CATS Motors introduces sporty Mercedes-Benz C180 Kompressor

The alloy wheels — five massive spokes of gleaming silver. They’re the ones that grab the attention every time your eye lands on this particular Mercedes C-class. And they’re the ones that immediately tell you that this is no ordinary Benz.

Luxury sedans are supposed to be for sedate travel. And sedate travel usually means comfy tires and long-travel suspensions to soak up the inevitable bumps and potholes.

But this three-pointed-star-wearing sedan sits on mean-looking 17" wheels and fat 225/45- (front) and 245/40- (rear) sized ultra-low profile tires. More than that, the body sits lower on its haunches, the fenders almost touching the wide tires. Closer inspection reveals a stiffer and more responsive sports suspension that’s been lowered 25mm in front and 15mm at the rear for razor-sharp handling.

Even closer inspection reveals a host of other racy details: a large oval chrome tailpipe, a sporty three-spoke multi-function leather-wrapped steering wheel, stainless steel pedals with rubber studs and sporty bucket seats that secure the occupants during hard cornering. Anthracite-colored "Silverstone" upholstery, used for both the centre panels of the front and rear seats and for the door panels, further highlights the serious nature of this driving tool. Even the leather-trimmed gear lever for the five-speed automatic transmission is shorter than normal to deliver quicker short-throw shifts through the gate.

Developed to answer the growing need for a luxurious yet sporty sedan, the C180 Kompressor’s sleek and spirited design is a definite head-turner. But does it have the go to back up all this show?

The C180’s 1.8-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine features Mercedes’ unique TWINPULSE system, which combines different technologies such as a supercharger, an intercooler, dynamically variable valve timing, four valves per cylinder, an adaptive drive system and a Lanchester balancer for 6-cylinder-levels of smoothness and refinement. All these result in 143 hp and a heady 220 Nm of torque at a low 2500 rpm — prodigious for a 1.8-liter engine — and enough for a brisk 9.7-second sprint to 100 kph from a standstill all the way to an autobahn-bred 223 km/h terminal velocity.

Needless to say, all this speed potential is ably backed up equally potent stopping and cornering power. The C180 Kompressor’s high-performance four-wheel-disc (with ABS and Brake Assist) braking system features large-diameter cross-drilled front disc brakes clamped by huge brake calipers with the words "Mercedes-Benz" embossed in bold white letters for that extra-sporty touch. For the twisties, Mercedes’ Electronic Stability Program (ESP) ensures balanced handling even in at-the-limit cornering.

The Limited Edition C180 Kompressor is available in eight colors: Brilliant Silver, Cubanite Silver, Titanite Red, Alabaster White, Obsidian Black, Tanzanite Blue, Jasper Blue and Perlite Grey; and is available for a limited time only and exclusively at the CATS Motors showrooms in EDSA, Greenhills and in 32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City. Its sticker price is roughly P3 million.