Design Space and form
The design of the new C-Class Estate consistently takes the design idiom forward. It is a luxury class estate coupled with emotion and high tech without neglecting functionality.
The design of an estate poses a stylistic challenge. Despite its large, functional spacious interior the versatile companion for professional use, sport, hobby, holiday trip and shopping spree should ideally cut a fine figure wherever it is and also provide the observer with an exhilarating visual experience. The new C-Class Estate meets these apparently contradictory requirements. It offers visibly high functionality and comes across as sporty, dynamic, innovative and attractive from any angle. Its pronounced aesthetic qualities perfectly embody a contemporary lifestyle with palpable passion.
Thus the new C-Class Estate visibly combines two opposites, which determine the design of the Mercedes-Benz brand: intelligence and emotion. On the one hand, consistently designed and deliberately positively taut surfaces with clear lines come across as highly sculpted and generate progressive light and shade effects. On the other, reduced forms emphasise the intelligent technology and the high level of functionality. These emotional, puristic highlights equate with the groundbreaking Mercedes-Benz design style and demonstrate sensual purity.
Two new fronts to choose from
As on the sedan, the Estate’s front differs depending on the exterior equipment line:
- The standard equipment, AVANTGARDE equipment line and the AMG Line feature the sports grille with two louvres, which in conjunction with the bumper tailored to these appointments and the long bonnet emphasises power and dynamism.
- The luxury grille, which is reserved solely for the EXCLUSIVE line, stands for status, refinement and contemporary luxury. Its slightly taller radiator grille is framed by a three-dimensional chrome surround with three horizontal louvres and one vertical louvre. The commanding Mercedes star on the bonnet underscores the effortless superiority.
Clearly drawn headlamp contours round off the strong character of the trademark front. The LED daytime running lamps integrated into the headlamp reflect the Mercedes-Benz contemporary lighting design.
The new C-Class Estate, like its sedan stablemate, comes with H7 halogen headlamps as standard. Two energy-saving LED headlamp variants are optionally available: a static and a dynamic version with LED Intelligent Light System and Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus, which for the first time makes driving with permanent high-beam possible by masking other illuminated road users in the cone of light. A characteristic night design lends the vehicle its very own distinctive look in the dark, too.
Large air intakes in the front bumper underscore the sense of width and sportiness of the front end.
Sporty, powerful silhouette
A long roof line arches powerfully to the rear, terminating in a slim D-pillar which broadens upwards. The standard-fit roof rails are organically integrated into the design for the first time. The high, likewise taut beltline makes the side windows appear lower. Overall the vehicle’s silhouette comes across as sporty and powerful, yet at the same time sensuous.
Viewed from the side, the dropping line highlights the vehicle’s proportions as a hallmark Mercedes signature. In tandem with a counter-line rising in the lower part of the vehicle from the front wheel, it creates a formal sense of tension. The counter-line makes the vehicle appear longer, encompasses the rear and ultimately flows over the sides and into the bumper creating a sense of balance. The AVANTGARDE and EXCLUSIVE lines are upgraded with a trim strip galvanised in chrome above the door that tapers off towards the front.
As on the sedan, the distance from the front wheel arch to the door opening, which is a measure of comfort, is unusually large for this segment in the case of the Estate.
Athletic, functional rear
The rear comes across as contemporary, clear and straightforward, adding a harmonious finishing touch to the rear of the vehicle. The narrowing of the C- and slim D-pillars creates a powerful, athletic shoulder. The functional tailgate visually emphasises the vehicle’s width. A roof spoiler in the tailgate visually extends the roof, forming a spoiler lip that improves aerodynamics.
The tail lamps are two-piece for the first time in the new C-Class Estate and available with partial or full LED technology. The light intensity of the brake lamp varies between daytime and night-time within legally permissible limits.
Between the tail lamps a wide chrome trim strip continues the shoulders that flow into the rear, horizontally accentuating the Estate’s powerful width.
Sporty looking three-dimensional exhaust tailpipes integrated into the bumper (dependent on equipment) provide the visual finishing touch for the vehicle. Together with the lower wing they form a single unit and thus create a special effect.
A large selection of light-alloy wheels with diameters between 43.2 cm (17 inches) and 48.3 cm (19 inches) underscores the stylish sportiness of the Estate.
