SPY: The 2014 Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W 205) in a new set of scoops

The future C-Class will be Merc's first high-selling model to be built in outside Europe. While the Bremen plant still holds a great part of the volumes, additional facilities have been set up at Tuscaloosa (USA), Beijing (China) and in East London (South Africa).

Generation 205 of the popular C-Class will be first presented at NAIAS Detroit 2014, another premiere for Mercedes-Benz. Europeans will get the new model during spring, while the Americans and the rest of the world will have to wait until summer of next year.

The Germans have worked to position the new C-Class up-market, given the introduction of the CLA this year. This means the W 205, the limousine, and all the subsequent variants will grow accordingly. Reports claim the car will reach a top length of about 4.70 meters, almost 10 centimeters longer than the current model.

Notably, the marketing strategy seems to be selling the premium mid-sized automobile as a mini S-Class, which will certainly transpose into high sales volumes and will not affect the overall image of the 205 model series by making it an S-Class wannabe.

Even though there is a strong similarity between the two models, at least when you at the rear section, the new C-Class will have its own identity. Although toned down, the front fascia now looks more mature due to the progressive styling treatment. The profile looks more refined and holds the Mercedes dropping line, which has been altered to have a subtle appearance.

Customers will also be able to adopt a different identity for their car, as for the current C-Class. The traditional lamella grille (with three chromed horizontal bars) will be standard for the entry-level and ELEGANCE version, while the Star grille (with two silver louvres) will equip the AVANTGARDE and AMG Sports Package variants.

A first for the new C-Class is the introduction of the HUD technology which displays real-time data about speed, consumption and engine revving on the windshield, directly in the visual sight of the driver. The newly developed 9G-TRONIC will also be a standard feature on high-end C-Class models, whereas the AIRMATIC pneumatic suspension will offer more driving pleasure, more comfort and more predictability.

In the telematics department, the new C-Class will be a tough contender as it comes equipped with the latest generation of the COMAND Online (NTG 5), that was premiered on the new S-Class and will be available on several other Mercedes-Benz models in the coming period. Car-to-X communication is another feature that will be made available on the 205 generation, helping reduce accidents and improving the connection with other vehicles in traffic.

Each and every powerplant in the engine choice for the new C-Class will meet the mandatory EU6 (Euro VI) emission standard and are fitted with start/stop technology and the BlueEFFICIENCY technical package. For the diesels, the list starts with the C 200 CDI rated at 136 hp, followed by the C 220 CDI with 170 hp and the C 250 CDI powered by the internationally coveted 2.1-litre unit pumping up to 204 hp. The C 300 BlueTEC reaches 211, while the high-end C 350 BlueTEC boasts 252 hp.

The petrol maniacs will have where to choose from. The entry-level C 180 BlueEFFICIENCY comes standard with 156 hp; next in range are the C 200 BE and C 250 BE with 184 hp and, respectively, 211 hp. The new C 300 BE sports 252 hp, while the new range-topping C 400 BE will use the new 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 developing 333 hp.

An all-electric C-Class is still a dream, while the HYBRID and BlueTEC HYBRID versions are subject to further analysis. A C 300 BlueTEC HYBRID would make 204 hp from the diesel engine and an extra 20 kW (27 hp) from the corresponding electric motor. The C 400 HYBRID would be capable of achieving an even staggering value: 306 hp from the 3.5-litre V6 engine and an additional 20 kW (27 hp) from the electromotor, which would plummet the entire output up to 333 hp. It is important to mention both are mild hybrids (using Li-Ion auto-rechargeable batteries), not full hybrids (or plug-in hybrids, that can be physically charged from an appliance), so do not expect yourself to be capable of driving under e-mode solely for a definite distance manner.

The new C 63 AMG (or is it C 55 AMG?) will be unveiled during mid-2014 and launched onto the market during fall. It will offer both a RWD platform and all-wheel-drive chassis (with Performance AMG 4MATIC) and will be powered by a whole new V8, 4.0-litre petrol engine, which features high-precision direct injection and twin-turbos to boost the power up to 462 hp.

Below, you will find a selection of the latest spy shots with the new C-Class, as well as images showcasing a slightly undisguised pre-production vehicle and two renderings that look pretty close to the real W 205 generation.