MERCEDES has released prices for the new C-class starting at £20,740 on the road for the entry level C180 Classic - just £300 more than the outgoing model - but featuring £4,000 worth of extra kit as standard.

As announced at the corporate launch last month, standard specification is much higher than its predecessor, featuring ABS brakes, climate control, trip computer, traction control, driver and passenger airbags, four electric windows, six-speed manual gearbox and cruise control.

Upgrading to Elegance or Avantgarde trim costs an extra £2,000 and new or reworked Engines offer up to 20% more power with improved fuel and emissions efficiency. The more powerful C320 starts at £30,250, while the diesels start at £23,250 for the C220 CDI Classic.

Fleets could face initial supply delays, as the German manufacturer believes demand for the new range will quickly outstrip the 8,000 units allocated for the UK in its first year. Despite an official on-sale date of September 21, more than 5,000 advance orders were received before prices were revealed. They could be the only right-hand-drive customers guaranteed a German-built C-class.