the same goes for the ultra performance department ; the Merc E63 AMG is less extreme than the BMW M5 in the sense that it's lessof an all out sports car, while the M5 is a pure bred fast car. but who will deny that the E63 makes a better everyday car? less intrusive automatic gearbox (M5 has the M SMG which is quite rough as in like not smooth as silk), changeable settings for the air suspensions (you're stuck with the usual sporty ride in the M5, although some would prefer that). so the M5 trumps the E63 when it comes to track days and pure fast driving but overall the latter is much easier and nicer to live with.

if the C400's engine is anywhere like the E500's twin turbo engine, it'll be awesome; smooth and electric fast.

and Lexus has started making performance oriented cars in the sense of the IS-F, although it has been said that it's just not extreme enough to play with the M and AMG cars.. maybe another car to suit this C400/S4/335i company? the more the merrier

Good job by Mercedes I would say, now they can give BMW n Audi's super saloon a run for their money. By havin more competition, they will be able to keep pushing to the limit, unlike what's happening here, when u dun hv competition, just look at Proton. Even to their dying breath, they will still depen on our gamen (read tax payers) to feed them.

this variant of the c-class might give potential buyers of the big-output compact luxury car an option when it comes out. instead of having only to choose from the audi S4 and BMW 335i, they'll have another car to think about.

a lot of people doesn't like to "flaunt" their car as much as some of us do. like when they prefer the big-engine variant over the performance variant (eg. E500 over the E63 or S600 over S63) when they can afford either one (in the S-class case, they both cost the same).

having a serious performer under their glorious top of the line performance variant can't be a bad thing. audi is doing well with its S4, which is a lot tamer than the awesome RS4.

so i say bring on the big outputs. if you can't handle big power, get the cheaper slower variant, that'll save you some cash and potentially your life. but for those who can handle (and afford) the faster ones, why not?

Think about that, by the way things are going, by 2015, all of us will probably drive cars with 300hp.

Most people cant handle a car with 400hp…which is probably why they need that mandatory Stability control for all cars…