Mercedes’ booth at the 2018 Beijing Auto Show may be dominated by the imposing presence of the Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury SUV, but another model, presumably sitting on the sidelines, is also making some noise. You’ve probably noticed it as a Mercedes C-Class, which it is. But it also has one unique characteristic that no other C-Class has: it’s really long. That’s because the model you’re looking at is the C-Class L, an updated version of the stretched-wheelbase C-Class sedan that the German automaker is already selling in record numbers in China.

There’s no going around how popular the stretched-wheelbase version of the C-Class has become in China since it debuted in 2014. According to Nicholas Speeks, Merc’s sales chief in China, more than 380,000 have been sold since it arrived four years ago, helping turn the long-wheelbase unit into one of the most popular models in its segment.

The arrival of the new C-Class L also highlights a number of things about the car, including the size difference between the C-Class L and the standard version. The C-Class L is 3.1 inches longer than its standard brethren. It may not sound like much on the surface, but it creates a world of difference in the interior where the cabin is immediately freed up by the extra space created by virtue of the car’s wheelbase being longer that it’s supposed to be.

The China-exclusive C-Class L also gets a number of new design and functional features. LED headlights come as standard, though there’s an option to get smarter Multibeam LEDs. Meanwhile, the interior is teeming with luxury as premium materials cover just about every square inch of the cabin. Mercedes is also offering a choice of 64 LED ambient colors and an optional multi-contour seat package that features massage capability.

There’s no official word yet on the engine options available to the updated C-Class L, but the model is expected to continue carrying Merc’s four-cylinder engines that feature the 48-volt EQ Boost technology.

The whole package being offered by the C-Class L has done well for itself since its arrival in China in 2014. That explains why the German automaker continues to dip its toes in offering the model exclusively in the country. The Chinese people know how to roll in style, and they’ve proven that the C-Class L is one of the top car choices in helping them achieve that lifestyle.

References

Read our full review on the 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Read more Mercedes-Benz news.

Read more 2018 Beijing Auto Show news.