The second generation Mercedes C-Class (W203) was unveiled on March 21, 2000, in Sindelfingen, turning 25 years old and becoming a youngtimer. It was the only generation C-Class to adopt the four-eye face and to have a hatchback version. In six and a half years 2 million units were sold.
Photo: Mercedes and Mercedes Classic Archive
In 1997, Mercedes introduced the CLK coupe (C209) based on the first generation C-Class W202. The four-eye front was then taken over by the next-generation C-Class W203 which was unveiled on March 21 in Sindelfingen. It was the only C-Class model to adopt a four-eye front end, and later, this design idea was also used by the second-generation CLK (C209) which debuted in 2001.
The Mercedes C-Class W203 was the only C-Class generation that was also available in a three-door hatchback version (Sport Coupe CL203), launched in late 2000 in addition to the traditional sedan (W 203) and estate (S 203) version introduced in 2001.
The Mercedes C-Class W203 arrived at dealers in September 2000 and could be ordered with Classic, Elegance, and Avantgarde trims combined with 4-cylinder and V6 gasoline and 4- and 5-cylinder diesel engines.
The top model was the C 32 AMG equipped with a 3.2-liter mechanical supercharged V6 developing 354 PS. The 4Matic all-wheel drive system was available from the fall of 2002 on several engines.
Many engines were carried over from the previous-generation C-Class, but the C 320 V6 with the 3.2-liter and 218 PS was new for the C-Class. A 6-speed manual gearbox was standard across the range except the C 320 while the optional 5-speed automatic was carried over from the S-Class.
2004 facelift with interior improvements, new engines and new AMG top model
A facelift followed in early 2004, with a new instrument cluster and a revised center console with new audio systems, and a new climate control unit. In the US market, the new V6 versions of the C 230, C 280, and C 350 replaced the former C 240 and C 320, offering more power: 204, 231, and 272 PS, respectively. A major change was the switch to 4 valves per cylinder instead of 3.
The facelift also saw the introduction of a new top-spec V6 diesel in the C 320 CDI: 3.0-liter V6 developing 224 PS, while the AMG model became the C 55 AMG and ditched the mechanically supercharged V6 in favor of a 5.5-liter, 367 PS naturally aspirated V8.
A derivated version of the Mercedes C 55 AMG served in Formula 1 between 2004 and 20027 as the F1 Medical Car.
The Mercedes C-Class W 203 carried over many technical elements from the S-Class W 220 such as the Comand multimedia system that benefited from Linguatronic voice command. The rear with triangular taillights was also inspired by the S-Class W 220.
Compared to the previous generation, the Mercedes C-Class W 203 had a longer wheelbase, shorter overhangs, along a more slanted windscreen. With a Cx of just 0.26, the C-Class W 203 was at the time the most aerodynamic premium mid-class sedan.
Of the 2 million units sold by September 2006, 1.4 million were sedans, 330,000 station wagons, and 283,000 SportCoupe hatchbacks. Germany was the biggest market with 30% of sales followed by the US with 20%. The last example was produced on December 14, 2006 in Sindelfingen.