As Mercedes-Benz prepares to reveal the all-new C-Class at the Detroit Motor Show in January next year, the company is increasing the anticipation with an official picture of the interior and a teaser video that provides glimpses of both the exterior and inside.
Putting these pieces of the puzzle together we can see that the front end and dashboard are strongly influenced by the design of the latest A-Class/CLA family.
Mercedes-Benz has also divulged some details about the cabin technology and underpinnings of the 2014 model.
A big talking point inside is the new 'touchpad' that allows all head-unit functions to be easily operated using finger gestures. Also new is a high-resolution head-up display that appears to float over the bonnet around two metres in front of the driver.
Beneath the field of vision, engineers have been hard at work fine-tuning the vehicle's structure and suspension. Innovative lightweight construction ensures that it weighs around 100kg less than its predecessor, while still delivering exemplary crash protection.
AIR SUSPENSION
On the chassis front there's a new four-link front axle but the big talking point will be the availability of air suspension as an optional extra.
A whole army of assistance systems are set to filter down from the latest E-Class and S-Class, including the Distronic Plus semi-automatic traffic jam assistant, Pre-Safe Brake, the enhanced Active Lane Keeping Assist system, Active Parking Assist with steering and braking intervention and a 360-degree camera that offers a virtual bird's eye view.
The engine range has yet to be officially confirmed, but you can certainly expect to find Merc's new 2-litre turbopetrol engine that was introduced in the latest E-Class, where it offers outputs of 135kW and 155kW. The company's new 245kW/480Nm 3-litre twin-turbopetrol is also a strong C-Class possibility.
Given that it will be built in East London for both local and export consumption, buyers shouldn't have to wait too far into 2014 to see it in their local showrooms.