C-Class is reported to built on a shortened version of the new MRA rear-wheel drive platform underpinning the S-Class flagship, with an all-wheel drive version in the mix.It will also be the first C-Class to offer air suspension for high spec models and a hybrid on the drivetrain list along with 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre petrol engines and 2.0-litre and 2.2-litre diesels.Following its debut, the C-Class will hit overseas showrooms about mid-2014 as a 2015 model, and arrive here before the end of next year, although local launch dates and specification have not yet been confirmed.

It's still wrapped in camouflage, and based on the current C-Class body, but packs the 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 already fitted to a range of AMG models including the SL63.This reporter is on Twitter: @paulwardgover  

Looking like a shrunken version of the all-new S-Class coming this year, it's still wrapped in camouflage during development testing in Scandinavia.

Hornsby’s fledgling Mercedes dealership has won the car maker's metropolitan dealership of the year award for the past two years.Greg Stewart, the dealership's principal, who has worked on Hornsby's north shore Auto Alley on the Pacific Highway for more than 20 years, credited local customers with his business's success.“We're a good community here Hornsby's a really nice place to sell cars,” he said. “There's a great bunch of people on the upper north shore.”The national award is based on a sales target and customer service feedback. “We have worked very hard on looking after our customers,” Mr Stewart said.The dealership has been in its present location for two-and-a-half years and the C-Class is the locals' favourite Merc.