2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 Coupe First Drive

We're at a press conference in Seville, Spain, for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe. It's usually a good time to take in huge chunks of information, but the Italian journalist next to us has his translation earpiece turned up so loud we can barely hear the Mercedes engineer speaking barely 5 feet away.

Between his German-accented English and the shrill Italian woman screaming in the guy's ear beside us, all we can make out are phrases like "sporty and dynamic," "expressive design," and "new target groups." We also start to get a craving for pasta.

Once we snap out of our haze, it's clear that Mercedes is counting on reaching a younger, hipper demographic with the first real C-Class Coupe. Yes, we know there was a C230/C320 Sport Coupe in the early-to-mid 2000s, but Mercedes doesn't count that as a coupe because it was a hatchback. Plus, we would all like to forget that car ever existed, so it's easy to agree that this is the first real C-Class Coupe.

Direct Injection of Power
The top-of-the-line 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 Coupe uses a new, direct-injected version of Mercedes' 3.5-liter DOHC V6. Equipped with variable valve timing on both intake and exhaust, it's a smooth runner from startup to its 6,750-rpm redline.

Horsepower jumps to 302 at 6,500 rpm, versus the previous 3.5-liter's 268 hp at 6,000. Torque follows a similar path: There's more of it — 273 pound-feet — but it's produced a bit higher, from 3,500-5,250 (old engine: 258 lb-ft from 2,400-5,000).

So there's more power, yet the fuel efficiency has actually increased as well. Between the new engine and the standard 7G-Tronic Plus seven-speed automatic, the C350 Coupe is expected to deliver 22 mpg combined, a 2-mpg improvement over the 2011 C350 Sedan.

It's significant enough that Mercedes saw fit to slap its "BlueEfficiency" badge on the side of the C350 Coupe. Then again, it does the same thing with the gas-guzzler-tax-paying CL550 Coupe, too, so it's hardly the "green" badge of honor its name implies.

The smooth V6 and equally silky tranny complement each other out on the road. In Drive mode the transmission is quick to downshift, and gives relatively speedy upshifts as well. Unfortunately, even in Manual mode it shifts for itself at redline when you're using the standard steering-wheel paddle shifters; it also makes pathetically lazy attempts to blip the throttle on downshifts. We wouldn't care so much if there was a manual transmission available, but sadly, the seven-speed automatic is the only transmission headed to the U.S.

Mercedes claims the extra sauce and quicker shifting should result in a 0-60-mph sprint of 5.9 seconds, which seems quite believable. While it's true the engine isn't big on low-end power, it makes up for it with an exciting high-rpm rush, accompanied by an equally stirring rasp from the exhaust.

Sport Means Sport
All U.S. C-Class Coupes will come standard with a sport suspension, which is optional in Europe. Our test cars were fitted with Mercedes' optional Advanced Agility package, which features electronically controlled adaptive dampers. The driver can switch from the standard setting to Sport with the press of a button. Not only does this provide a stiffer suspension, but Sport also sharpens throttle response and adds some weight to the steering.

In typical understated Mercedes fashion, the C Coupe's interior is small on style but big on buttons.

We're glad to find that the Sport setting makes a real difference in the way the car handles. It goes from a slightly vague, light-steering car with significant body roll to a flat-handling, shockingly stiff and sharp sport coupe that's glued to the road. It's impressive, and perfect for some real canyon running.

Despite its firmness, there's enough compliance to keep the rear end buttoned-down over midcorner bumps. So while it may lack a true manual transmission, the C Coupe definitely handles like a serious sport coupe.

Would You Like a Turbo With That?
If you don't want to fork over the $42,000 or so we expect the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 to command, there's a base C250 Coupe, too. It uses a new direct-injected 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 201 hp at 5,500 rpm and 229 lb-ft of torque from 2,200-4,300 mated to the same seven-speed automatic.

Although this engine feels oddly coarse for a Mercedes, and somewhat dieselly-sounding at low revs (probably due to the direct injection), it's actually pretty smooth for a four-cylinder. It's a bit sluggish off the line, but it does a decent job of moving the 250's 3,419-pound curb weight (143 pounds less than the C350). It's no match for the grunt of the V6 in terms of sheer acceleration, though, as Mercedes claims a 0-60 mph time of 7.1 seconds for the turbo-4.

On the other hand, the C250's more sprightly nature is definitely felt when you point it at a corner. It feels a little more willing to change directions and less likely to lapse into understeer. Smaller brakes (11.6-inch front rotors compared to the C350's 12.7-inchers) feel weaker, though, and less confidence-inspiring. We expect the C250's main draw will be its estimated 30 mpg on the highway and a significantly lower price point.

Two Against Four
Compared to the C-Class Sedan, the C-Class Coupe measures just a tenth of an inch shorter while riding on an identical 108.7-inch wheelbase. Width is also unchanged between the two body styles, showing just how closely related the coupe and sedan remain. The big difference comes in the form of the Coupe's swoopier roof line, which is a significant 1.5 inches lower. This is even more pronounced by the standard panorama sunroof, which gives the car a blacked-out roof look.

As you can imagine, that radical roof line has ramifications. Reduced head- and knee room in the backseat is the primary change, as the center seat has been ditched in favor of two individual buckets. Even though rear headroom is down by 1.4 inches compared with the sedan, average-sized adults can survive back there thanks to cutouts in the roof.

In typical understated Mercedes fashion, the C Coupe's interior is small on style but big on buttons, the chrome ones below the stereo on the center stack at least adding some sense of color to the otherwise all-black equation. Staid, yes, but generally a well laid-out cabin, although it would be more properly sporting if the coupe's center stack was canted slightly toward the driver. Also, we'd appreciate if the gear indicators for manual shifting were larger; with seven of them in a row within the speedo, it's difficult to quickly make out which gear is currently highlighted.

On the plus side, the 11.7-cubic-foot trunk (down from the sedan's 12.4) should be able to handle enough luggage for four people to get away for the weekend. Even better, the rear seats fold down in a 60/40 split if the wife/girlfriend really does want to bring everything plus the kitchen sink.

To Coupe or Not To Coupe
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 Coupe only weighs 53 pounds less than the C350 sedan, while acceleration, handling and fuel mileage should be pretty much equal to the four-door.

So pure performance isn't a reason to buy this coupe (the sedans will be available with the same Advanced Agility suspension). The question is whether losing the convenience of two extra doors and some head- and legroom is worth the sportier styling.

Mercedes obviously thinks so or it wouldn't have bothered to add this dedicated coupe to the lineup. And as we vaguely remember from the press conference, the company wants to attract new "target groups" to the C-Class, presumably younger ones. Coupes are always good for that and this C-Class does the job. Without a true manual it's not likely to knock the BMW 335i off its perch anytime soon, but it's a solid contender in every other respect.

Edmunds attended a manufacturer-sponsored event, to which selected members of the press were invited, to facilitate this report.

Price and Build Your Own 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 at Edmunds.com