Mercedes-Benz has uncovered the new C-Class – a model aimed at toppling the all-conquering BMW 3 Series.

It will be officially unveiled in January before going on sale in the UK in March 2014. Prices and specifications for the UK market won’t be announced until early next year but will likely be in line with the current model which means a starting price of around £28,000.

Benefitting from the full might of Mercedes’ technological arsenal, the new C-Class is the most advanced version yet by a clear margin… and in some respects, is the most sophisticated vehicle the junior executive class has ever seen, too.

It also takes on a sleek new look, owing plenty to the highly-praised new S-Class, while the interior offers, says Mercedes, an experience akin to stepping from economy class to business class on an aircraft.  It’s still recognisably a C-Class though and more traditional than the A-Class. Under the skin is a new platform which will form the basis for all new large cars from Mercedes-Benz. This C-Class is bigger than before with a longer wheelbase which means a larger boot and more interior space, particularly for passengers in the rear.

All the engines in the new C-Class range get start/stop as standard and there will be three available initially – a C200 BlueTec diesel and two petrol – the C180 and C200. The range will quickly increase with a new 1.6-litre diesel which comes in two versions – either 115PS or 136PS. The standard gearbox on all four-cylinder models is a newly designed six-speed manual while there’s an optional 7G-Tronic Plus automatic which has been further developed for this generation.

The current 2.1-litre diesel will be carried over and will be available in several versions from 115PS to 204PS while the C220 BlueTec will have 170PS making it a close rival for the BMW 320d. In addition Mercedes-Benz is also introducing a diesel hybrid model – the C300 BlueTec Hybrid – which can return 72.4mpg according to the official figures.

Inside, the latest C-Class gets a totally new design with a minimalist design dominated by a large one-piece centre console that’s far less button heavy than the current model. It certainly looks far more stylish judging by the pictures with Mercedes-Benz promising high-class materials and likening the cabin as ‘akin to the uplifting feeling of being upgraded from economy to business class on an aeroplane’.

The main functions are accessed via a controller on the central tunnel which includes a new touchpad in the handrest. This works like a smartphone and means you can control functions using finger gestures. You can also write letters and numbers in as you can on Audi’s advanced MMI system. Other new features are a head-up display and a clever air conditioning system that uses satellite navigation data to work out if you’re going through a tunnel. It will then close the air recirculation flap and open it again when the car emerges from the tunnel.

Another new development is the suspension and there are three set-ups available – a comfort suspension, a lowered comfort suspension with a sportier character and sports suspension lowered by 15mm. Alongside this the C-Class can be specified with Airmatic air suspension.