Mercedes-Benz has unveiled pictures of the new 2018 C-Class Saloon and Estate, which go on sale in March.

Externally the car has seen minimal changes; the bumpers have been refreshed and the headlights and taillights updated.

Multibeam LED headlamps are now optionally available and can adapt to the driving conditions. As standard, the car still comes with halogen units.

The biggest changes are found on the inside where a larger 10.25-inch multimedia screen is available along with a choice of 64 ambient interior light colours. Customers can also choose a digital instrument panel for the first time.

Another update is the standard fitment of Keyless-Go which allows for handfree access to the vehicle and a push-button start.

The new Multicontour Seat package allows the seat’s side bolsters and lumbar support to be individually adjusted by means of an electrically driven pneumatic pump. It enables the addition of a massage effect in the lumbar area.

As recently seen in the new A-Class, the new C-Class has adopted the same steering wheel design as the S-Class with touch-sensitive controls – allowing for smartphone-like control of the infotainment sytem.

Similartly, the cruise control operation is now directly on the steering wheel.

The new C-Class features Mercedes-Benz’s latest driving assistance systems, offering the driver cooperative support and providing a higher standard of active safety than its predecessor.

The C-Class is able to drive semi-autonomously in certain situations. To do this it keeps a close eye on the traffic situation: improved camera and radar systems allow it to see up to 500m ahead. It also uses map and navigation data for assistance functions.

Active Distance Assist is able to support the driver in numerous situations on the basis of map information and predictively adjust the speed such as when approaching bends, junctions or roundabouts.

Other new developments include intuitively understandable Active Lane Change Assist and Active Emergency Stop Assist as new functions of Active Steering Assist.

UK pricing and full specification will be revealed at the end of March, with first cars arriving from August 2018.