2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class spied with less camouflage

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is inching closer to production readiness.

The mid-sized sedan has been snapped wearing less camouflage, giving the world a better look at its new shrunken S-Class design.

That means it will have slimmer headlights than the current W205-series C-Class and smoother flanks with minimal side creasing.

Previously hidden away, it’s clear the sides of the new C-Class will be far simpler than those of its predecessor.

Although they’re still covered, the W206-series C-Class will shift to horizontal tail lights for the sedan.

Previously, these were only featured on the coupe, convertible and wagon variants, with W205 C-Class sedans featuring more vertically-oriented tail lights as on the outgoing S-Class.

Along with the usual range of mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid four-cylinder powertrains, the new C-Class range is expected to feature four-cylinder power in the C53 and C63 AMG models.

The C53 could share its turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with the A45 S, which pumps out 310kW of power and 500Nm of torque.

Although it’s down 1000cc and two cylinders on the 3.0-litre V6 in the current C43, the four-pot in the A45 S actually has 23kW more power. It’s down just 10Nm of torque.

Though the current C-Class was first launched in 2014, it received a mid-cycle enhancement in 2018 that’s kept it sitting comfortably atop the segment.

Last year, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class comfortably outsold the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4 with 6798 sales, compared to 3135 and 1284 respectively.

The latest BMW 3 Series, however, is proving to be a formidable opponent this year. Year-to-date, it’s sitting at 2643 sales, or just 127 more sales than the C-Class sedan.