Resnick: Even adjusted for inflation, we have never offered a car in the U-S that was as affordable as this.

The full name of this "affordable" Mercedes is the C-230 Kompressor Sports Coupe. "Kompressor" means the four-cylinder engine is supercharged and develops 192-horsepower. The four-passenger coupe includes anti-lock brakes, traction control, eight air bags, alloy wheels and performance tires in its base price.

The engineering editor at Road & Track magazine, Dennis Simanaitis (PRON: Simmon-eye-tis), was asked if the C-230 qualifies as a "real" Mercedes.

Simanaitis: Yeah, I think it really does. There are lots of details that they have brought "down" from the more "grand" Mercedes to this new price class. It is very impressive.

If one loads up the car with options like a sunroof, C-D changer, leather upholstery, automatic transmission and power seats, the price rises to more than 30-thousand dollars.

But a base price of less than 26-thousand is attractive for many American buyers. And it gives Mercedes-Benz a chance to break into the entry level to the U-S luxury market, which is large and growing. By moving "down" market, the company stands to make more money on volume sales.

We asked Road & Track's Dennis Simanaitis if he detects any weaknesses in the new car.

Simanaitis: I do not see any glaring deficiencies at all.

Nor did we. In a week of driving, we found the coupe has the solid "feel" of more expensive models in the company's line. It features brisk acceleration, a firm-but-comfortable ride, precise handling and a fair amount of cargo space reachable through its hatchback rear door. As to whether the C-230 coupe will be a hit with its intended target customers, the younger crowd? Journalist Simanaitis has an opinion.

Simaitis: The difficulty, of course, is - will the kids, its intended market, see it as being hip enough and cool enough.

That does not seem to be a problem so far. The company reports brisk sales for the sporty coupe. Jim Resnick says Mercedes-Benz is in the enviable position of having the demand exceed the U-S supply.

Resnick: Germany can only produce X-number of sport coupes in a (yearly) cycle and we are trying to take over those production units from other markets.

The C-230 coupe has a big job: attract young and affluent buyers to the famous three-pointed silver-star logo and make them happy enough to become lifelong members in the Mercedes-Benz fraternity.