Mercedes-Benz revealed the updated gas-powered C-Class on Aug. 17 and called it the most comprehensive technology upgrade in the model's history. The sedan arrives at U.S. dealerships in the first half of 2027. That puts it in showrooms at about the same time as the separate all-electric C 400 4MATIC, which was revealed in April and is also due in the first half of 2027. Mercedes has not announced U.S. pricing, trim names or EPA ratings for the gas car.
The C-Class has been on sale since 1982, and Mercedes counts more than 12 million sold worldwide. This update reshapes the front and rear and changes the engine, the electronics and much of the interior.
A lit-up grille and star-shaped lights
The new grille is illuminated for the first time, with LED lighting in its chrome surround and a lit central star. Headlights and taillights use a star-shaped lighting signature, and side-sill projectors cast a Mercedes pattern on the ground when the doors open. Miami Silver Metallic and Moody Sky Grey Metallic join the palette, and an AMG Line Plus package with a gloss-black spoiler lip and red seat belts is offered on the C-Class for the first time. Wheels are 18 or 19 inches.
More boost from a familiar 2.0-liter
The updated M 254 EVO four-cylinder adds an electric auxiliary compressor that spools up within milliseconds to help the turbocharger at lower engine speeds. Mercedes rates it at 255 hp and 295 lb-ft, plus an overboost function that adds 27 hp for about 20 seconds and can be used repeatedly. A second-generation integrated starter-generator on a 48-volt system supplies up to 23 hp and 151 lb-ft at low engine speeds and allows engine-off coasting. The suspension gets a stiffer connection and retuned adjustable dampers, and the drag coefficient starts at 0.24.
2027 C-Class lineup headed to the U.S.
| Metric | Gas C-Class (updated) | C 400 4MATIC Electric |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 2.0L turbo four, 48-volt mild hybrid | Dual electric motors |
| Output | 255 hp / 295 lb-ft (+27 hp overboost) | 483 hp / 590 lb-ft |
| Battery | — | 94 kWh usable |
| U.S. arrival | First half of 2027 | First half of 2027 |
Mercedes-Benz USA figures. Pricing has not been announced for either model.
MB.OS, three AI models and Google navigation
The bigger change is software. The C-Class moves to the MB.OS operating system, which lets Mercedes update the entire vehicle's software over the air and offer add-on Digital Extras through the Mercedes-Benz Store. The fourth-generation MBUX system draws on AI from ChatGPT, Microsoft Bing and Google Gemini for a virtual assistant that holds multi-turn conversations. Navigation is built on Google technology, including Google Cloud's Automotive AI Agent for questions about destinations. The driver gets a 12.3-inch display, and the center screen is a portrait-oriented 11.9-inch unit. An augmented-reality head-up display is optional on the C-Class for the first time.
Driver assistance runs on eight cameras, five radar sensors and 12 ultrasonic sensors. MB.DRIVE Standard handles lane keeping and adaptive speed control, and a 360-degree parking assistant is standard. A new reversing function can retrace the last part of a route on its own. Optional micro-LED DIGITAL LIGHT headlamps are up to 50 percent more efficient than the previous generation, Mercedes says.
“The new C‑Class proves that continuity and innovation are not mutually exclusive,” said Mathias Geisen, member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG for sales and customer experience.
What buyers should know
Several features depend on a Mercedes me ID, acceptance of Digital Extras terms and, in some cases, an active MBUX Entertainment Package and data plan, so the ongoing cost of the tech is not yet clear. Release photos show European-specification cars. With the gas and electric C-Class arriving together, shoppers will be able to compare both in the same showroom once Mercedes posts prices.