2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C350 ON SALE: June BASE PRICE: $38,000 (est.) POWERTRAIN: 3.5-liter, 268-hp, 258-lb-ft V6; rwd, seven-speed automatic CURB WEIGHT: 3410 lbs (est.) 0 TO 60 MPH: 6.1 seconds (mfr.) From this springs an engine producing 268 hp at 6000 rpm and 258 lb-ft of torque from 2400 to 5000 rpm. This output is up from 215 hp at 5700 rpm and 229 lb-ft at 3000 to 4600 revs. On our test drive, this stronger pulling power was quickly evident, and much appreciated. The old C320 sedan never felt slow, but you wouldn’t confuse it with a sports car either. That line seems to be blurring. A 0 to 62 mph sprint takes just 6.4 seconds, 1.3 seconds quicker than the previous model. And because of the wide powerband, Mercedes says the seven-speed automatic-equipped C350 takes just 6.1 seconds to get from 35 to 75 mph. The automatic, outfitted with the latest electronics, quickly downshifts to keep the engine in the sweet spot, better utilizing all the available power. Steering-wheel-mounted shift buttons allow you to make your own gear changes, snapping them off nearly as quickly as you can press the buttons. Link: http://www.autoweek.com/article.cms?articleId=101894
