Merc unveils new C-Class

This is the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Except it's not actually ‘new'.

Mercedes has painted its volume-selling saloon with the ‘comprehensive modernisation' brush, which is a rather fancy way of saying, ‘it's got a new suit'.

See more images of the new Mercedes C-Class

The Merc's little black dress comes courtesy of new front and rear bumpers, a new, erm, headlamp case design, some contours and the ‘characteristic surface meander' now residing on the inside of the light. Whatever that means.

The dash gets worked over with an integrated screen and new surface grain, the control panel gets high-gloss surface inserts and the new C is available with a high-res colour display.

All models come as standard with stop/start and Merc claims an improvement of 31 per cent fuel consumption over the current model. Handy, with current fuel prices sitting at One Human Limb Per Litre.

A new 3.5-litre V6 with 306bhp makes its debut, offering a 0-62mph time of six seconds and a limited top speed of 155mph.

The new C also comes with ten driving assistance systems, including Blind Spot Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Attention Assist and Highbeam Assist. Think of them as tiny helper monkeys trapped under the bonnet of your Merc. You know you want them.

It'll debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March and go on sale in the UK shortly after.