CITIUS! ALTIUS! FORTIUS!

Faster! Higher! Stronger! With DaimlerChrysler, it’s the ever onward march of technology and DaimlerChrysler India has never been hesitant to bring this technology to India. The second generation of common rail technology which found its way into the E-class in the beginning now comes with the C-class, which touches new frontiers of performance and efficiency, discovers Yogendra Pratap through this first ever road test of the C220 CDI in India.

The road test of the C-class was first done by OVERDRIVE way back in May 2001 when we had tested both the C180 as well as the C200 CDI. We had then bemoaned the lack of power in the petrol-engined car and been enamoured with the power, torque and above all, the efficiency of the diesel. Since then we have lived with the C200 CDI through one of our four-season long term tests while DaimlerChrysler India started making the C200K in India to add the much required boost to the petrol engined.

Even though one could not fault the C200 CDI in any respect, especially in terms of power or torque, that is no reason for DaimlerChrysler to stop the march of technology. In its continuous process of technology development, the company came up with its second generation of common rail direct injection diesel technology which was first used in the E-class (road test in the June 2003 issue of OVERDRIVE) and which has now found its was into the C-class.

The exteriors and the interiors of the car remain basically the same as the one we had with us. Although we were expecting clear glass headlamps on the C220 CDI like we have seen on some of the imports, DaimlerChrysler India decided to go along with the normal headlamp glass for the time being. The car is also now being fitted with the aero-wipers which have already proved their worth in the other model series.

The one most significant change in the equipment levels of the car is the provision of a new music system. The change is that now instead of a cassette, the system has a slot for a CD. I guess that is in keeping with the profile of the C-class user. This in addition to the CD changer that is fitted in the glove compartment of the car.

Since there are no other changes in the car we will move to those aspects of the car that are changed.