CATS launches the Mercedes Benz CLC

MANILA, Philippines - For many folks, the dream of indulging themselves in a Mercedes Benz ownership experience usually remains just that: a dream. Well, last Wednesday, dreams just got a bit more affordable.

During an intimate and tasteful launch set against the back drop of the most deadly raclette I’ve had in my life, CATS Motors, the exclusive distributor of Mercedes Benz in the Philippines, launched their new baby Benz to an exclusive circle of press and VIPs.

“The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is our most successful model and we’re delighted to expand its line-up. We’re proud to introduce yet another exciting variant in the RP market: the CLC-Class Sports Coupé, which is also part of the Mercedes-Benz coupé family. It is known to be an entry dream car model and with this, we believe that we’re bringing our customers closer to their dream car,” said a very proud Greg Yu, CATS Chairman, at the CATS Global showroom.

The CLC is crucial to the Mercedes Benz line up because research has shown that over 70% of CLC owners have never opted for a Mercedes before, so it offers an affordable gateway into the brand. More importantly, 43% of those owners upgraded to the larger E Class, CLK or SLK. The trick has always been to marry the modest sticker price to the same core values of one of the most prestigious brands in the world.

After selling over 320,000 CLC models over the last 8 years, Mercedes has been straddling the redline to come up with an entirely new generation that is worthy of the highly coveted three pointed star, and it shows in the latest iteration.

The all-new CLC gets a radically new body and over 1,100 brand new parts; retuned engines also offer a 10% improvement in fuel economy. For 2.58 million, the CLC comes standard with a 156 hp, 4 cylinder, 1.8 liter engine; six airbags; Brake Assist; Central locking with crash sensor; Electronic Stability program (ESP); fog lamps; sports seats; THERMATIC auto climate control with separate temperature control for driver and passenger; three spoke multi function steering wheel and tinted glass.

Fortunately, I was given an advance drive of the CLC a week before the launch to form my own impressions. While it certainly is not targeted at the quarter-mile crowd, its an extremely comfortable and affordable luxury sports coupe. The speed sensitive steering is exceptionally light yet confident, and communicates well with the road and the behavior of the optional 18-inch rubber that was shod on the evolution five spoke wheels. It’s not quite as talkative as the 3 series, but nor does it try to be. It favors comfort over speed. The 1.8-liter engine needs to work quite hard, but it can crack the dash to a hundred in under ten seconds.

The CLC is also available with an optional panoramic sliding sunroof, bi xenon headlamps with headlight cleaning system and 5 speed automatic with paddle shifters. It would be a little difficult to compare this car to its nearest competitors only because the 3 series coupe offers quite a bit more, albeit with a matching price tag. The Volvo C30 could fall on the same shopping list, but regardless which one you decide on, with prices like this on luxury brands, just about anyone can afford to dream.