Mercedes-Benz has announced it is enhancing standard equipment levels across three of its popular model classes.

The changes affect vehicles from January or February production, depending on model, and vehicles equipped with the new standard features are now available for customers to order.

The CLK-Class Coupé and Cabriolet model range, from January production, includes PARKTRONIC parking assistance system and THERMOTRONIC luxury automatic climate control as standard, adding to the impressive list of standard features. In addition, heated front seats are now standard on all variants of the CLK-Class Cabriolet.

PARKTRONIC and anti-dazzle rear view mirror are standard on the award winning E-Class Saloon and Estate, from February production, providing customers additional value.

All C-Class models variants including the sedan, estate and sports coupe include, from February production, PARKTRONIC and a rain sensor for the windscreen wipers as standard and model variants above and including the C 200 KOMPRESSOR additionally receive a leather steering wheel and leather gear shift as standard.

“The additional standard features for our CLK-Class, E-Class and C-Class models will increase the appeal of these vehicles for customers and provide them with added value,” said Horst von Sanden, managing director of the Mercedes Car Group for Australia.

The additional features are standard equipment in January or February production vehicles, depending on series, and can be ordered now from authorised Mercedes-Benz dealerships.

Ultrasonic parking assistance makes life easier for drivers

PARKTRONIC parking assistance uses ultrasonic waves to calculate the distance between the car and an obstacle, informing the driver by means of displays on the dashboard and the rear section of the roof lining as well as by means of audible signals. The system, which makes life easier for drivers, is now standard on all C-Class, E-Class and CLK-Class models.

THERMOTRONIC: the ultimate in climate control

THERMOTRONIC represents the ultimate in climate control, offering S-Class standards of climate control. This highly sophisticated system enhances the functions of the standard THERMATIC by the following means, among others: separate, automatic air distribution for the left and right-hand sides of the vehicle; an additional solar sensor that provides precise information regarding the sun's angle of incidence. The system therefore detects the seat on which insolation is particularly intensive and can adjust the temperature for this area accordingly; an additional pollutant sensor with the task of detecting exhaust gas constituents such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide. If the concentration of pollutants increases, the THERMOTRONIC system closes the recirculating air flap automatically; an activated charcoal filter that can be engaged at the push of a button, to absorb pollutants and odours; a clear and concise display unit indicating the temperature and blower speed; an additional blower for rear climate control.

The air quantity and air flow can be individually controlled and metered by the driver, front passenger and rear passengers on board the CLK Coupé. The two central air outlets and the pivoting round outlets integrated at the side of the dashboard are linked to one of the centrally positioned adjusters which can be used to restrict or completely shut off the air flow in question. The separate air nozzles in the rear, located at the tail-end of the centre console, have the same control functions.

Air outlets for draught-free ventilation

Indirect ventilation enabled the Mercedes engineers to achieve impressively draught-free climate control: the prominent perforated section at the top of the dashboard conceals an upwards-pointing outlet capable of distributing air to a wide area. With the THERMOTRONIC system the driver or the front passenger can use a central adjuster on the dashboard to regulate the temperature of the air flowing into the interior via this indirect ventilation outlet and the four other air outlets, thus allowing an agreeable difference in temperature between the footwell and head area (warm feet, cool head).