Topless in Italy with Mercedes-Benz’s C-Class Cabriolet

‘All-weather convertible’ is no longer an oxymoron with the C-Class Cabriolet

Richard Russell
Published: June 26, 2016, 12:45 PM
Updated: June 28, 2016, 7:00 PM

2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet

‘All-weather convertible’ is no longer an oxymoron with the C-Class Cabriolet. By Richard Russell ▲

Mercedes-Benz takes top-down driving seriously

The latest addition to Mercedes’ line of cabriolets (commonly called convertibles at lower price points) exhibits all the technology and safety features expected from the inventor of the motor vehicle. But it also boasts a raft of innovations that allow all of that to be enjoyed with the top down in conditions that would have owners of competing products reaching for the power top button. ▲

C-Class Cabriolet

The latest iteration of the C-Class, hard on the tail of the coupe released only weeks ago, is the C-Class Cabriolet. A thoroughly reworked vehicle, it boasts the serious upgrades introduced on the sedan and coupe, many of them lifted straight from the S-Class, including the multi-layer fabric top. ▲

Top up or down in seconds

The top can be raised or lowered in 20 seconds while the car is underway at speeds up to 50-km/hr. When in place, it mimics a steel roof in that little road or wind noise is allowed into the cabin. When lowered, it folds neatly and fully into the trunk leaving a decent amount of cargo space and no unsightly bulges to ruin the car’s svelte lines. ▲

Aircap

It is with the top down, that you come to appreciate the lengths to which this company has gone to ensure topless motoring can be enjoyed in less than perfect conditions. Press a switch on the centre console and a louvre atop the windshield moves into position to deflect the wind up and over the heads of occupants. At the same time a screen raises from behind the rear seats to all but eliminate the buffeting common to convertibles – and cabriolets. ▲

Airscarf

In addition to AirCap, all C 300s come with AirScarf. Warm air, adjustable to three heat levels, flows through outlets atop the front seats wrapping around the necks of the driver and front seat passengerjust like a scarf! The amount of airflow automatically adjusts for road speed up to 120 km/hr. But wait: there is more! The automatic climate control system adapts to top-down driving by blowing warm air unto the driver’s hands on the steering wheel and deactivates the recirculation system. ▲

C300 Cabriolet

There are three and one-half versions of the 2017 C-Class Cabriolet. The entry level C 300 with the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine introduced in the most recent C 300 sedan is paired with a nine-speed automatic and 4Matic AWD. Frugal, quiet and smooth it produces 240-horsepower, enough to get the car to 100 km/h from rest in 6.5 seconds. ▲

AMG C43

The next step up the ladder is the AMG C43 with a twin-turbo 3.0-litre V-6 mated to the nine-speed automatic and 4Matic, both of which have been fiddled with by the wizards at AMG in the interest of enhancing driving dynamics. This is a sweet ride! With an extra 122-horsepower it scoots the car to 100 in a hasty 4.8 seconds. ▲

AMG C63

The V-8-powered AMG C63 belts out 469-horsepower accompanied by a melodic bellow from a quarter of exhaust outlets. Like the C43 it carries a pair of turbos in the Vee between the cylinder banks. The result is 0-100 in 4.2 seconds and one of the most beautiful sounds on the road! The “half” model is wild child version, carrying the letter “S” after the C63 designation, which ups the horsepower count to 503 and the fun factor by an equivalent amount. It puts out an astounding 569 lb-ft. of torque, all of it available from 1,750 rpm! Both use a heavy-duty seven-speed automatic transmission. ▲

Wild-child AMG C63S

The “half” model is the wild-child version, carrying the letter “S” after the C63 designation, which ups the horsepower count to 503 and the fun factor by an equivalent amount. It puts out an astounding 569 lb-ft. of torque, all of it available from 1,750 rpm! Both use a heavy-duty seven-speed automatic transmission. ▲

AMG exclusive

Wider flanks, bigger wheels, coloured brake calipers and a quartet of exhaust outlets differentiate the AMG versions from the outside. Inside there are a number of touches from seats to pedals and instrumentation that announce a higher purpose – and price. ▲

Features and technologies

Features and technologies The 2017 C300 cabrio comes with a wide variety of standard luxury features and safety technologies. ▲

Sports-car-like prowess

The steering, suspension and brakes are significant upgrades on the AMG models, which exhibited near sports-car-like prowess on the twisty and narrow roads on our test-drive route through the Dolomites, frequently crossing the border between Italy and Slovenia.. The bark and bellow of the AMG C63 S exhaust bouncing from the ancient walls provided a memory to be cherished ▲

Best bet of the bunch?

So did the nimbleness of this luxuriously-appointed car. The AMG C43 might well be the best bet of the bunch with much of the punch of the bigger eight but with less weight over the front end and the ability to put power to the road through the rear-biased 4Matic system – a distinct advantage to be considered during Canadian winters. The C63 comes in rear-drive format only and wins the drag race to 100 by just a slight margin – 4.2 vs 4.8 seconds for the C43. ▲

Coming this fall

The C-Class Cabriolet crosses the Atlantic this fall, just in time to put all those topless innovations to work. Pricing won’t be finalized until nearer that time. ▲

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