2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe vs 2016 BMW 4 Series
Mercedes-Benz Press Release Highlights
Chassis
The Coupe comes with the option of AIRMATIC air suspension on the front and rear axle. Its electronically controlled, continuously adjustable damping on the front and rear axle ensures outstanding road noise and tire vibration characteristics in every situation and gives the driver the option of selecting the desired driving style: sporty, comfortable or consumption-optimized. To this end, the driver can select one of five driving modes using the DYNAMIC SELECT Switch: "ECO", "Comfort", "Sport", "Sport +" and "Individual.” Selecting "Individual" allows the driver to customize the vehicle settings. AIRMATIC also features all-round self-levelling for excellent ride comfort even with the vehicle loaded.
Powertrain
The C300 Coupe comes equipped with a powerful and efficient 2.0L, four- cylinder gas engine delivering 241 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, providing sporty performance and enhanced driving pleasure.
Safety
There are several safety and assistance systems based on the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive concept to choose from. ATTENTION ASSIST with adjustable sensitivity, which can warn the driver of inattentiveness and drowsiness, is included as standard. Further standard equipment includes COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS, which features an acoustic warning for the driver at speeds above 4 mph and Adaptive Brake Assist to help avoid collisions by boosting the braking effect in line with the current situation. When danger of a collision persists and the driver fails to respond, the system is able to carry out autonomous braking at speeds of up to 124 mph, thereby reducing the severity of collisions with slower or stopping vehicles or, in the best-case scenario, even avoiding the collision altogether. At speeds of up to 31 mph the system also brakes in response to stationary vehicles, and is thus able to help prevent rear- end collisions.
Technology
A completely new multimedia generation offers intuitive operation in the new C-Class Coupe, featuring elaborate animations and visual effects which present all the functions in a clear and highly attractive manner. The new C-Class is also equipped with the unique Frontbass system. This avant-garde acoustic system uses the space within the cross-member and side member in the body structure as a resonance chamber for the bass speakers to conjure up a listening experience almost on a par with a concert hall. A Burmester® surround sound system is optionally available.
BMW Press Release Highlights
Chassis
The defining ingredients in the involving driving experience laid on by the new BMW 4 Series Coupe are its impressive driving dynamics and assured handling properties. The BMW engineers have succeeded in making key improvements in areas such as steering accuracy, precision and agility, as well as honing, further still, the instincts of the new BMW 4 Series Coupe as an unadulterated driving machine. Sophisticated chassis technology, torque steer-free Electric Power Steering, 50:50 weight distribution, a programme of fine-tuning in the wind tunnel and an innovative lightweight construction concept gave them the tools to achieve their aims.
Powertrain
One six-cylinder and two four-cylinder engines available from launch. The sporting two-door model will be available from launch powered by the following engines: the six-cylinder in-line petrol engine in the BMW 435i Coupe, the four-cylinder petrol unit for the BMW 428i Coupe and the four-cylinder diesel for the BMW 420d Coupe. All the engines work using the latest BMW TwinPower Turbo technology and cover an output spectrum stretching from 135 kW/184 hp to 225 kW/306 hp. These state-of-the-art engines not only imbue the BMW 4 Series Coupe with outstanding acceleration and elasticity, they also join forces with the car’s intelligent lightweight construction concept to deliver further improvements in driving dynamics and lower fuel consumption.
The power from the engines is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox as standard. BMW will also fit all the engine variants – as an option – with an eight-speed Sports automatic gearbox, which allows the driver to change gear manually as well using shift paddles on the steering wheel. The two petrol-engine model variants can be specified from launch, as an option, with the BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system.
Technology
The new BMW 4 Series Coupe deploys a unique combination of driver assistance systems and mobility services (available as standard or as an option under the BMW ConnectedDrive banner) to set the benchmark in terms of safety, comfort and infotainment. Among the highlights are a new generation of the Navigation System Professional, which offers extra capability, sharper graphics and 3D elements for the map display, the full-colour BMW Head-Up Display, Driving Assistant Plus, which warns the driver of a potential collision with a pedestrian, the intelligent, glare-free LED High Beam Assistant, Active Protection with Attentiveness Assistant and the latest development stage of the Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function. As far as infotainment is concerned, extremely efficient interface technology enables the integration of smartphones and numerous Bluetooth office functions. The latter now also offer the driver the services of a dictation function with full speech recognition.