First Drive: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

First Drive: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Model: Mercedes-Benz C320 CDI.

Price: From ??31 500 (about R444 500; SA prices likely to differ).

Due for SA release in August, 2007.

Engine: 2987cc, six cylinders, 24 valves, turbodiesel, 167kW at 3800rpm, 510Nm at 1600-2800rpm.

Transmission: Seven-speed, semi-auto gearbox, rear-wheel drive.

Performance: 250km/h, 0-100km/h in 7.7sec, 7.2 litres/100km general average.

We British can be perverse in our place-name pronunciations. Take Bicester - or Belvoir Castle . So I set the Linguatronic function in the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class a stern test.

Its maker claims great things for this most show-off part of the so-called Comand APS "multimedia" system. Normally with a satnav, you have to type in the name of your intended destination.

Previous Linguatronics have accepted voice instructions but you still had to spell the place name.

Now you can say the name and the system will recognise it - or gives a numbered list of possibilities, from which you select the right answer by saying the number.

So I ask it to take me to Wymondham in Norfolk, near which Lotuses are made. "Windum," I say. And there was Wymondham, albeit at No.2, below Windermere.

This is very impressive. The system doesn't even need to learn your voice. You can also ask for radio stations and CD tracks, or to call a number on your cellphone, via Bluetooth

Source: [url=http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/112_0706_2008_mercedes_benz_c_class]MotorTrend Magazine[/url]